Washblog

Next Tuesday, August 7, Washington's Department of Ecology and Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) will hold the third of eight state-wide meetings of the Washington Climate Advisory Team (CAT) at the Washington State Convention and Trade Center in Seattle (8:30 am to 5pm).  The CAT team was developed to provide recommendations to state government for meeting our climate change goals in Washington state by January, 2008.  It consists of leaders from business, government, academia, the nonprofit sector and religious and tribal organizations.  Citizen input is invited.

A group of environmental organizations, including Sierra Club's Cascade Chapter, Climate Solutions, Environment Washington, and Northwest Energy Coalition have been working to encourage citizen input into this process. They are planning a combination rally and media event at the CAT meeting on August 7 that will also feature opportunities for citizen input to the advisory team.

How exactly can citizen and awarenes help. First, on the broadest level, it can help out state meet green gas reduction goal.  Program funding is never a done deal. The political will to maintain the level of funding needed is critical.  Second, Governor Gregoire has set an ambitious goal -- but it might not be enough.  There's an emerging agreement that an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions below 1990 levels -- not the 50% set as the state goal by Governor Gregoire -- will be necessary (2).   Beyond the questions of defining and achieving the goal -- it's also critically important how we do all that.

To what extent will our response to climate change be environmentally friendly, economically just, fiscally prudent, and good for communities and families?  Who will ensure that Washington's communities and small and mid-sized businesses and farms get a fair share of profits from the new industries that are emerging now?   Carbon trading and alternative fuels are important pieces of the puzzle but also carry big risks and downsides. How will we deal with those?  How much will we rely on genetically altered crops, high chemical inputs, and intensive use of water resources to grow them?  Will we invest adequately in smart growth and conservation?  What are the next 'heroic icons' on the scale of the hydroelectric dam and nuclear  power plant?  Will we choose them well?

Taking the time to attend this event sends a message to Washington government and businesses that they will be supported in the tough decisions needed to address climate change - and challenged where they do not.   It is an opportunity for networking and education.   And it's an opportunity not only to give specific citizen input to government climate action -- but to get a close up view of how the aspects of your life that you most care about are likely to be impacted.

1. For example: This February, Governor Gregoire signed Executive Order 07-02, Washington's Climate Change Challenge, which puts us on a path of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 50% below 1990 levels by the year 2050.  Washington's joined five other states in the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative in setting and meeting regional goals.  Our legislature has passed key laws, from requiring more climate-friendly design of public buildings to lowering auto emissions.   Over 240 NW business leaders have called on policymakers to prioritize action on climate change.  25x25, a national alliance of organizations representing farmers, ranchers, and forest owners (and chaired by a Washington state farmer, J. Read Smith), has developed a blueprint for alternative energy production from US working lands.
2. As far back as 2004, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency's Climate Protection Advisory Committee called for a 70-80% reduction in emissions by 2050.   The Cascade Chapter of the Sierra Club is calling in its Cool State Campaign for just such a reduction.