September—October 2024
Vote no on Initiative 2117
by Bob Phreaner
Every OPAS member should be concerned about Initiative 2117 which is on the ballot in November. If passed, this would significantly impact our environmental efforts by weakening carbon pricing and stripping crucial funding for climate and conservation initiatives. This initiative aims to repeal the 2021 Washington State Climate Commitment Act, a state law that provides a “cap and invest” program designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Washington State set the national standard for responsible stewardship when our state legislature passed the Climate Commitment Act (CCA).
Voting No on Initiative 2117 is important to protect the environment from the ravages of climate chaos. Weather conditions caused by climate change disrupt bird migration patterns, threaten nesting and wintering grounds, and push species toward extinction. The CCA offers a chance to do our part to reverse this trend and bend the bird curve towards survival and resilience. The CCA is a foundational climate law that provides billions of dollars in resources for conservation and climate action. In summary, it caps and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from Washington’s largest emitting sources and industries, allowing businesses to find the most efficient path to lower carbon emissions. This powerful program works alongside other critical climate policies to help Washington achieve its commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050.
The WA CCA is one of the strongest emission reduction programs in the US and over $2 billion in funding has been allocated for clean energy, natural climate solutions and environmental justice.
Initiative 2117 would:
Jeopardize protections for Washington’s rivers, streams, lakes, and natural lands. It would cut programs for salmon recovery, hurt water quality, threaten forest health, and reduce habitat preservation, even though Washington State has declared a drought emergency in six of the last 10 years.
Cut funding for the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, which compensates farmers to plant native vegetation along salmon bearing streams. This protects the environmentally sensitive land promoting biodiversity and ecosystem health.
Cut funding for the State to acquire and protect ecologically sensitive lands that play a critical role in preserving natural habitats, supporting wildlife, and maintaining ecosystem health. These cuts will hurt biodiversity, water quality, and recreational opportunities.
Gut funding for projects that restore wetlands along rivers and streams.
Take away funding from forest restoration and reforestation projects, leaving our forests vulnerable to pests, disease, and potentially catastrophic wildfires. Key parts of wildfire and habitat preservation initiatives would be lost, hurting natural habitats by limiting biodiversity and worsening water quality.
Remove funding for one quarter of each new electric ferry and cut one-third of funding for the state’s transportation plan. This would cause major road and bridge projects at risk of delay or cancellation. These cuts would make traffic worse, carbon emissions greater, and commutes longer for people across the state.
While OPAS and other 501c3 organizations are not permitted to endorse politicians, we can, and we must advocate for policies that support our mission to protect birds and the places they need to thrive.
Therefore, this November we need bird and nature lovers engaged in the campaign to defeat this harmful ballot measure and Vote NO on 1-2117. Let’s protect the incredible biodiversity that defines the Evergreen State.