S‑0919.3   _____________________________________________

SENATE BILL 5674

           _____________________________________________

State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senators Constantine, Jacobsen, Prentice, Fraser and Kohl‑Welles

Read first time 01/30/2001.  Referred to Committee on Environment, Energy & Water.

_1      AN ACT Relating to potential climate change; adding a new

_2  chapter to Title 70 RCW; providing an effective date; and

_3  declaring an emergency.

_4  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_5      NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature makes the following

_6  findings:

_7      (1) The recent consensus report of the world's climate research

_8  community has concluded that significant climate change arising

_9  from pollutants generated by human activity is already underway.

10      (2) The best available analyses by northwest climate experts

11  now indicate a projected doubling of carbon dioxide in the

12  atmosphere is now expected to increase the average temperature in

13  Washington state four to seven degrees over the next fifty years.

14      (3) Such changes are likely to have major, adverse impacts on

15  the state's environment and economy.

16      (4) The citizens of Washington state have consistently

17  demonstrated global scientific, technological, and policy

18  leadership.

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_1      NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  The definitions in this section apply

_2  throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires

_3  otherwise.

_4      (1) "Board" means the board of directors of the Washington

_5  climate center.

_6      (2) "Center" means the Washington climate center.

_7      (3) "Climate change" means a change of climate attributed

_8  directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the

_9  composition of the global atmosphere.

10      (4) "Emissions" means the release of greenhouse gases.

11      (5) "Emitter" means the entity releasing greenhouse gases.

12      (6) "Greenhouse gases" includes all gases identified as of

13  January 1, 2001, for regulation by the United Nations framework

14  convention on climate change.  They include, but are not limited

15  to, carbon dioxide (CO2), methane and natural gas (CH4), and

16  nitrous oxide (N2O).

17      NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.  The state legislature authorizes the

18  establishment of an independent, nonprofit organization known as

19  the Washington climate center to serve as a central clearinghouse

20  for all climate change activities in the state.

21      NEW SECTION. Sec. 4.  The center shall be funded through grants

22  and voluntary cash and in-kind contributions.

23      NEW SECTION. Sec. 5.  (1) The activities of the center shall be

24  directed by a board of directors appointed by the governor, for

25  terms of four years, beginning November 1, 2001.  The board shall

26  include eleven members as follows:

27      (a) One member from each major party of the senate as

28  recommended by their leadership;

29      (b) One member from each major party of the house of

30  representatives as recommended by their leadership;

31      (c) One member from the office of the commissioner of public

32  lands;

33      (d) Two members from the nonprofit, climate sector;

34      (e) Two members from the business sector; and

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_1      (f) Two members from the climate academic sector.

_2      (2) The board shall retain and assign staff and volunteers as

_3  the board deems necessary.  A vote of a majority of the members of

_4  the board shall bind the board.

_5 

_6      NEW SECTION. Sec. 6.  (1) The duties of the center may

_7  include, but are not limited to:

_8      (a) Determining current and projected emissions of greenhouse

_9  gases in the state;

10      (b) Collecting and sharing scientific and technological data

11  related to climate change;

12      (c) Assisting and collecting all climate contingency planning

13  in the state;

14      (d) Advising relevant sectors of prospective commercial

15  opportunities;

16      (e) Studying and recommending avenues for capping the total

17  amount of greenhouse gas emissions in the state by December 31,

18  2003;

19      (f) Studying and recommending the most cost-effective methods

20  for eliminating all net greenhouse gas emissions in the state by

21  December 31, 2020;

22      (g) Studying and recommending the most cost-effective methods

23  for reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation

24  sector consistent with federal law;

25      (h) Certifying the extent and degree of any mitigation

26  projects;

27      (i) Developing adequate methods for the monitoring and

28  verification of mitigation projects; and

29      (j) Serving as a central, independent registry available for

30  the trading of emissions credits, if any.

31      (2) The center shall:

32      (a) Develop and publish its rules of operation, calculations,

33  and methods;

34      (b) Accomplish any other duty assigned to it by the legislature

35  for which adequate funding is provided; and

36      (c) Provide an annual report to the governor and legislature by

37  December 31st regarding its operations, including the status of

38  greenhouse gas emissions in the state.

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_1      (3) The center shall, within available funds, also:

_2      (a) Identify key sectors within the state likely to be affected

_3  adversely by climate change;

_4      (b) Notify and convene meetings of key members of those

_5  sectors;

_6      (c) Provide relevant scientific and technological information

_7  to the public and key sectors;

_8      (d) Support a collaborative response to assist those sectors;

_9  and

10      (e) Assist in the creation of effective contingency planning

11  for those sectors.

12      (4) The following agencies and programs shall work with the

13  center to establish contingency planning under subsection (3) of

14  this section:  The department of community, trade, and economic

15  development, the department of ecology, the department of

16  transportation, and the Washington State University energy

17  program.

18      NEW SECTION. Sec. 7.  (1) All emitters of greenhouse gases are

19  encouraged to seek mitigation of their emissions.

20      (2) Upon a request, accompanied with adequate funding, the

21  center may:

22      (a) Assist any emitter in selecting mitigation projects;

23      (b) Determine and certify the amount of mitigation accomplished

24  by any mitigation project; and

25      (c) Determine what monitoring and verification standards would

26  be useful in the evaluation of mitigation projects.

27     NEW SECTION. Sec. 8.  The center shall publicize successful

28  mitigation projects and efforts to reduce the emission of

29  greenhouse gases.

30      NEW SECTION. Sec. 9.  This act is necessary for the immediate

31  preservation of the public peace, health, or safety, or support of

32  the state government and its existing public institutions, and

33  takes effect July 1, 2001.

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_1     NEW SECTION. Sec. 10.  Sections 1 through 9 of this act

_2  constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.

‑‑‑ END ‑‑‑

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