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We won't be pushed backward: No on I-2117
If passed by Washington voters this fall, Initiative 2117 would repeal the Climate Commitment Act, and erase funding for myriad clean energy projects, environmental justice initiatives, and good jobs. Further, the state would be blocked from any action on capping pollution and making polluters pay for their carbon pollution moving forward.
Climate change

Carbon Reduction Know-How

By: Elizabeth Willmott on

In the early days of climate action, urban plans to reduce carbon frequently suffered from the laundry list syndrome: cataloguing potential strategies without any evidence of how they would meet long-term goals. Since then, cities and counties have become more sophisticated about cutting carbon, and are developing clean energy transition plans to do it.

Cities Setting the Pace

By: Elizabeth Willmott on

Leading urban governments have set aggressive goals such as carbon neutrality and 80% reduction by 2050, and others have committed to sourcing 100% of their energy with renewables. These are not empty pledges, but achievable goals that local officials are already implementing.

Big news for Northwest climate action

By: Gregg Small on

Broad coalitions for climate action took bold steps this week in Oregon and Washington, announcing plans to put climate and clean energy measures on the 2016 ballot.

ClimateCast logo over Rajasthani villager with solar panel

PVs on track to be cheaper than fuel costs of gas power

By: Seth Zuckerman on

India pledges 40% renewable power by 2030, GOP voters are ahead of candidates on climate, CEO says divestment is scaring investors away from Canadian energy sector, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.

Oct 14: We come together for climate action

By: Alex Epstein on

#PeoplesClimate actions are taking place across the country on Oct 14! In Seattle, join author Naomi Klein and a diverse coalition of local leaders bringing hope and action to the fight against climate change. 

Shell done, friends (or, what the Shell happened?)

By: KC Golden on

Shell Oil's Arctic failure is only the latest indication that expensive bets on long-term fossil fuel development make no sense of any kind. Our transition to a better energy source will take a while—but it's absolutely underway.

The Low-Carbon City Movement

By: Elizabeth Willmott on

In December 2015, international leaders will gather in Paris for what are arguably the most important global climate talks ever. Countries are updating their carbon reduction pledges, which currently fall far short of what is necessary to hold global warming at two degrees Celsius. This represents an ambition gap among national negotiators that the bold climate leadership of city officials around the world can help close.

Oregon businesses building power for a clean economy

By: Carrie Hearne on

The Renew Oregon coalition is bringing Oregon businesses together with other voices for climate action. The list of companies backing the Oregon Business Climate Declaration continues to grow, as Portland's Mayor issues a climate challenge to local businesses.

These are unprecedented fires. Can we respond with unprecedented action?

By: Kimberly Larson on

This summer's wildfires were terrible to behold. Without action to slow global warming, such fires could burn twice as much of our region by the end of the century.

Portland businesses accept Mayor's climate challenge

By: Carrie Hearne on

Portland Mayor Charlie Hales has issued a challenge to local businesses: join the movement for climate action, and gear your business for a sustainable, clean-energy future. Will Portland businesses accept the challenge? (Spoiler alert: Yes.)

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How Carbon Pricing Built the Clean Energy Industry in Denmark

As a part of an international climate and energy actionable knowledge exchange, i-SUSTAIN is gathering together experts from Denmark, Sweden and Washington state in Olympia and Seattle from April 11-12, 2016. The April convening focuses on district energy and combined heat and power, with this bi-directional knowledge exchange on climate and energy continuing in 2016 with other key action areas.

An open-to-the-public meeting with the delegates is being offered in Olympia (April 11th) and Seattle (April 12th):

WWU 2016 Energy Symposium

On April 19, 2016 the Western Washington University Institute for Energy Studies will be holding its first Energy Symposium.  Students, faculty, and invited experts in the field of energy will be joining together on Western's campus for presentations, lively panel discussions, student poster sessions, and networking. Space is limited. Register now.

PSR Writing Scholarship Awards: Hear from Oregon's Youth on Climate, Justice, and Peace

Join Oreogn Physicians for Social Responsibility in celebrating the next generation of peace and environmental activists at the 2016 Greenfield Peace Writing Scholarship Awards Ceremony. This year’s scholarship asked high school juniors and seniors to respond to the following prompt:

 “How would a successful movement to confront climate change help create a more just and peaceful world?”

Best-selling author Paul Hawken to speak in Portland

Senior Advocates for Generational Equity (SAGE), a non-profit dedicated to raising awareness about the challenges facing future generations, will host best-selling author Paul Hawken in Portland in May as its 2016 Visiting SAGE. Paul Hawken is a world-renown environmentalist, entrepreneur, and best-selling author on sustainability. He will speak about his work with Project Drawdown, a non-profit that is mapping and modeling 100 existing, substantive solutions to reverse climate change.