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Washington State Climate Actions
The State of Washington is a National leader in combatting climate change. In 2019, the Washington State legislature passed several important pieces of legislation.
- They passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA) which requires the State’s electrical supply to be free of coal by 2025, carbon neutral by 2030 and 100% carbon-free by 2045 (https://www.commerce.wa.gov/growing-the-economy/energy/ceta/).
- They also passed legislation that requires the phase-out of hydrofluorocarbons – a very potent greenhouse gas. (https://app.leg.wa.gov/billsummary?BillNumber=1112&Year=2019&Initiative=false).
- They passed legislation that will provide funding to convert the ferries from Bainbridge Island to Seattle to run on 100% electric power as of 2022.
- They put in place incentives for electric cars and required higher efficiency standards for appliances (https://www.governor.wa.gov/issues/issues/energy-environment).
Audubon Washington is a great source for current Washington State legislation.
Federal Climate Actions
In June 2013, President Obama presented a Federal Climate Action Plan setting forth a plan and policies to cut carbon emissions, prepare for climate change impacts, and lead international climate protection efforts (https://obamawhitehouse.archives.gov/president-obama-climate-action-plan).
In December 2015, all but two countries (who have since joined) in the world signed on to the Paris Climate Agreement to limit global warming to less than 2° C (3.6° F) above pre-industrial levels. They also agreed to stop the rise of GHG emissions as quickly as possible, with an aspiration to limit warming to 1.5° C (2.7° F).
On June 1, 2017, President Trump initiated the process to remove the United States federal government from the Paris Climate Agreement and is seeking to nullify the obligation to contribute aid to less developed countries. When this change takes effect in 2020, the U.S. will be the only National government not participating in the Paris Agreement as the original two holdouts, Syria and Nicaragua, subsequently joined in November 2017.
Responding to President Trump’s announcement, hundreds of cities - including Bainbridge Island (http://apps.bainbridgewa.gov/webLink8/0/doc/70588/Electronic.aspx), 10 states, and thousands of U.S. corporations and institutions joined the “We Are Still In” (https://www.wearestillin.com) campaign, declaring their continued commitment to meeting the reduction goals of the Paris Agreement.
Currently, the Federal government is not taking an active role in climate change issues. Given the lack of federal action, many city and state governments along with a number of corporations are now leading U.S. efforts to reduce emissions and prevent catastrophic climate change.