A picture of a child using her inhaler with smoke stacks in the background.
The fight to protect Oregon’s Climate Protection Program continues
Oregon’s Climate Protection Program protects our health, cuts pollution from the state’s largest emitters, and helps shield families from rising energy costs. Big oil and gas are once again suing in court to avoid accountability. We’re committed to defending this program and ensuring a safe, healthy, affordable Oregon for today and future generations.
Climate change

Unlocking Funding to Accelerate Climate Action

Dedicated funding is a critical ingredient for urban clean energy action, but securing it is one of the most persistent challenges that local governments face today. Some leading communities are marching ahead on their own.

ClimateCast logo over Greenland glacier

White flags fluttering from ramparts of fossil fuel firms

WV utility foresees the fall of coal, Shell cancels tar sands project, $150 million pours into off-grid solar in developing countries, Bill Nye grapples with a climate meltdown, and more news of the week in clean energy solutions.

Partnering for Powerful Action

Leading local governments do not travel alone on the road of climate action-- they partner with other jurisdictions and networks to get deeper and faster results. These collaborations have turned low-carbon city efforts into a movement.

Tools of the Trade

Urban leaders are looking beyond their typical toolbox of policies, programs, and partnerships, and experimenting with new approaches to achieve carbon reduction through cleaner energy supply, building energy efficiency, and low-carbon transportation.

A Stronger Energy Code to Cut Carbon

A package of hugely important changes to Washington State codes are needed to make buildings more energy efficient and ready for solar and electric vehicle charging.

Carbon Reduction Know-How

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

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

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

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

#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. 

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A Climate Motherhood Manifesto

Mother’s Day is a great time to reflect on the role of women, especially us moms, in the fight against climate change; Bringing our mom voices together, persistently and loudly, may be our most important tool for moving climate progress forward.

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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.