BP BHEAD INT S [atlas:bill]

AN ACT Relating to addressing the impacts of climate change; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. The legislature finds that:

(1) There is a growing scientific consensus that increases in atmospheric concentrations of gases such as carbon dioxide have altered the earth's climate system, warming the earth's surface and producing other climate changes;

(2) Even if concentrations of these gases are stabilized in the near future, Washington citizens and businesses may be faced with temperature and sea level changes as the earth's climate system adjusts to elevated carbon levels;

(3) Much of the research to date on climate change takes a global perspective, while much less information is available on potential climate change impacts to smaller regions such as Washington state and the Pacific Northwest;

(4) Regional climate changes may have a number of major impacts, both negative and positive, on the economy and the public health and safety of Washington and the Pacific Northwest; and

(5) The citizens and businesses of Washington will be better positioned to adjust to any such changes if the legislature undertakes an effort to identify what the regional climate changes are likely to be and how citizens and businesses can plan for, mitigate, or take advantage of these impending climate changes.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. (1) There is created the joint select committee on climate change. The committee shall be comprised of eight members of the house of representatives, four from each caucus, selected by the speaker of the house, and eight members of the senate, four from each caucus, selected by the president of the senate. In making appointments to this joint select committee, the speaker shall select two members, one from each caucus, from the energy and utilities, agriculture and ecology, and natural resources committees, and from the membership at large. The president shall select two members, one from each caucus, from the energy and utilities, agriculture and environment, and natural resources and parks committees, and from the membership at large. Committee members shall select from among themselves a committee chair and vice-chair.

(2) The joint select committee shall survey the current state of the science regarding global climate change and associated regional climate change. The committee shall identify steps that the public and private sectors may make to plan for, mitigate, or take advantage of the effects of climate change. The committee shall also identify key areas of uncertainty and opportunities for future research. The committee's efforts shall include, but not be limited to, consideration of the following:

(a) Possible alterations to the hydrologic cycle, including changes in the quantity and the timing of snowfall and snowpack, rainfall, runoff, peak flows, low flows, and flooding incidences;

(b) Possible changes to energy supply should changes in the timing and quantity of runoff lead to changes in hydropower production capabilities and to energy demand in response to potentially warmer winters and hotter summers;

(c) Possible changes to the state's capability to produce agricultural commodities due to changes in temperature and precipitation patterns, growing seasons, availability and timing of flows for irrigation, and crop response to increased levels of carbon dioxide;

(d) Possible alterations to the state's capability to produce forest products, due to changes in temperature, precipitation, and increased carbon dioxide availability, as well as to changes in species mix, and changes related to seedling establishment and regeneration;

(e) Possible impacts to the state's freshwater, marine, and salmonid fisheries, including effects of changes in lake and stream temperatures, changes in the quantity and timing of flows for fish, and changes in river and estuarine habitat due to sea level rise and changes in flooding incidences;

(f) Possible impacts to coastal areas and communities due to changes in sea level, changes in frequency and intensity of storms and storm surges, changes in flooding potential, and changes to coastal erosion rates and rates of saltwater intrusion into freshwater aquifers;

(g) Possible risks to human health and safety, including health effects associated with air and water quality changes, changes in disease patterns, and changes to drinking water availability and coastal communities associated with sea level rise; and

(h) An inventory of existing research efforts and funding sources, and an identification of important research subjects not currently being addressed.

(3) The committee shall also identify policies in place in the state that either enhance or discourage economic development opportunities for Washington companies engaged in energy efficiency and renewable energy resource industries and shall make recommendations on any policy changes needed to encourage these industries.

(4) In accomplishing subsections (2) and (3) of this section, the committee shall solicit input from higher education faculty members and other knowledgeable parties in the public, private, and public-interest sectors.

(5) Staffing for the committee shall be provided by senate committee services and house of representatives office of program research.

(6) The committee shall report its findings and recommendations to the legislature by December 1, 1998.

(7) The committee expires June 1, 1999.