EXECUTIVE ORDER
THE GOVERNOR
WASHINGTON CLIMATE CHANGE CHALLENGE
The drivers of climate change are global, but the effects of
climate change on Washington are local and unique, including
our dependence on snowpack for fresh water, our reliance on
hydropower for energy, and our significant amount of
shoreline;
According to the University of Washington's Climate Impacts
Group, the effects of climate change are already being felt in
the state of Washington in the form of average yearly
temperatures rising faster over the 20th Century than the
global average, mountain glaciers in the North Cascades losing
up to a third of their area since 1950, snow pack in the
Cascades declining by 35%, peak spring river runoff occurring
10 to 30 days earlier and the proportion of stream flow that
arrives in summer decreasing as much as 34% in sensitive river
basins; and
WHEREAS, Washington has taken significant actions to address
climate change, including:
• | Adopting the 2005 Clean Car Act requiring certain
automobiles to meet tougher emissions standards
beginning with 2009 models; |
• | Retrofitting 50% of school buses and 20% of local
government diesel engine vehicles to reduce highly
toxic diesel emissions; |
• | Leading the nation in requiring fuel suppliers to
ensure that 2% of the fuel they sell is biodiesel or
ethanol; |
• | Leading the nation in adopting high performance
green building standards and having one of the most
energy efficient building codes in the nation; |
• | Implementing the best energy efficiency standards
for appliances; |
• | Passing a clean energy initiative to increase the
amount of energy efficiency and renewable resources
in our state's electricity system; |
• | Purchasing hybrid and low emission vehicles for
state agency use; |
• | Adopting the Columbia River Water Management Act, which will work toward meeting the water storage needs for agriculture, communities, and salmon; and |
Washington's rural communities can gain economic benefit
through the production of renewable fuels, keeping more of the
money Washington residents spend on imported fuels here at
home; and
WHEREAS, Washington has worked closely with California and
Oregon in establishing the West Coast Governors' Global
Warming Initiative and is working with other western states to
address climate change in a coordinated effort and through the
Western Governors Association; and
WHEREAS, Washington's vast hydroelectric system must be taken
into account in any regional or national climate program; and
Washington State must continue its work to be prepared for the
inevitable impacts of climate change.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Christine O. Gregoire, Governor of the state
of Washington declare the state's commitment to address
climate change by:
1. | Establishing the following greenhouse gas emissions reduction and clean energy economy goals for Washington State: |
• | By 2020, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the
state of Washington to 1990 levels, a reduction of
10 million metric tons below 2004 emissions; |
• | By 2035, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the
state of Washington to 25% below 1990 levels, a
reduction of 30 million metric tons below 2004; |
• | By 2050, the state of Washington will do its part to
reach global climate stabilization levels by
reducing emissions to 50% below 1990 levels or 70%
below our expected emissions that year, an absolute
reduction in emissions of nearly 50 million metric
tons below 2004; |
• | By 2020, increase the number of clean energy sector
jobs to 25,000 from the 8,400 jobs we had in 2004;
and |
• | By 2020, reduce expenditures by 20% on fuel imported
into the state by developing Washington resources
and supporting efficient energy use. |
2. | Implementing the significant policy actions taken in 2005 and 2006 to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These actions will move Washington State to at least 60% of the 2020 goal and grow the clean energy economy by: |
• | Working to ensure cars sold in Washington meet
stringent emission standards beginning with 2009
models; |
• | Retrofitting the most polluting diesel engines in
school buses and local government vehicles; |
• | Working with farmers, entrepreneurs, fuel
distributors and retailers to assure that biofuel
feedstocks are grown in Washington; that refiners,
blenders and distributors of biofuels create family
wage jobs in Washington; and that the public can
purchase fuel blends that reduce our dependence on
imported fuel; |
• | Constructing high performance green buildings; |
• | Maintaining the highest levels of efficiency in our
state's energy code and regularly updating and
enhancing those standards; |
• | Examining compliance with appliance efficiency
standards and updating and enhancing those
standards; |
• | Implementing the requirements of the Energy
Independence Act by adopting rules that help
utilities to succeed in meeting their renewable
energy targets; |
• | Pursuing new water resources in Eastern Washington,
including water conservation projects, developing
new storage and new creative water management
alternatives; and |
• | Reducing energy use by state agencies by achieving the goals established in Executive Order 05-01, Establishing Sustainability and Efficiency Goals for State Operations. |
3. | Achieving at least the remaining 40% toward the 2020 goal for Washington State and planning for our future, I, FURTHER, order and direct: |
A. | The Director of the Department of Ecology and the
Director of the Department of Community, Trade and
Economic Development in consultation with a broad
range of stakeholders to develop a climate change
initiative, Washington Climate Change Challenge, to
achieve the goals of this Executive Order.
Executive Cabinet agencies are directed to provide
their full assistance and support in developing
Washington Climate Change Challenge. I invite the
Office of the Insurance Commissioner, the
Commissioner of Public Lands, institutions of higher
education, and members of the Legislature to assist
in this effort. |
B. | The Director of the Department of Ecology and the
Director of the Department of Community, Trade and
Economic Development shall include representatives
from business, including transportation, forestry
and energy sectors, agriculture, local, county and
regional governments, institutions of higher
education, labor unions, environmental groups and
other interested residents as appropriate in the
development of Washington Climate Change Challenge. |
C. | Washington Climate Change Challenge shall address
the following elements and process steps: |
i) | Consider the full range of policies and
strategies for the state of Washington to
adopt or undertake to ensure the economic and
emission reductions goals are achieved,
including policy options that can maximize
the efficiency of emission reductions
including market-based systems, allowance
trading, and incentives; |
ii) | Determine specific steps the state of
Washington should take to prepare for the
impact of global warming, including impacts
to public health, agriculture, the coast
line, forestry, and infrastructure; |
iii) | Assess what further steps the state of
Washington should take to be prepared for the
impact of global warming to water supply and
management; |
iv) | Initiate active involvement by the state of
Washington in the development of regional and
national climate policies and coordination
with British Columbia; |
v) | Recommend how the state of Washington, as an
entity, can reduce its generation of
greenhouse gas emissions; |
vi) | Work with the state of Washington's local
governments to maximize coordination and
effectiveness of local and state climate
initiatives; and |
vii) | Inform the general public of the process, solicit comments and involvement and develop recommendations for future public education and outreach. |
D. | The Director of the Department of Ecology and the Director of the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development shall submit Washington Climate Change Challenge to the Office of the Governor within one year of the signing of this Executive Order. |
Signed and sealed with the official seal of the state of
Washington, on this 7th day of February 2007, at Olympia,
Washington.
By: | |||
Christine O. Gregoire | |||
Governor | |||
BY THE GOVERNOR: | |||
Sam Reed | |||
Secretary of State |