Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT)

Did you know that most houses and apartments in Thurston County are inefficient, heated with fossil fuels, and lack cooling during the summer? This negatively impacts our health, our environment, and our pocketbooks. Low-income families are especially vulnerable to climate extremes and pay a much higher proportion of their income on energy.

With your help, Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT) is working to change that. TCAT was founded in 2009 to address climate change and its impact on the people and communities of Thurston County. We were instrumental in getting the county and cities of Olympia, Lacey, and Tumwater to adopt the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan. Now we are working to meet the goals of cutting carbon emissions 45% by the year 2030, and 85% by 2050. Currently emissions are still on the rise. Here are just some of the ways your support of TCAT fights the climate crisis:

• Educating and preparing citizens of Thurston County about the dangers of extreme heat. TCAT has created the Cooling Thurston program. This year, through a pilot project, we distributed 50 portable heat pumps to vulnerable community renters to create cooling havens in their apartments during summer heat. Because of the high efficiency of the heat pumps, they will also help participants lower their energy costs throughout the year. We also created educational materials on prevention of heat illness and gave presentations across Thurston County. With your support TCAT is helping people know about the warning symptoms of heat illness and helping them learn how to stay safe from heat illness. We are also collaborating with local and state organizations and legislators to expand this program, not only in Thurston County, but across Washington State.
• Partnering with overburdened communities to combat the unequal negative effects of climate change. Low-income and BIPOC communities are hardest hit by the climate crisis and are often the least heard! During 2025 we held 5 community assemblies, bringing community members together to learn about climate action, the comprehensive planning process, and providing them a pathway to share their concerns and ideas with public officials.
• Educating about the causes and effects of the climate crisis and how to be involved in climate action. In May we organized an all-day climate action convention to educate about climate action. We continue to grow and expand our climate education programming and are planning, at minimum, quarterly climate speakers and activities. 

JOIN US! You can help make Thurston County cleaner, healthier, and more just for all its citizens -- now and in the future!