Global Warming
In 2015, the “Conference of the Parties” (COP21), under the United Nations (UN)Framework Convention of Climate Change, met in Paris France. The result, now known as the Paris Accord, set a goal of keeping global temperatures to a maximum of 1.5C (2.7F) above those that prevailed prior to the industrial revolution. In November 2023, prior to the December 2023 COP 28 meeting in Dubai, the UN published its “Emissions Gap Report 2023” a report indicating that measures taken to date to combat global warming are far from sufficient to meeting the commitments made under the 2015 Paris Accord. The world is clearly falling further and further behind in the race to address this growing crisis.
With so much time having already been squandered, immediate aggressive (drastic in the words of the UN) actions are now the only route to preventing a truly catastrophic future for the planet and its inhabitants. In line with this assessment, in July 2020, National Audubon Society issued its “Survival by Degrees” report which covers the threat climate disruption poses to North American birds. It paints a daunting picture, indicating that more than half of the species now inhabiting our continent face possible extinction if we and the rest of the world fail to keep climate change within livable bounds.
At the state level, Audubon Washington (AW) and North Central Washington Audubon Society (NCWAS) have been actively promoting climate solutions for years. Along the way, we’ve supported and worked for passage of several important climate measures in the Washington State Legislature. Some are now law, but as the reports above indicate, much remains to be done.
NCWAS continues to work closely with AW on this absolutely critical issue. The next State Legislative Session convenes on January 8, 2024. During session, see our home page for a weekly status report and actions you can take to help push the bills we support over the finish line.