The Blog

Jay Manning, Director of Department of Ecology Jay Manning, Director of Department of Ecology
Jay Manning fishing.

05/21/08

In a winter like the one just past, it's easy to take our mountain snowfields and glaciers for granted. But that's a mistake. Despite variations like this year, Washington, along with the rest of the world, is warming at an alarming rate due to emissions of carbon dioxide from burning fossil fuels - oil, gas, coal - that create a greenhouse effect.

If we fail to meet the challenge of climate change, our inaction would profoundly harm Washington's environment and economy. Fortunately, we have risen to the challenge, and, in fact, are leading the way.

The Legislature recently passed a measure requested by Gov. Gregoire, and supported by business and environmental communities, that lays the groundwork for dramatically reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, tripling the number of well-paying, clean-energy jobs, and reducing our dependence on foreign fuels.

Responding to the new legislation, Washington's Climate Action Team just launched its first in a series of action-oriented meetings that will lead to its next set of recommendations for reducing harmful emissions. Meanwhile, our state is chairing the work of the Western Climate Initiative, the multi-state, multi-province collaboration that's designing a cap and trade system to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. To learn more this and other climate action in Washington, visit http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm.

As a native Washingtonian, I'm keenly aware of what's at stake if we are unable to break the world's addiction to petroleum and other fossil fuels.

Growing up in Kitsap County, my brothers and I knew there were things we could count on. In winter, it would rain - a lot. On the east side of the state, it would be cold and snowy. In the glorious summers that kids live for, those melting snows would keep our rivers flowing in the driest weeks. That was good for salmon, for farmers, for communities dependent on mountain reservoirs, and for generating the hydroelectricity that has powered our state.

Now, scientists from around the globe have concluded - based on facts, not conjecture - that lifestyles and livelihoods here and everywhere are at risk because of greenhouse gases and changing climate patterns.

I am proud that Washington is leading the nation in meeting this challenge. We will reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases. We will prepare for the changes that cannot be prevented. And we will become an important center of a new green economy. Washington's aggressive response to climate change will sharpen our well-earned reputation as a clean, green and competitive state - a great place to live and work, a great place to do business, and a great place for our children and grandchildren.