Climate Advisory Team

Governor Chris Gregoire declared Washington’s commitment to address climate change on February 7, 2007, by signing Executive Order No. 07-02 and by including Washington in the western states initiative. A key part of the governor’s initiative is the mandatory reduction in emissions over time and a key to achieving the reductions is having emission limits and common rules across as wide an area as possible.  CLC is working to have the emission programs of the western states use forests in ways that both mitigate greenhouse gas emissions as well as enhancing wildlife habitat and water quality.
http://www.governor.wa.gov/execorders/eo_07-02.pdf

The Executive Order establishes goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, increasing clean energy jobs, and reducing expenditures on imported fuel. It also specifies objectives for preparing for climate change impacts, coordinating regionally and nationally, and advancing public outreach and awareness. The Executive Order directs the Washington

Department of Ecology (Ecology) and Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (CTED) to lead the Washington Climate Change Challenge, a process that will engage business, community and environmental leaders in considering the full range of policies and strategies that may be adopted to achieve the goals established by Governor Gregoire.

Ecology and CTED have formed the Washington Climate Advisory Team (CAT) to assist with the development of specific action-oriented recommendations for climate change mitigation and GHG reduction policies for Washington. This broad-based group of Washington leaders is charged with developing a comprehensive set of state-level policy recommendations to deliver to Ecology and CTED by January 2008.  Click here for more information on the CAT.

The CAT is advised by five Technical Work Groups (TWG).  These are Forestry, Agriculture, Energy Supply, Transportation and Residential, Commercial and Industrial (RCI).  CLC’s own Vice President of Stewardship, John Floberg, is a member of the Forestry TWG.  The group was responsible for prioritizing mitigation options related to forestry for the emission of greenhouse gasses.  These priorities include increasing forest health, decreasing forest conversion to other uses, and increasing the use of forest products instead of high-emission concrete and steel.  Click here for more information on the Forestry Technical Work Group.

CLC is excited to take part in this forward thinking process.  Through our participation, we have the opportunity to help shape future actions to combat global warming.  We would like to thank Governor Gregoire for her bold, decisive action to address climate change.

Seattle Climate Partnership

In February of 2005, Mayor Greg Nickels challenged the Seattle community to meet or beat the global warming pollution reduction target of the Kyoto Protocol, and he appointed a Green Ribbon Commission on Climate Protection to develop recommendations for achieving that goal. One of the Commission’s key recommendations is the formation of the Seattle Climate Partnership—a voluntary pact among Seattle-area employers to take action to reduce their own emissions, and to work together to help meet the community-wide goal.

CLC has joined the Seattle Climate Partnership and made the pact to reduce our emissions.  We have developed our own Green Team, who will look at ways our office can reduce its own energy use and carbon emissions.  From recycled paper to composting, CLC is always looking for ways to be more “green”.