Climate Change > Climate Advisory Team > Public Comments

Public Comments Invited on Draft Recommendations
of the Washington Climate Challenge

Comment period has been extended to January 22.

To all those interested in Washington's response to climate change:

The Washington Departments of Ecology and Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) invite you to submit your comments on draft recommendations for meeting the Washington Climate Change Challenge.

Governor Chris Gregoire signed Executive Order No. 07-02 on February 7, 2007, declaring Washington's commitment to address climate change and setting goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing clean energy jobs, and reducing expenditures on imported fuel. Governor Gregoire directed us to recommend policies for meeting these goals as well as steps the state can take to prepare for the impacts of climate change and ensure all Washingtonians are informed and engaged around these issues.

Our recommendations are due to the Governor by February 7, 2008. In preparation for this deadline, we are releasing draft recommendations for each of these three components:

• A Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington: Policies and Strategies to Jump-start the Clean Economy and Reduce GHG Emissions
  To assist with developing recommendations for meeting the economic and environmental goals set out in the Executive Order, we formed the Climate Advisory Team (CAT). The CAT, assisted by Technical Working Groups, has developed a Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington to achieve Washington's greenhouse gas reduction goals, seize the opportunity to grow the Clean Economy of the future, and move towards greater energy independence.



• Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change
  To examine the impacts of climate change on Washington State, we formed Preparation/Adaptation Working Groups (PAWGs). Their draft report recommends specific steps and additional research needs as Washington prepares for the impact of global warming on human health, agriculture, coastal and infrastructure, forestry, and water resources and quality. The PAWGs were assisted by the University of Washington's Climate Impacts Group.



• Citizen Engagement and Action Framework
  To develop recommendations for future public education and outreach, we consulted with stakeholders, climate educators, and K-20 education experts around the state to develop this citizen engagement and action plan.

These draft recommendations are still in progress and we value your input. Below you will find links to these documents and instructions for submitting your comments. After the comment period closes on January 22, public comments will be summarized and posted online.

While these recommendations in aggregate provide a roadmap for how Washington can meet our Climate Challenge, our Executive Order report to the Governor in February 2008 will be an interim one. All who participated in the process recognized the importance of continuing this work in 2008, and using this report as the foundation for Washington to move aggressively and purposely forward on this important issue.

We look forward to hearing from you as we consider the recommendations emerging from this process and next steps for 2008.

Sincerely,

Read the Draft Recommendations

To download the draft recommendations, please click on the following links:

• A Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington, draft (pdf)
  
  
• Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change in Washington, draft (pdf)
  
  
• Citizen Engagement and Action Framework, draft (pdf)
  (Also see the Climate Education Network)

* You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view these PDF files. Click here to download Adobe Acrobat Reader.

Submit Comments Online

This website has been set up to facilitate the submission of your comments on these draft recommendations. We strongly encourage you to submit your comments online via this website. If you wish to submit an attachment, use the email address provided below. If you encounter any technical problems, please contact us. All comments should be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 22, 2008.

• A Comprehensive Climate Approach for Washington: Make Comments
  
  
• Preparing for the Impacts of Climate Change: Make Comments
  
  
• Citizen Engagement and Action Framework: Make Comments

Submit Comments By Email, Fax, or Surface Mail

If providing comments by email, fax, or surface mail, please direct your comments to the addresses specified below. Please include the following information.

• First and last name
• Affiliation
• Position or title
• Email address
• Postal address

By email: climatecomments@ecy.wa.gov

By mail: Department of Ecology, Attn: Climate Comments, PO Box 47600, Olympia, WA 98504

Comments must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. on January 22, 2008.

Thank You for Your Input

Thank you for visiting this website and considering submitting comments. We look forward to reviewing and considering them as we finalize the report.