Join us throughout the year and learn more about real climate solutions.
Climate Leaders Live! is our new online series where we, and collaborators, present conversations, policy deep dives, and explorations of how we can build a better future together. We’ll hear from organizations, businesses, elected officials, and community leaders in public health, environmental justice and more—leaders who are thinking big and working on different approaches to accelerate our transition to an equitable, just, and 100% clean economy.
Previous Events:
2022 Legislative Preview, what's next for Washington | November 17, 2021
It’s been a big few years for climate action in Washington State, from 2019’s 100% clean electricity law to getting a clean fuel standard across the finish line in 2021 to enshrining environmental justice into law. We’ve made huge steps in reducing emissions from the grid and from our transportation—two of our state’s biggest sources of pollution—and mandating agencies consider those most impacted in policy and program planning. But our work is far from over and 2022 will include a major focus on passing a transportation package, electrifying our buildings, and ensuring the laws we have passed maintain an equitable approach that incorporates community needs, labor standards, and stays strong on climate.
Vlad Gutman-Britten and Kelly Hall joined us to discuss at what’s ahead on climate in Washington, provide some context for election results and local city-level climate efforts, and to get ready for 2022’s legislative session.
Watch the recording, Passcode: j#5g1=$2 and view slides
100% Clean Electricity in the Pacific Northwest | September 29, 2021
In June of this year Oregon passed House Bill 2021, committing it's major electric utilities to transition to 100% clean, renewable sources by 2040. Oregon now joins Washington State who two years ago passed the Clean Energy Transformation Act, a policy that is one of the strongest in the country for transitioning the grid to be carbon-free while prioritizing environmental justice and good paying jobs. This webinar looked at the region’s clean energy transition, what went down in Oregon to make it happen, how implementation is going in Washington, and what it all means for Congress's plans.
We were honored to be joined by Indi Namkoong, Coalition Manager, 350pdx and member of Oregon’s Clean Energy Opportunity Campaign; Matthew Hepner, Executive Director of the Certified Electrical Workers of Washington; and Quentin Scott, Federal Campaign Coordinator, Chesapeake Climate Action Network.
The Future of Buildings is Electric | June 30, 2021
Many cities across the country are increasingly looking to ensure all new buildings are powered solely by electricity. Electrifying buildings is critical to addressing climate change; it is also achievable, affordable, healthy, safe, and creates a more resilient energy system.
This webinar shared ways to get involved in promoting clean, safe, all-electric buildings, including looking at how gas is currently used in buildings, its impacts on our health (especially indoors) and safety, and the prospects and implications of phasing it out.
2021 Washington Legislative Wins | June 17, 2021
The Climate Commitment Act, the Clean Fuel Standard, the HEAL Act and new policies to address natural gas pollution were all built around the simple idea that we can make things better. In this conversation we took a deep dive into these new policies. Our guests were Paula Sardinas of Washington Build Back Black Alliance and David Mendoza of The Nature Conservancy.
EPA Administrator Michael Regan | May 3, 2021
It was a honor to speak with Michael Regan, the 16th Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency. We had a great discussion that looked at the breadth and depth of the EPA's new direction. Administrator Regan touched on the need to refocus on the integrity of science; the intersections of water and climate policy and need for leadership from the states; Regan's commitment and background in environmental justice; and an overview of achievements in the first 100 days of the Biden-Harris Administration.
Focus on Transportation Electrification | April 8, 2021
New Moves for Climate Progress | March 3, 2021
A conversation about opportunities at the national, tribal and state levels in 2021. Guest speakers included Alyssa Macy, CEO of Washington Conservation Voters and Washington Environmental Council; Don Sampson, Climate Change Project Director with the Affiliated Tribes of Northwest Indians; and Mike Brune, Executive Director of the Sierra Club.
Oregon's 2020 Energy Report | Jan 28, 2021
Every two years, the Oregon Department of Energy releases its Biennial Energy Report, providing Oregonians with a rich, in-depth analysis of the state's energy sources and usage trends. Join Janine Benner from the Oregon Department of Energy and Meredith Connolly from Climate Solutions as we explore what powers our energy system today, where the trends are headed, and it all means for an energy-smart, climate-safe future for Oregon.
Presented in partnership with the Oregon Department of Energy.
Inflection Point: Climate Leaders Live | Dec 3, 2020
Event overview here
Our major event for fall 2020 was a needed post-election conversation about this critical juncture for climate, clean energy and a just economic recovery. Special guests were Dr. Ayana Elizabeth Johnson and Majora Carter, in conversation with Climate Solutions' Victoria Paykar.
What's next for OR in 2021? | Nov 17, 2020
The Climate Solutions Oregon team discussed our take on general election results and what’s next for Oregon's statewide climate action efforts. We offered a breakdown of wins, losses and what it all means for making climate progress in the legislature and beyond.
Presented in partnership with Verde and the Oregon League of Conservation Voters (OLCV).
What's next for WA in 2021? | Nov 12, 2020
In 2019, Washington passed the groundbreaking Clean Energy Transformation Act ensuring that our state will have 100% clean power by 2045. In 2020, we set ambitious and necessary greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Still we have yet to address our state’s largest and problematic source of climate and air pollution: transportation emissions. During this election we are seeing climate pushed to the forefront of the many serious issues we face—will Washington be able to continue to lead by example and take action on transportation and climate pollution in 2021?
During this discussion, speakers from Climate Solutions, Transportation Choices Coalition, and Front & Centered debriefed the recent election results, provided an overview of climate and equity priorities for Washington in 2021, and went deep into funding and creating the clean, just, and equitable transportation system we need.
Our Health, Our Climate: A Threat and an Opportunity | Oct 8, 2020
Watch recording here. Slide presentation for download.
Maybe you've heard that climate change is a public health emergency. Maybe you've experienced poor air quality due to smoke and emissions, sweated through an extreme heat wave, or worked through the general anxiety and stress of climate impacts. The weather and our climate affect our individual and collective health in a variety of ways. So what does this all mean?
We don't get to choose the air we breathe, but we do get to choose what goes into it. How are our efforts to reduce emissions and transition to clean energy linked to better health and wellness for our families and communities?
Climate Solutions, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, American Lung Association, the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, and Oregon Environmental Council contributed to this panel discussion on how our health and our climate are inextricably linked, and how acting on climate change, cleaning up our air and water quality, and transitioning to a clean energy economy will help us and our climate stay healthy.
The Big Issue: Transforming Our Transportation | Sept 10, 2020
Watch recording here. Slide presentation for download
How do you typically get around, in the places where you live and work? How do you want to get around? How does the way you get around make you feel when you reach your destination?
Transportation is the single largest source of our climate pollution in the Pacific Northwest. We need to clean up the fuels we use to get around, and to reduce our reliance on driving alone. Instead, we can shift toward more sustainable modes such as transit, biking, and walking. We have a lot of work to do to fund transit, to make Washington's transportation system safe for all users, and to reduce the climate and air pollution it currently creates. There is much to be done, but also many opportunities to prioritize equitable outcomes and build a sustainable and equitable transportation system. What should such a system look like?
With this new research, Climate Solutions evaluates our options for cutting carbon from our transportation system in Washington and Oregon.
Clean and Safe Buildings with Electrification | Aug 13, 2020
Watch recording here. Slide presentation available for download
In Washington State, emissions from buildings are growing at a faster rate than any other source of carbon pollution in Washington, with this increase largely attributable to the use of fossil gas in homes and buildings. Burning fossil gas in homes and buildings is not only a significant contributor to climate change, but also poses significant health risks for our communities, children, and other vulnerable populations. Many cities are increasingly looking at ensuring all new buildings are powered by electricity as a key cost-effective pathway for achieving their local or state greenhouse emissions goals. Electrifying buildings is critical to addressing climate change, but it is also achievable, affordable, healthy, safe, and creates a more resilient energy system.
This webinar looked at the use of gas in buildings, its impacts on our health and climate, and the prospects and implications of phasing it out. Climate Solutions was joined by Andee Krasner of Greater Boston Physicians for Social Responsibility, Suraj Lobo of Progressive Comfort Solutions, and Alex Ramel of Stand.Earth.
Carbon Pricing 101 | July 9, 2020
Slide presentation available for download
Carbon pricing encompasses a range of policies - carbon tax, cap and trade, tax and dividend, etc. - what’s the difference? Does it matter? How high does the price need to be? Is it the fastest way to reduce emissions? What are the environmental justice concerns and impacts of these policies that we should consider? In preparation for the coming legislative session, in which Washington is expected to again consider pricing pollution, this webinar presented an overview of carbon pricing, how it’s supposed to work, and the lessons we’ve learned from folks who have policies in place.
Climate in the Time of Coronavirus: a Conversation with Gov. Jay Inslee | June 13, 2020
We’ve all been hearing a lot about the intersections of COVID-19 pandemic and the climate crisis. Grist and Climate Solutions co-presented this conversation with Washington Governor Jay Inslee where we discussed climate change in the time of coronavirus.
Climate Leaders Live: Building a Clean Energy Future Together | May 19, 2020
Our Climate Leaders Live series kicked off with this conversation on further solutions to the climate crisis during the challenging time of the COVID pandemic. The program featured leaders Dr. Lucas Joppa, the Chief Environmental Officer at Microsoft and the architect of Microsoft’s global climate commitment, Washington State Representative and Speaker of the House Laurie Jinkins, and our Executive Director Gregg Small as well as some other special guests - Senator Mona Das, Representative Debra Lekanoff, Ken Workman, Ash Awad, and Stephanie Noren.
