We are Washington’s lead agency on climate change. The impacts of climate change are happening now and will continue to affect our communities and ecosystems for decades to come. Learn how we are already responding to and planning for future impacts of climate change in Washington state.
Washington’s climate change resilience strategy
Washington’s climate change resilience strategy is an important tool that brings together all of the necessary requirements to prepare for the impacts of climate change in Washington — particularly on the most vulnerable and those facing systemic inequities.
We are working to update our climate resilience strategy by Sept. 30, 2024. Sign up for our email list to stay informed!
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions is pivotal to our work. Our global reliance on fossil fuels adds greater amounts of greenhouse gases (GHGs) to our atmosphere, which results in higher global temperatures and causes most climate change impacts.
Reducing wildfire, drought, and water supply impacts
Monitoring wildfires and smoke is a collaborative process between state and federal agencies. Increased temperatures leads to a cycle of less snowpack and water supply, which leads to more droughts, drier environments, extreme heat events, and a higher risk of wildfire and unhealthy air quality levels.
Ocean acidification has devastating impacts on wildlife and the environment. It's the result of our oceans absorbing excess carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, resulting in changes to seawater chemistry.