Legislature gave climate, economy hope

Climate policy took center stage in the Washington Legislature this year. It was a classic battle pitting hope against fear of the unknown.

Hope had some diverse and determined allies. Conservation groups and anti-poverty advocates, venture capitalists and faith leaders, labor unions and businesses worked together to pass “Climate Action and Green Jobs” (HB 2815). The bill links limits on climate pollution with work-force training to ensure that the clean energy transition delivers widely shared prosperity. And it focuses state agencies on reducing car dependence — our biggest source of climate pollution.

Sen. Rosa Franklin, D-Tacoma, said, “The green economy, it will be the new economy. If we do not prepare for it, we will be left behind.” Labor Council President Rick Bender said, “Clearly, taking action to limit global warming pollution, while training the work force of the new energy economy, helps to secure our energy future. It positions Washington at the forefront of a tangible move toward sustainable energy independence.”

But fear had its day too, as legislators raised questions about climate action: Will it disadvantage domestic industries? Will it limit our mobility? Will we have enough affordable energy?

Answers came from the Washington Climate Advisory Team, leaders from business, government, and civic groups assembled by Gov. Chris Gregoire. Their report, “Leading the Way on Climate Change: The Defining Challenge of Our Time,” offers solutions that will reduce climate pollution dramatically, create at least 30,000 green jobs, and save $4.9 billion annually in fossil fuel imports.

The solutions are familiar. We know what to do: conservation, more transportation choices, cleaner cars and fuels, renewable energy, reducing the loss of forests and farm lands. We know how to do it in ways that expand economic opportunity. We know how to waste less and live better. And by passing Climate Action and Green Jobs, the Legislature delivered a strong policy commitment to get it done — a commitment that will drive private investment and public action.

Why did hope prevail? I’d love to say it was a pure triumph of optimism, vision, and collective determination. But that’s not the whole story. As it turned out, fear played both sides of the issue. Fear of the unknown was certainly a factor. But fear of the known — the disastrous consequences of our fossil fuel dependence — was just as potent.

Fuel dependence hurts

Opponents of climate policy worried about the effect on the economy, but fossil fuel dependence is hammering the economy now. Washington loses more than $50 million every day on oil and gas imports. Why? Because fossil fuel supplies are finite, and we keep using more. Until we demand less, it’s going to get worse. We’ll keep paying more, and we’ll be asked to fight more wars for the privilege of prolonging the addiction.

Global temperatures are rising as surely as gas prices. How does that affect Washington? This winter’s devastating storms — including hurricane-force winds and a tornado — offered a stark example. No single weather event can be attributed to global warming. But more intense storms and fires are exactly what scientists expect if climate disruption continues unchecked.

So in the end, hope had two key allies: a strong foundation of practical solutions from the Climate Advisory Team, and compelling evidence that fossil fuel addiction is a disaster in progress. It also had the steadfast leadership of Gregoire, Sens. Craig Pridemore, D-Vancouver and Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island; and Reps. Hans Dunshee, D-Snohomish and Dave Upthegrove, D-Des Moines.

Nothing sustains hope like a strong dose of solutions. And with “Climate Action and Green Jobs,” the 2008 Legislature delivered one.

K.C. Golden is policy director of Climate Solutions, a Washington state research and advocacy organization working for practical solutions to global warming.