Climate Change photo identifier

Climate Change

Mount Rainier, photo by Weldon Wilson

The potential impacts of global warming dwarf those of other environmental threats

Washington State is particularly vulnerable to a warming climate — especially our snow-fed water supplies that provide our drinking water, irrigation for agriculture — and nearly three-fourths of the electrical power we produce. Close to 40 communities — including some of the state’s largest population centers along our 2,300 miles of shoreline are threatened by rising sea levels. Ocean acidification, which is created when carbon dioxide reacts with seawater and reduces the water’s pH, threatens our abundant shellfish.

Our state and societies around the globe need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid worsening climate impacts and reduce the risk of creating changes beyond our ability to respond and adapt. Washington State is addressing this challenge and has adopted policies to reduce energy use, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and build a clean energy economy.

Washington is also taking steps to reduce the risks to our communities, economy, and environment from changes in climate - and impacts to our state - that are unavoidable, even if we reduce greenhouse gas emission today.

POLICY FRAMEWORK - Washington State Climate Policy Laws and Executive Orders

UNDERSTANDING GHG EMISSIONS

Washington State Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory | Ecology’s Mandatory Reporting | EPA Mandatory Reporting |

REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS

2010 Comprehensive Plan | SEPA and Climate Change | State Agency Climate Leadership |

PREPARING FOR IMPACTS

Climate Change Response Strategy | Clearinghouse: Impacts Preparation and Adaptation Resources |

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL LEADERSHIP

WASHINGTON'S CLEAN ENERGY ECONOMY AND JOBS

Green Jobs and Training |

CLIMATE EDUCATION

What is Climate Change | Climate Education Resources | Resources at Work | Network for Climate Educators | Carbon Footprint Pledge | King Tides Photo Initiative | What You Can Do

CLIMATE CHANGE ARCHIVE

Executive Order 09-05 | GHG Benchmarking | Low Carbon Fuel Standard | Forest Carbon | 2008 Climate Action Team | 2007 Climate Advisory Team |

CLIMATE ACTION

Climate Legislative & Executive Workgroup - recommend a state program of actions and policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions

RESOURCES FOR REPORTING GHG EMISSIONS

CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSE STRATEGY

COASTAL HAZARDS PRESENTATIONS

From workshops held in November 2012

  IN THE NEWS:

March 25: Gov. Inslee's statement on the passage of the climate action bill (SB 5802).

Feb 20: Gov. Inslee: Washington must do something about climate change (The Olympian)

Jan 26: Bark beetle isn't wildfire culprit, scientists say (Seattle Times)


2012

Dec 10: The big un-chill: Climate change damages winter tourism (Seattle Times)

Nov 19: World Bank warns of '4 degree' threshold (Washington Post)

Oct 15: September tied for world's warmest September on record (USA Today)

Sept 19: Arctic sea ice melts to lowest level on record: Faster thaw than expected in scientific models (Reuters)

Aug 28: Arctic sea ice hits record low, scientists say (Washington Post)

July 24: Satellites See Unprecedented Greenland Ice Sheet Surface Melt (NASA)

June 22: California Sea Level Projected to Rise at Higher Rate Than Global Average; Slower Rate for Oregon, Washington, But Major Earthquake Could Cause Sudden Rise (The National Academies)

June 17: Norfolk tries to hold back tide amid sea-level rise (Washington Post)

June 7: Washington: NASA Discovers Unprecedented Blooms Of Ocean Plant Life (7th Space Interactive)

June 7: U.S. smashes record for hottest spring ever (Seattle Times)

April 10: Water Risk Threatens Businesses, National Security - Forbes cites climate threats; Washington state ranked high for climate response (Forbes)

April 4: Climate change could cost Wash. $10 billion a year; state crafting response (KPLU radio)

April 2: Scientists cite global warming for more heat waves, heavier rainfall (Seattle Times)

March 22: Intelligence Report Warns of Global Water Tensions (New York Times) - Also see a map about Washington's Water Future

March 14: Rising Sea Levels Seen as Threat to Coastal U.S., study says (New York Times)

March 9: Fearing rising sea levels, Pacific nation may move entire population to Fiji (USA TODAY)

February 27: Ocean researchers dive deeper into Puget Sound's acidification (Seattle Times)

February 27: Study: Less Arctic ice means more U.S. snow (USA TODAY)

January 31: NASA: Global warming caused mostly by humans (USA TODAY)

January 25: New USDA climate zone map reflects northward warming trends (USA TODAY)

January 14: Olympic National Park glaciers continue to shrink, most recent study finds (Peninsula Daily News)


2011

December 9: State Energy Strategy offers solutions for economic growth, jobs, climate (Washington Department of Commerce)

November 18: New report says climate change means more frequent drought, floods to come (Washington Post)

November 9: The Marines Go Renewable: U.S. military use of renewable energy in Afghanistan (Outside Magazine)

November 5: Climate change, beetle may doom rugged pine (Seattle Times)

November 3: Biggest jump ever seen in global warming gases (Seattle Times)

October 26: 'King tide' could cause flooding at Shore and area rivers over next few days (Philadelphia Inquirer)

October 12: Climate Science 2009—2010: Major New Discoveries (World Resources Institute)

Global Climate Change - A State of Flux Images showing change from all over the planet (NASA)

Summer 2011: Climate Change in the United States: Expected Environmental Impacts (Resources Magazine)

August 15: Extreme Summer Weather - (ABC News Reports Video on extreme weather across U.S. and globe)

July 19: Electric vehicle charging stations coming to I-5 and US 2 (WA State Department of Transportation)

June 10: Shell Chief Says World to Face 40 Percent Water-Supply Shortfall - (Bloomberg)

May 23: Which U.S. states lead in clean energy? - WA ranks #6! (USA Today)

Apr 20: Ecology starts work to update 'clean cars' regulations

Apr 4: Changing climate affecting health (American Medical Association news)

Feb 15: Climate Change Drives Instability, U.N. Official Warns (New York Times)

Jan 12: 2010 wettest and among hottest on record, report says (The Seattle Times)

Dec 25, 2010: Bundle Up, It's Global Warming (New York Times)