Climate Change in Washington

Over 100 participants showed up in Aberdeen at the Elks Lodge earlier this month to hear a panel of experts from the National Wildlife Federation, Ducks Unlimited, and the Pacific Shellfish Institute discuss the possible affects that climate change could have on coastal Washington. The meeting began with an introduction from Congressman Norm Dicks’ staff person Sara Crumb. Dicks is hugely supportive of preventative measures for climate change. Crumb talked about proposed legislation and initiatives relating to climate change. One proposed measure in particular (the Cap and Trade Climate Policy) would cap how much large companies with high greenhouse gas emissions could emit until they would be required to buy allowances if they go over a set standard level of emissions. Additionally a system would be set up which would allow companies to auction off allowances to each other. Crumb also explained that Dicks has met with several lawmakers to discuss a regional environmental protection program to provide grants to communities that are interested in developing climate change strategies.

The first panel member to speak was Dan Cheney of the Pacific Shellfish Institute. He discussed that hatcheries are proving to be one of the best indicators of climate change due to even fractional rises in temperature causing a multitude of negative affects including abundant bacterial growth, resulting disease, and poor shellfish larvae survival in general. Next a representative from Ducks Unlimited spoke on the specifics of sea level rise which studies have indicated has been increasing steadily over the last century. Research indicates that there could be a near 11 inch rise by 2050 which could swallow up large portions of wetlands and marshes negatively affecting bird and fish habitats and increasing flooding and threats to private and commercial properties and could also lead to salt water intrusion into fresh water habitats perhaps leading to the most detrimental of effects for waterfowl in particular.

The final panel member Doug Howell, Regional Executive Director of the National Wildlife Foundation discussed that climate change is already having major effects on wildlife and fish habitats along coastal northwest regions including Grays Harbor and he expressed the importance of communicating this to lawmakers in order to take preventative measures now before things get worse. He reported that an increase in Fossil Fuel emission is truly the number one cause of global warming and in turn climate change hence the call for measures such as the Cap and Trade Climate Policy for heavy producers of emissions. Other approaches to help prevent climate change were suggested including lobbying for a United States Climate Action Partnership to advocate reduction of emissions and creating programs that might charge fees or tax heavy emissions companies with the money going toward natural resource initiatives.

For further information on climate change and global warming as it pertains to Washington check out the National Wildlife Federation’s website at http://online.nwf.org/site/PageServer?pagename=WesternNRC_Homepage or visit Department of Ecology’s web link at http://www.ecy.wa.gov/climatechange/index.htm.