Real Results For Washington's Environment

State Action on Global Warming
In 2007, Environment Washington helped establish state goals that will do what it takes to stop global warming, limit new sources of pollution and expand the production of biofuels in our state. In 2008, Washington joined 6 other western states in a regional plan to cut the pollution that causes global warming.

Clean Cars Coming to Washington
You can expect cars that get 40 miles per gallon to be the norm, thanks our work to pass the Clean Cars Program, which has also been adopted by 13 other states. Thanks to President Obama’s approval of the program, cars sold in Washington and 13 other states must emit 40% less carbon pollution by 2020.

Clean cars coming to Washington
Environment Washington and our allies have been advocating at the federal level for cleaner cars for years. Now, new cars and trucks on American roads will emit one-third less global warming pollution and get better gas mileage thanks to the Clean Cars standards we helped to implement in 14 states, including Washington, and which were adopted at the federal level by President Obama in 2009.

Preserving Marine Life
Endangered orcas, fish and other ocean wildlife have a better chance of survival after Environment Washington played a critical role in passing new federal protections to reduce overfishing and restore ocean habitat.

Protecting the Arctic Refuge
Environment Washington helped stop repeated efforts to open the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to oil drilling. The refuge is one of the most pristine places in the United States.

Preserving Puget Sound 
In 2007, we helped make Washington the first state to phase out the use of toxic chemicals known as PBDEs—which were harming wildlife populations in Puget Sound.

In 2008, the governor-appointed Puget Sound Partnership adopted Environment Washington-backed recommendations to preserve Puget Sound, including banning industrial dumping, protecting critical marine habitat and reducing stormwater runoff with better development practices. Now we’re working to restore the Clean Water Act, which will protect the waterways that lead into the Sound.

Building a Clean Energy Future
At least 15% of our electricity will come from clean, renewable energy sources, thanks to the 2006 voter-approved Initiative 937. Now we’re working to bring this policy to the national level, dramatically increasing the amount of clean energy we generate and creating thousands of new green jobs.

In 2009, we helped pass the Efficiency First initiative, making Washington the first state in the nation to set a standard for all new buildings to be carbon-neutral by 2030. Now we’re working for a brighter clean energy future by closing TransAlta, the state’s oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plant.

Protecting Mt. Baker
In 2008, 106,000 acres of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest were protected from development, logging, mining and vehicle traffic, when the Wild Sky Wilderness Act declared this land as wilderness—the first new wilderness designation in Washington in more than 20 years.  

Saving Energy and Water
Washington will save an estimated 1.7 billion gallons of water and $500 million on electricity bills by 2020, thanks to a 2005 efficiency law spearheaded by Environment Washington.

Defending Our Waters
A judge ordered the Oeser Company to reduce its toxic discharges into a tributary of Bellingham Bay after Environment Washington staff and the Washington Toxic Coalition filed a lawsuit in 2003. Now we’re working to get Washington’s most toxic sites cleaned up.