2020 Climate Action Report

INTEGRITY BORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE CLIMATE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE ACTION RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY ERANCE VRANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE REPORT RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION E RM INATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY 2020 PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY PERSEVERANCE RESPECT JUSTICE COLLABORATION DETERMINATION INTEGRITY climate climate INFLECTION solutions solutions we’re all in this together This year has proved challenging in ways that we could have never predicted—and that holds for climate action too. INTEGRITY As you flip through these pages, you will see the story of progress made, great work accomplished despite headwinds and uncertain outcomes. That we face many urgent crises at once can feel daunting. But it is also an opportunity to take them on together. As we invest in a clean and just recovery to build back better, we need to address long-term systemic racism and to protect public health, if we are to have a stable climate and a clean energy economy that works for everyone, not just a few. we’re all in this together This is an inflection point—this can be our moment to create the change we need and come togeth- erINTEGRITY for a brighter future. It will take stick-to-itiveness, tenacity and perseverance. We do have forward momentum; and anchored in our values, we have much to do in these hard times. inflection Stay safe. Thank you for your point: support and continued investment a moment in and with Climate Solutions. It’s when significant good to be in this together. change occurs or may occur Gregg Small Executive Director WE MADE PROGRESS ON CLEAN TRANSPORTATION Leah Missik and Stephanie Noren (Climate Solutions) and Kelsey Hamlin (Sierra Club) with one of King County’s zero-emissions EV buses WE MADE PROGRESS ON OUR TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM IS A CRUCIAL CLEAN TRANSPORTATION PART OF EVERYONE’S LIFE, YET VEHICLE FUELS ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR NEARLY HALF OF THE AIR POLLUTION THAT HARMS OUR HEALTH AND OUR CLIMATE. THIS YEAR WE SAW BOTH FORWARD MOMENTUM AND FRUSTRATING SETBACKS. DESPITE OUR INITIAL HOPES, BOTH WASHINGTON AND OREGON LEGISLATURES FAILED TO MAKE PROGRESS ON CLIMATE. Environmental Priorities Coalition lobby day at the Washington State Capitol, Jan. 30, 2020 Victoria Paykar (Climate Solutions) at the Oregon State Capitol IN WASHINGTON, WE HELPED PASS A ZERO- EMISSIONS VEHICLE MANDATE, TIGHTER RULES AROUND GAS PIPELINES, AND TOUGHER POLUTION LIMITS. BUT LAWMAKERS FAILED TO ENACT A CLEAN FUELS STANDARD—A TOP CLIMATE PRIORITY. Washington State Representative Bill Ramos, Kelly Hall (Climate Solutions) and Kelsey Mesher (Transportation Choices Coalition) IN OREGON, LEGISLATIVE OPPONENTS OF CLIMATE ACTION STAGED A WALKOUT, BLOCKING COMMUNITY PRIORITIES INCLUDING THE CLEAN ENERGY JOBS ACT WE WORKED HARD TO SUPPORT. In 1997, I worked in the US EPA’s Policy office during the Kyoto Protocol climate negotiations. I have now worked over half my life on climate change—the biggest social justice issue of our lifetimes. I feel hope about climate action, even on the days where I question my resolve. INTEGRITY After the People’s Climate March in New Savitha Reddy Pathi, York City in 2014, I received a white rock Deputy Director at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine and it now sits on my living room mantle. It’s a reminder of my ground- ed commitment to this work, of how much has happened and how much more needs to happen—an ever-present symbol for needed action. In honor of my family who live in my birthplace of India, and my young nieces who live close by, I am going to do whatever I can to stop the climate crisis from getting worse. We are making progress—but we need to move much faster to take on the fossil fuel industry. It really is “the fierce urgency of now.” Thank YOU for supporting Climate Solutions. THE FIERCE URGENCY OF NOW INTEGRITY Savitha Reddy Pathi (Climate Solutions) with Alberto Rodriguez and Lylianna Allala (Seattle Office of Sustainability and Environment) we know we must act Climate advocates carry a constant dissonant reality. We know the daunting challenge, but we know we must act. For our casually con- cerned friends, we avoid despondent paralysis INTEGRITY by emphasizing progress and individual ac- tions. Folks in the thick of it, like the Climate Solutions team, know it will take all that and much, much more—requiring the perseverance to drive huge systemic change. I don’t really Tim Miller President, Board know how they do it, but for me it’s about four of Directors driving factors: On top of that is the joy of working beside like-minded, big-hearted people, fighting against long odds, aligning with new partners, and looking out for those who will be impacted first and worst. we know we must act The problems are obvious—roads choked with cars and trucks, McMansions barely occupied, influential polluters… INTEGRITYThe solutions are working—renewable power, electric vehicles, clean buildings, policy coalitions… The opposition is active—funding confusion, denial, fear and power all the way into our Supreme Court… and The imperative is clear—where failure means unspeak- able consequences at home and around the world. Each is a powerful motivator. Combined, they are a potent fossil-free fuel for action. On top of that is the joy of working beside like-minded, big-hearted people, fighting against long odds, aligning with new partners, and looking out for those who will be impacted first and worst. That keeps me going. AFTER THE OREGON LEGISLATURE FAILED TO ACT, WE THEN WORKED WITH GOVERNOR KATE BROWN TO SECURE A SWEEPING EXECUTIVE ORDER, ADVANCING OUR CLIMATE GOALS. INTEGRITY Oregon climate change: Governor signs executive order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions March 10, 2020 The Oregonian, AND WE CONTINUED TO BUILD STRONG POLITICAL ACCOUNTABILTY ACROSS THE PACIFIC NORTHWEST, LOOKING AHEADINTEGRITY TO 2021. Wildfire smoke brings IMAGE OF EDITORIAL FROM VLAD ABOUT WANTING Oregon climate change: Governor clarityCLIMATE ACTION on climate By Amy Markezich and Vlad Gutman-Britten signs executive order to reduce (Washington Director, Climate Solutions) The Seattle Times, greenhouse gas emissions March 10, 2020 September 25, 2020 The Oregonian, WE DUG INTO NEW RESEARCH INTO WHAT IT TAKES TO ACCOMPLISH OUR GOALS TO CUT POLLUTION FROM MAJOR SECTORS OF OUR ECONOMY. The BIG ISSUE ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS ARE GOOD FOR OUR Transforming Our CLIMATE, OUR HEALTH, AND OUR SAFETY. In Washington State, emissions from buildings are growing at a faster rate than any other source of carbon pollution, with this increase largely attributable to the use of Transportation fossil gas in homes and buildings. Combusting fossil gas in homes and buildings is not climate only a significant contributor to climate change, but also poses significant health risks for our communities, children, and other vulnerable populations. solutions Many cities are increasingly looking at ensuring all new buildings are electric as a key accelerating the transition cost-effective pathway for achieving their local or state greenhouse emissions goals. to our clean energy future Electrifying buildings is critical to addressing climate change, but it is also achievable, SCENARIOS FOR WA & OR affordable, safe, and creates a more resilient energy system. Electrifying buildings is a key component of the most cost-effective pathway to achieving deep greenhouse gas emissions reductions. According to Washington’s Deep Decarbonization Pathway Study, the lowest cost pathway for achieving 80% carbon reductions economy-wide by 2050 relies on electrifying our buildings, reducing the residential sector’s use of gas by 85%. A continued reliance on gas to achieve deep reductions was much more costly. These findings align with the Clean Energy Transition Institute’s Pathways to a Clean Energy Future for the Northwest study, which also found that electrifying buildings is substantially more cost- effective than a limited electrification pathway. 1 AND WE KEPT ORGANIZING FOR POSITIVE CHANGE. above: Ryan Mello below: clean is closer than (Pierce County Council, you think—one of our formerly Tacoma City Council), Tony Ivey most popular social media posts last year was a (WEC), Kimberly Larson Ford F-150 electric pickup (Climate Solutions), and Chris Beale (Tacoma pulling a train! City Council) after testifying before the Puget Sound Clean Air Agencyon a regional clean fuels rule. ALL ELECTRIC BUILDINGS ARE GOOD FOR OUR CLIMATE, OUR HEALTH, AND OUR SAFETY. In Washington State, emissions from buildings are growing at a faster rate than any other source of carbon pollution, with this increase largely attributable to the use of fossil gas in homes and buildings. Combusting 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 electric 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, safe, and creates a more resilient energy system. Electrifying buildings is a key component of the most cost-effective pathway to achieving deep greenhouse gas emissions reductions. According to Washington’s Deep Decarbonization Pathway Study, the lowest cost pathway for achieving 80% carbon reductions economy-wide by 2050 relies on electrifying our buildings, reducing the residential sector’s use of gas by 85%. A continued reliance on gas to achieve deep reductions was much more costly. These findings align with the Clean Energy Transition Institute’s Pathways to a Clean Energy Future for the Northwest study, which also found that electrifying buildings is substantially more cost- effective than a limited electrification pathway.

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