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Introduction
Interim Report Introduction
Leading the Way on Climate Change:
The Challenge of Our Time
Governor Gregoire’s Climate Change Challenge Executive Order 07-02 set ambitious goals for reducing and preparing for climate change impacts. She tasked Directors Jay Manning and Juli Wilkerson to consult with a broad range of stakeholders to develop a climate change initiative. In response, both Directors presented to the Governor, on February 6, 2008,
Leading the Way on Climate Change: The Challenge of Our Time.
Not only will Washington meet those ambitious goals, we will lead the way for other states and for the nation. Washington will lead the way on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, growing the clean energy economy, and reducing our state’s reliance on imported fuel. We will lead the way on preparing for unavoidable impacts of climate change. And our citizens will be engaged in helping us reach our goals.
The report to the Governor includes the work of many dedicated people from across the state who volunteered their time to meet the Governor’s Climate Change Challenge. More than 200 committed stakeholders worked hard to deliver on her charge. Environmental organizations, business leaders, academia, tribal leaders, labor representatives, and the faith community all participated. Hundreds of Washingtonians provided formal comment on the work and the recommendations contained in this report.
The Climate Advisory Team developed twelve directional recommendations that lead the
state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase clean energy jobs and in-state fuel supplies. The Preparation and Adaptation Working Groups created extensive recommendations to help Washington prepare for climate change impacts to human health, agriculture, forestry, our coasts and infrastructure, and water quality and storage. The report also contains updates on local, state and regional efforts to combat the effects of climate change.
The Climate Advisory Team members as well as the Preparation and Adaptation Working
Groups were clear that their work needs to continue. In some form, both groups will continue to prioritize their recommendations and to flesh out the most urgent and promising of the strategies. They will come back with refined recommendations and plans for action before the 2009 legislative session.
Read the Interim Report
Leading the Way on Climate Change:
The Challenge of Our Time
For overview information, please see the report summaries:
