We’ve heard a lot about decades lately. Countless best-of/worst-of lists, the 10-year challenge, and the timeless debate: Are we starting a new decade, or starting to complete one? It’s natural that as we mark the calendar’s milestone, we are compelled to consider what we’ve learned, how we’ve changed, where we’re headed.
Let your legislators know you support updating our climate pollution limits by sending an email or contacting them via Facebook or Twitter today.
Ten years ago, Washington was accelerating as a leader in climate change. Our universities advanced research on the coming impacts for towns, cities, forests and coasts. Our lawmakers recognized the urgency to act, setting strong goals to reduce emissions and invest in renewables; and our residents recognized before many that the threat was very real.
Climate impacts have hit Washington. Wildfires are growing more frequent and intense; and those risks became reality in the 2017 Jolly Mountain fire. Photo by John Marshall.
We have seen some of those climate impacts come to pass. They are also accelerating. The good news is that Washington is still leading on climate action. Last year, our state committed to 100% clean energy by 2045. Historic policies will continue to protect and invest in the people and nature that make Washington so special.
But our momentum did stall in a key area. The limits we set for climate pollution have not been renewed for over a decade! Think of how we’ve advanced since then: public awareness, scientific knowledge, solutions that cross sectors and cultures.
We know that greenhouse gases are the cause of climate change. Scientific information about climate pollution has expanded, so it only follows that our goals must evolve and align too.
We need to keep learning as well, closely tracking how much pollution Washington generates so we are able to reduce it in a meaningful way. We need to be clear-eyed about our contributions so that we can create the right solutions.
Our lawmakers convene for their 2020 session this week, and we are asking them to continue Washington’s leadership and adopt climate policy that meets the urgency of the moment.
With our partners in the Environmental Priorities Coalition and the Climate Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy, we call on our legislators to pass the Climate Pollution Limits bill (HB 2311), which will:
Prevent greenhouse gas emissions by setting science-based limits
Reduce pollution created by our everyday lives
Remove pollution by investing in nature to capture carbon
These are ambitious goals, but Washington has a proven history of bold action on climate. There is value in looking back, recognizing how far we have come and what we can learn as we forge ahead. We can and must continue our momentum. Our future depends on it.
Banner photo by Jacob Hall.
