Climate Impacts Group

Climate Impacts Group & partners release report in English and Spanish aimed at preventing heat-related illness and death in Washington

Texto en español a continuación

Two years ago, in the summer of 2021, Washington experienced the deadliest weather disaster in the state’s history with days of record-breaking heat. More Washingtonians died from heat exposure each day during the 2021 heat dome than die from heat exposure in a typical summer.

The devastating impacts of the heat dome, coupled with projections that extreme heat events will be more frequent and more intense as the climate changes, serve as a call to action to address heat vulnerability across our state. 

In the hot seat: Saving lives from extreme heat in Washington state describes the problem of extreme heat and outlines specific, actionable guidance for short-term emergency response and long-term risk reduction. 

How the Canadian wildfire smoke could shift Americans’ views on climate

As climate change dropped its calling card on the East Coast last week in the form of thick, dangerous smoke, millions of Americans and Canadians shared the jarring experience — forced to retreat indoors, cancel plans, wear masks and breathe hazardous air. The smoke that Canadian wildfires sent swirling over swaths of North America blanketed cities including New York, Philadelphia and Toronto, shocked many Easterners, broke air quality records and threatened people’s health. It also created a window, climate experts say, for catching people’s attention. Meade Krosby is quoted. 

“When these events happen, they’re a really important opportunity for helping the public make the connection between these kinds of events and climate change, and helping them understand what they can do.” – Meade Krosby, senior scientist, UW Climate Impacts Group

Beating the Heat: Collective Action for a Safer Northwest | June 22 Event

Summer has barely begun, and already the Pacific Northwest is experiencing a heatwave and record-breaking temperatures. The sweltering conditions are a reminder that heat health risks are a growing concern for many in our region.

The good news is that we have new tools and guidance to catalyze action to prevent illness and death from extreme heat.

On June 22—almost exactly two years after the Pacific Northwest heat dome—EarthLab, the Climate Impacts Group (CIG) and the Center for Health and the Global Environment (CHanGE) will be co-hosting a multifaceted event to share new research and tools that will help save lives during extreme heat. 

Chile deploys a task force to fight deadly wildfires. It’s goats.

Goats are being employed help curb the deadly wildfires now scorching mountainous central Chile, as well as across the Pacific Northwest. Crystal Raymond is quoted. 

These things really do wear on you: The grief and hope shared by those studying the climate crisis

Eco-anxiety is on the rise among Americans, but for those who have been studying the climate crisis and its effects, this feeling is far from novel. Dr. Meade Krosby is quoted. 

WA could get millions in federal salmon recovery dollars

More than $60 million in federal grants could soon be on the way to help Washington’s rivers, endangered salmon and native eelgrass. Dr. Crystal Raymond is quoted.  

Now Hiring: Climate Justice Research Scientist

Are you passionate about the environment and social justice? Do you want to pursue a career centered around the theory and practice of climate justice and resilience? Are you interested in pursuing creative work that centers the needs and goals of frontline communities? If yes, apply today to be the next Climate Impacts Group Climate Justice Research Scientist!

The Climate Justice Research Scientist will support and expand our social science, policy, governance and project management capabilities across various climate change adaptation projects, with an emphasis on projects in collaboration with frontline communities. Many of these projects will be part of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative, a NOAA-funded research program housed at the Climate Impacts Group. 

Drought planning forum explores risks, solutions for Methow Valley

The forum brought together water experts from the valley, the state, and federal agencies in early March. They explained hydrogeology and water storage, and outlined steps to preserve water for rivers and fish, residential and business use, and for agriculture. Research from the UW Climate Impacts Group is referenced.  

The Office of the Washington State Climatologist, Climate Impacts Group, and partners release 2022 PNW Water Year Impacts Assessment

The 2022 water year was characterized by abrupt transitions in weather – from an abnormally dry winter, to an abnormally wet spring, and back to an abnormally dry summer. The Climate Impacts Group, Office of the Washington State Climatologist and others developed the 2022 Pacific Northwest Water Year Impacts Assessment to summarize the water year conditions and related impacts experienced by agricultural producers, water managers, fisheries managers and other natural resource managers. Now in its third year, this year’s assessment focuses on impacts and responses to abrupt changes in conditions.

Access the Assessment

Overall, temperature averages and precipitation totals across Idaho, Oregon and Washington were close to normal during the 2022 water year. 

UW Undergrads: Join our team with a paid internship!

The Climate Impacts Group is seeking an intern to support several interrelated projects as part of the Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative. The intern will join EarthLab’s Summer Internship Program, a robust, cohort-based internship program for UW undergraduate students.

The Northwest Climate Resilience Collaborative Intern will help to create a month-long summer program that builds cohorts and networks of early career researchers passionate about climate justice. This program will focus on capacity-building work with programs that connect students with frontline organizations to build capacity for justice-centered climate resilience; supporting frontline organizations to build a matching program that will provide staffing support to increase capacity of organizations to self-organize on climate resilience; conducting research to understand the knowledge and practice of community-driven adaptation for frontline communities and organizations; and co-producing curriculum and workshops with student groups to aid in the development of educational modules for the summer school.