Kicking off the 2020 Legislative Session
The 2020 legislative session began on January 13th. It is a short 60-day session so Carbon Washington staff, board members, volunteers, and supporters have been working hard to lay the groundwork to advance important climate legislation.
Sustainable Farms and Fields Progress
Over 75 farms, food systems stakeholders, and environmental organizations from across the state have endorsed the Sustainable Farms and Fields campaign. This strong support underscores that effective climate policy can also benefit farm businesses and rural communities. Read this article to find out why Spoon Full Farm, a farm in Thorp, Washington, has endorsed Sustainable Farms and Fields and how they sequester carbon, improve fertility, and build healthy soil.Spoon Full Farm has endorsed Sustainable Farms and FieldsWe expect that the Sustainable Farms and Fields bill (SB 5947) will be reintroduced in the Senate early in the legislative session. Now is a great time to call your state Senator to express your support for the bill and ask them to pass effective climate solutions, including SB 5947, that benefit communities across Washington State.
Get involved:
If you are a farmer or food system organization, email noa@carbonwa.org to add your name to our sign-on letter.
Contact your state Senator to let them know you want to see SB 5947 pass in 2020.
Want to learn more about Sustainable Farms and Fields? Check out this episode of CarbonCast or visit our campaign page: https://carbonwa.org/carbonwas-sustainable-farms-and-fields-campaign/.
Transportation Priorities
Nearly half of Washington State’s greenhouse gas emissions come from the transportation sector. Carbon Washington has endorsed two bills that aim to address these emissions in the 2020 legislative session.
ZEV Standard (HB 5811): By adopting California's Zero Emission Vehicle standard, car manufactures will be required to ramp up the sales of zero emission vehicles. With more electric vehicles on Washington’s roads, we’ll reduce emissions from the transportation sector.
Clean Fuels Standard (HB 1110): A clean fuel standard is a market-based approach to promote cleaner fuels and the use of clean electricity in the transportation sector. This bill would incentivize the refining of biofuels and the production of renewable natural gas from biosolids, agricultural waste, and other organic material.
Take Action!How can you take action to move Washington State to net zero emissions?
Get inspired: A new guide from Audubon describes 4 steps that can empower everyone to be an effective climate advocate.
Stay tuned: We’ll keep you up-to-date on key moments for action during the legislative session through this newsletter and social media. Be sure to read our Olympia Insider email digest to receive regular updates and action items during session.Donate: Your support allows Carbon Washington to build relationships with legislators and organize farms to testify in the legislature. With your help we can pass smart, bipartisan legislation in 2020.Note that regular donations through the above links and the CarbonWA website support a political action fund that is not tax deductible.If you wish to make a tax-deductible gift to the Carbon Washington Foundation to support non-political outreach, education, and research, you can do so here.
Onward!From the whole Carbon Washington team