Climate change in Washington State and the Pacific Northwest
The best central location for information on how climate change may affect our state is provided by the Washington State Department of Ecology. The department is now responsible for tracking greenhouse gas emissions in our state.
Publications:
Global Warming and Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
The Energy Policy division of the state Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development has compiled a list of reports and websites related to climate change in Washington and the West Coast region.
Washington State's Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Sources and Trends, by Jim Kerstetter of the WSU Energy Program, for Energy Policy Division of the state Department of Community Trade and Economic Development, June 2004. This report focuses on carbon dioxide emissions from energy-related activities, including transportation, electricity generation, and the heating of homes and commercial buildings. It is an update of earlier reports.
Reports on diesel emissions reduction strategies, by Kim Lyons, alternative fuels specialist for the WSU Energy Program. Lyons wrote this series of 14 reports for the Washington Department of Ecology in 2002-2003.
Our Warming World: The Effects of Climate Change Bode Ill for Northwest, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Nov. 13, 2003, p. A1. This report focuses on potential regional impacts of climate change including shorter ski seasons, more wildfires, coastal flooding, and depleted salmon runs. A poster-sized insert illustrates the problem with graphs and pictures.
In Hot Water: A snapshot of the Northwest's Changing Climate, by Patrick Mazza, Climate Solutions, June 1999. This report outlines possible impacts of climate change in the Northwest and concludes with a call to action.
Transportation and Global Warming Solutions, by Patrick Mazza, Climate Solutions, May 2004. This reports highlights transportation as one of the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions nationally, and particularly in the Pacific Northwest. Mazza outlines solutions, including fuel economy standards, cleaner fuels, pricing transportation to reflect real costs, and developing transportation policies that discourage driving.
Organizations and Initiatives:
The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency is a four-county air pollution control authority that has initiated a process for bringing stakeholders together to develop regional climate protection strategies.
The West Coast Governors' Global Warming Initiative is a multi-state working group formed to address: hybrid vehicle procurement, ports and highway diesel emissions, renewable energy, energy efficiency, standards for measuring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions, and hydrogen use.
The Climate Impacts Group
focuses on climate science and its public policy implications for the Pacific Northwest. Affiliated with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the University of Washington, the group examines climate impacts on water, forests, salmon and coasts.
Climate Solutions is a nonprofit organization dedicated to developing solutions to global warming in the Northwest. The Olympia, WA-based group formed Northwest Climate Connections, a network of organizations, businesses and government agencies in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia.
|
These pages are produced by the WSU Extension Energy Program Library staff with financial support provided by the Washington Department of Community Trade and Economic Development from the US Department of Energy State Energy Program funds.
|
|
Contact
WSU Extension Energy Program
905 Plum Street SE
Olympia, WA 98504-3165
Phone: (360) 956-2000
|
|
