Final Draft of Executive Summary!

Executive Summary:

The problem identified in this piece is that: Washington State is underprepared to oversee green infrastructure projects that align with its desires for environmental justice. This has been indicated through a notable literature review of gaps and limitations of tools for Green Infrastructure (GI) investment, which is critical to achieving environmental justice. Where some governing entities with oversight capacities have stronger guidelines in place for environmental outcomes, but no explicit alignment with environmental justice, Washington State has the opposite problem wherein it has stated value in principles of environmental justice but underdeveloped capacities and resources to follow through. Shortfalls are indicated through rising health disparities and more demand than supply for funding options for GI projects, such as green bonds. Given a tumultuous and chaotic political landscape which has worsened in recent decades, relying on the federal government does not currently seem to be a feasible strategy.

Therefore, The Governor's Environmental Justice Task Force, to follow its codification of a definition of environmental justice, should work in partnership with the Office of the Treasurer to infuse its definition into regulations for green infrastructure projects financed with green bonds. This recommendation is to be presented to the Governor’s Health Disparity Task Force, the 2021 Legislative Committee on Economic Recovery, and the 2021 Legislative Environment and Energy Committee to make changes to the specific priorities of the Environmental Justice Task Force in its work to make recommendations pertaining to issues of environmental justice.