The Burien Climate Action Plan, adopted in late 2021, is a guide for both the city government and Burien community to combat and adapt to the effects of climate change. Divided into five focus areas, the plan prioritizes actions we can take to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, and improve the community’s ability to cope with the impacts of climate change.
2022 marked the first full year since the Burien Climate Action Plan was adopted. Even though no additional City of Burien funding was assigned to implement the plan last year, we were able to leverage state and county grants and use creative approaches to make progress on key climate actions.
Several factors influence the implementation of the Burien Climate Action Plan, including how long it takes to complete actions, changes in technology or laws, the level of effort needed to complete actions, and the cost of implementation. In 2022, City staff laid the groundwork for action implementation through the development of internal tracking systems, educating staff on their role in climate action, and requesting climate action funding for the 2023-2024 budget cycle.
The plan’s first annual report shows what the City Council, City staff, and the larger Burien community are working on to create a climate-resilient and equitable community. Two actions were completed in 2022: hiring an urban forest planner and hiring a sustainability manager.
This year, staff will continue their work on building sustainable decision-making into City programs and processes and increasing energy efficiencies in Burien homes.
Read the full annual report online at burienwa.gov/climate.
2022 in numbers
- Green Burien Partnership volunteers and partners planted over 470 native trees, shrubs, and groundcovers and removed over 100,000 square feet of weeds from Burien parks and green spaces
- 25 businesses participated in Recology’s free compost program
- More than 1,400 students learned about stormwater pollution and solutions at StormFest
- One 100-kilowatt solar panel system installed on the roof of Highline High School
- Two City-owned building energy audits: Burien Community Center and Moshier Art Center
- One major energy efficiency upgrade to Burien Community Center
- Two new hybrid City vehicles
- Three new laws to advance sustainable waste management and protect Burien trees
- Two City planning efforts aimed at encouraging 15-minute communities (Ambaum and Boulevard Park Community Plan and Burien 2044: Comprehensive Plan Update)
