Washington state’s 2021 virtual legislative session is now underway. Though some of our advocacy is going to look different this session, much remains the same - including the importance and impact of our partners across Washington state, and of your engagement with the legislative process. Your participation is crucial to shaping the policies that shape our collective future.
There’s good news for democracy: It should be easier for you to make your voice heard in Olympia in 2021, with all-virtual hearings and lawmakers accepting written testimony. There’s no longer a need to take a day off work to travel to Olympia to testify or meet with your elected officials as a citizen advocate. Now you can schedule a 15-minute Zoom meeting instead - and, as always, you can (and should!) use email, phone calls and social media to stay in touch with your senator and representatives.
This session’s going to be a busy one, with a lot of potential for progress.
With our friends in the Washington Climate Alliance and the Environmental Priorities Coalition, we are calling for smart, equitable climate policy and strong public funding for conservation and environmental and health programs. Learn about the policy priorities supported by these statewide coalitions that together include dozens of groups representing not only the environmental sector, but communities of color, faith-based groups, labor unions, physicians and more.
The Resilient Future Platform
As we move forward from a tumultuous and challenging 2020, we’re thinking about how we can prepare now to weather tomorrow’s challenges together and emerge stronger. That’s why, as part of the broad and diverse Climate Alliance, we’re advocating for policies to help us create a more resilient future as our state responds to COVID-19 and the profound impacts the pandemic has had on nearly every facet of our lives.
The top policy priorities from the Resilient Future platform include:
Passing the Healthy Environment for All (HEAL) Act to ensure the communities that are most impacted and burdened by pollution and environmental hazards have a voice at the decision-making table and a fair chance for a healthy future. The HEAL Act would implement the recommendations of the Environmental Justice Task Force.
Investing in a Clean and Just Transportation system that is efficient, affordable, job-creating and climate-friendly.
Updating Washington state’s Growth Management Act to make sure we address climate change, affordable housing and environmental justice in land-use planning.
… And more proposals to protect the health and safety of all Washingtonians and move our economy toward equity, justice and sustainability. Learn more about the Resilient Future legislative priorities and how you can support them.
The Environmental Priorities Coalition
We’re a longtime partner of the Environmental Priorities Coalition, administered by our friends at the Washington Environmental Council and including more than 20 organizations dedicated to the health of people and nature across our state.
The Environmental Priorities Coalition’s 2021 priorities include:
Clean Fuels Now
A Clean Fuel Standard will require fuel producers and importers to reduce pollution from their fuels - the source of nearly half of the air pollution in Washington. The tested and effective policy - already working in California, Oregon and British Columbia - would clean our air, help protect our climate and give us more options to fuel our vehicles, such as electricity and local renewable biofuels.Conservation Works
Washington faces a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall as a result of the pandemic. The Conservation Works priority seeks to protect essential environmental programs from budget cuts and promote investments in stimulus projects that tackle climate change, create good jobs, recover salmon, and help communities chart their own course for a better future.Clean and Just Transportation
This priority aims to reduce pollution and make it easier to get around by creating a holistic transportation system focused on accessibility, equity and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts.
Learn more about the Coalition and our priorities - and how you can advocate for them virtually this year.
Fire Funding
Finally, and crucially, forests and fire.
We won’t soon forget the Labor Day fires that swept across our state, causing enormous destruction and choking smoke. It is past time for us to get ahead of the wildfire and forest health crisis in Washington. We’re once again advocating for funding to increase the resilience of our forests and communities, equip our firefighters and restore forest health.
Speak up
In all this work, your voice is crucial. Sign up for our advocacy emails to get info about virtual lobby days and to stay up to date with other state and federal advocacy opportunities. (During session, we’ll email about once a week.)
Thank you for speaking up for nature.
Banner photo by Rand Peterson.
