The Sustainability Program

The City of Spokane is launching a strategic planning effort to identify and address the ways that climate change and rising energy prices will impact the City government's operations, services, programs and policies. 

Sustainability is one of Mayor Mary Verner's key principles for decision making.  We need to protect Spokane's high quality of life by preparing for the risks and vulnerabilities ahead.  The action plan will set out strategies to reduce city government's operational costs, ensure our ability to continue offering top quality service to our taxpayers, and support our residents' and businesses' efforts to also address these trends.  With this plan in hand, Spokane will be able to manage future challenges while increasing our competitive advantage over other cities.

This project is consistent with Governor Chris Gregoire's executive order on climate change, commitments the City made when it signed on to the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement last February, and the City Council resolution sponsored by Mary Verner last year regarding the Near Nature - Quality of Life Initiative.

 "As a City, we've already started to adopt sustainable practices.  Our efforts to save energy, reclaim treated wastewater, conserve water, protect our aquifer, and inventory our greenhouse gas emissions are some obvious examples," says Mayor Verner.  "The action plan we create will guide us along in this process, acknowledging what we're doing now and identifying what we should do next."