Opportunities for Reducing Climate Pollution and Accelerating the Homegrown Clean Energy Economy Under Consideration by Gov. Inslee and Legislators in Climate Workgroup
WHAT: Partners in curbing climate change, including influential leaders in business, government and public health, will gather to voice their support for Governor Inslee and the Climate Workgroup to limit costly climate pollution, create jobs and build a stronger economy.
WHO:
Dow Constantine – King County Executive
- Maud Daudon - CEO of the Seattle Chamber of Commerce
- Bob Davidson – CEO of Seattle Aquarium
- Renee Klein – President & CEO, American Lung Association of the Mountain Pacific
- Tyler Comings – Economist at Synapse Energy Economics
- Yale Wong – Chair & Founder of General Biodiesel
- Megan Owen – Director of Strategic Market Development at McKinstry
WHEN: Wednesday, October 23, 2013 from 1:30-2:15 pm, very short presentations followed by time for questions.
WHERE: Waterfront Park (Pier 58) just South of Seattle Aquarium (Pier 59) - 1483 Alaskan Way.
*inclement weather location: inside Seattle Aquarium, Ackerley Foundation Puget Sound Hall
PHOTO-OP: New solar installation atop Seattle Aquarium will provide backdrop for speakers.
WHY: On Wednesday evening from 6-8 p.m. in Seattle, Governor Inslee and a bipartisan group of Washington legislators will convene the second of three public hearings of the Climate Legislative Executive Workgroup (CLEW) to receive public testimony on how Washington should meet its climate pollution limits. Last spring, the Governor outlined the need for swift action to curb the state's share of climate pollution, citing the health of residents, the economy and the state's budget as areas being seriously damaged by the current levels of carbon emissions.
There are options on the table: Governor Inslee and some of the Climate Workgroup legislators have offered several solutions that can act as economic drivers to curb climate disruption: a cap and price on carbon, a clean fuels standard and an end to “coal-by-wire” energy from out of state, along with new transportation planning and investments in energy efficiency.
Impacts of climate pollution are being felt across Washington. Governor Inslee has highlighted the growing need to fight forest fires as a serious burden to the state's already constrained budget, eating up funding for other programs like education, as the problem worsens. Additional signs of climate disruption threatening the state include ocean acidification, a problem dubbed by Governor Inslee as "the evil twin of climate change" for its role in impacting industries key to the state’s economy, including oyster growers, others in the fishing industry, and communities across the coast.
BACKGROUND: The Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup was created underEngrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5802 (E2SSB 5802) during the 2013 Regular Session. The Workgroup is charged with recommending a state program of actions and policies to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, that if implemented would ensure achievement of the state’s emissions reductions limits set in Chapter 70.235 by the 2008 legislature. Engrossed Second Substitute Senate Bill 5802 requires preparation by a consultant(s) of a credible evaluation of approaches to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The evaluation will inform the work of the Climate Legislative and Executive Workgroup.
The next Climate Workgroup hearing will be held in Seattle on Wednesday, October 23 from 6-8 pm at the Bell Harbor International Conference Center.
