Healthier climate investments mean healthier people.

Climate Commitment Act Funds offer opportunities to significantly impact the health of Washington’s population. Programs and projects that reduce CO2 emissions and harmful air pollution improve the health of our most overburdened communities and on the healthcare system. In these investments, the legislature must fulfill their requirements under HEAL and CCA and ensure that at least 35–40% of funds benefit Overburdened Communities. These core principles must guide our legislative approach to climate and health.

Our buildings need clean air and safe access to heating and cooling.

Clean energy technologies must be at the forefront of building development in homes, new buildings, and schools.

We need to build a climate-health centered transportation system

The legislature must increase efforts to target emissions from the transportation sector. Transportation contributes about 22% of total air pollution in WA. Vehicle pollution causes health problems, such as cancer and asthma.

Latest from Olympia

🚆 WPSR and partners from the Climate Rail Alliance, League of Women Voters, Sierra Club, and Irthlingz sent a letter to leading Transportation legislators in support of a proviso for Rail Education. Read the letter here.

🚌 PASSED! HB1368, zero emissions school buses, is awaiting a vote on the House floor before moving onto the Senate.

🧭 PASSED! HB1391, the Energy Navigator, passed the House floor and will move on to the Senate. Watch Representative Alex Ramel’s comments on the floor. (2/09)

💨 MUST PASS THE HOUSE! Take action above and email your Representatives to pass HB2073 through the House. and take on harmful greenhouse gas emissions from anesthesia.

Express your interest in joining WPSR’s advocacy on this form.

Climate and Health Legislation

access the wpsr climate and health bill tracker

  • HB2073: Concerning emissions of greenhouse gases from sources other than methane and carbon dioxide

    • This legislation requires the Department of Ecology to study greenhouse gases used for anesthesia with the intent to produce guidance for the reduction of emissions from the use of anesthesia. Yearly emission of inhaled anesthetic agents in the USA was estimated to be equal to the annual emissions of one million automobiles in a year.

  • HB1368, SB5431 Requiring and funding the purchase of zero emission school buses. ONE-PAGER

    • Requires all new school buses be zero-emission by 2027 and all school buses on the road be zero-emission by 2035.

  • HB1012: Addressing the response to extreme weather events.

    • This bill requires the development of an Extreme Weather Response Grant Program to assist with the costs of responding to community needs during periods of extremely hot or cold weather.

  • HB 1391: Concerning energy in buildings (Energy Navigator) ONE-PAGER

    • Puts in place a tool that connects Washington consumers to clean energy financial incentives and qualified contractors for energy upgrades and retrofits.

  • HB2070, SB5990: Cumulative Risk Burden (CURB) Pollution Act ONE-PAGER

    • Requires the Washington State Department of Ecology to deny new permit applications that add cumulative pollution effects. This legislation requires monitoring pollutants affecting health that currently go unaddressed, and specifies communities that have been disproportionately harmed by pollution for specific protections.

OUR WORK THIS SESSION

📢 SPEAKING UP! Read the letter from health professionals and community leaders in support of a zero emission bus fleet in Washington.

✔️ PASSED! HB2073 has passed the House Appropriations Committee! Watch WPSR testimony on HB2073 (anesthesia) The WPSR community brought 300+ sign-ins to committee in support of HB2O73!

🧊WATCH WPSR testimony on HB1012 in the Senate State Government and Elections Committee.

📜 Read our written testimony in support of the CURB Pollution Act (SB5990), which was heard in the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee this Tuesday (1/30).

✔️ PASSED! HB1368, the zero-emissions buses bill, passed the House Appropriations Committee on Monday (1/29).

✔️ PASSED! HB2070 (CURB Pollution) passed the House Environment and Energy Committee on Monday (1/29)

▶️ Watch Dr. Annemarie Dooley’s powerful testimony on behalf of reducing greenhouse gasses in emissions in anesthesia.

📋 New health impact review for zero emissions school bus bill (HB1368) points to strong evidence in improvement in health outcomes for children.

📜 Read our written testimony in support of the CURB Pollution Act, which was heard in the House Environment and Energy Committee this Tuesday (1/16).