This bill aims to enhance the Washington State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) by ensuring that climate change, carbon sequestration, environmental health disparities, and treaty-protected resources are adequately considered in environmental assessments. It introduces a new section to chapter 43.21C RCW, mandating that lead agencies incorporate specific elements into their environmental checklists, including climate change impacts, carbon sequestration potential, and the effects on overburdened communities and treaty-protected resources. The bill emphasizes the need for updated guidance to help agencies assess the life-cycle emissions of greenhouse gases and the potential adverse effects of proposed actions on climate-related goals and policies.

Additionally, the bill outlines the responsibilities of lead agencies in evaluating proposed actions, including their potential to significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions, harm carbon sequestration efforts, and adversely affect vulnerable populations and treaty rights. It requires a thorough analysis of how proposed actions may impact these critical areas, ensuring that environmental reviews are comprehensive and reflective of current environmental and social justice priorities. The bill aims to create a more robust framework for environmental decision-making that aligns with the state's climate goals and protects the rights and health of all communities, particularly those that are overburdened or vulnerable.