‘Every part of a degree of warming that we can avert will make the future better’

Written by

Researcher Amy Snover explains why the IPCC report matters, what it says about climate change in the Northwest, and how communities can prepare.

“This will just keep getting worse until we stop it,” Snover said. “The science is really clear that every bit, every part of a degree of additional warming makes the future worse, which means that every part of a degree of warming that we can avert will make the future better. I do this work because the future isn’t written yet. We’re actually writing it every day we live, and I want to be part of making the future better.”

Hitting Home: Latest climate change report underscores impacts for Skagit County

Written by

As Skagit County experienced yet another stretch of oppressive heat, smoke and continued drought this past week, news alerts kept coming about massive fires in the U.S., Canada and Greece along with word of a Code Red announced in the latest report from a United Nations group studying climate change. Guillaume Mauger is quoted.

Forest Ecologist Backs Inslee’s Assertion that Wildfires are Worsened by Climate Change

Written by

Gov. Jay Inslee has continued his stance that the hundreds of thousands of acres burned by wildfires in Washington state are a result of climate change, bringing a forest ecologist to back research that shows the connection in his latest meeting with the media. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist, is quoted.

“As bad as it is now, as high as the risks are now, they will continue to worsen as long as climate change continues to worsen,” Raymond said.

Gov. Inslee Points to Climate Change as Wildfires Choke Washington State, West Coast

Written by

[Gov. Jay Inlsee] and a fire ecologist warned during a news conference that if something isn’t done about climate change, conditions will worsen for the U.S. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist and fire ecologist, is quoted. 

“As bad as it is now (and) as high as the risks are now, they will continue to worsen as long as climate change is an issue,” Raymond said. “We can expect to see more extreme fire danger days, longer fire seasons and overall greater acreage burned.” 

Gov. Inslee: Too Much Suffering to ‘Ignore Clear and Present Danger’ of Climate Change Induced Fires

Written by

The air quality across Washington state this week is “unhealthy at best, hazardous at worst,” said Governor Jay Inslee in a Tuesday press conference. Crystal Raymond is quoted.

“The connection between climate change and increasing fire potential across the west has been clearly established by scientists for over a decade,” Raymond said. “The situation that we are in now is unfortunate, but it does not come as a surprise to fire scientists who have been studying this issue for several years across the region.”

Multiple Wildfires Devastate Large Swaths Of Areas In Eastern Washington

Written by

In Washington state, fires burned more land in a day than they normally burn in entire fire seasons. Crystal Raymond, climate adaptation specialist, discussed the connection between climate change and wildfire for National Public Radio.

“Basically, climate change is loading the dice” when it comes to wildfire risk, Crystal says. “And then you get a wind event, and things are just ready to go.” 

King County’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan Brings “More Equitable Access” to Climate Justice

Written by

King County Executive Dow Constantine released the county’s 2020 Strategic Climate Action Plan (SCAP), a five-year blueprint to confront the effects of climate change in our corner of the Pacific Northwest. CIG Director Amy Snover is quoted.

“The science is clear: human-caused climate change is underway,” said Amy Snover, director of the University of Washington’s Climate Impacts Group. “Unfortunately, it’s not enough to work to stop climate change. We now also need to prepare for its consequences, which is why the plan’s focus on climate preparedness is so important.”