Alliance members are working to achieve the Paris Agreement’s goal of keeping temperature increases below 1.5 degrees Celsius by reducing emissions, accelerating action, centering equity, and tracking progress. 

Explore Washington's policies and actions across the Alliance's 10 key policy areas. Numbers presented below only reflect the number of policies in this database and thus may not reflect all climate policies pursued.

washington

GHG Targets + Governance

Just Transition + Equity

Industry

Pricing Carbon + Valuing Damages

Electricity

Transportation

Resilience

Natural + Working Lands

Climate Finance

Buildings

total

Encouraging High-Consumption Fuel Users to Use Electric Vehicles

In 2022, the legislature directed the Joint Transportation Committee (JTC) to study those vehicles that consume the most fuel and emit the most GHG emissions, understand their driving behavior and vehicle purchasing decision factors, and assess the potential to encourage these so-called high-consumption fuel users (HCFUs) to switch to EVs. Advocates have hypothesized that policy interventions can persuade HCFUs to adopt EVs faster than the general population, resulting in swifter displacement of GHG emissions.

This study confirms that encouraging HCFUs to adopt EVs faster than the general population would result in faster displacement of GHG emissions. However, achieving higher rates of EV adoption among HCFUs must overcome several market barriers, including EV supply constraints, a relative shortage of EV model diversity with the requisite performance characteristics to serve as HCFU replacements, and persistently higher prices for EVs among some key HCFU market segments. In addition, many of the policy interventions that motivate HCFUs to purchase EVs likewise would increase the motivation of non-HCFUs to purchase EVs. As a result, successfully encouraging HCFUs to adopt EVs requires more targeted policy interventions.


Health Environment for All Act (HEAL Act)

The Healthy Environment for All Act, commonly referred to as the HEAL Act, was passed and enacted in 2021 and is codified at RCW 70A.02. This legislation is the result of the recommendations provided in the October 2020 Environmental Justice Task Force Report. The goals of the HEAL Act are to reduce environmental and health disparities across Washington State and prioritize vulnerable populations and overburdened communities by integrating environmental justice (EJ) into several state agency activities including: strategic plans, community engagement plans, and decision processes for budget development, expenditures, and granting or withholding benefits.

The HEAL Act requires seven state agencies to apply specific EJ requirements to agency actions. These agencies are the departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Ecology, Health, Natural Resources, and Transportation, and the Puget Sound Partnership. Other agencies may opt-in to implement the HEAL Act.

The HEAL Act establishes the EJ Council. Members of the EJ Council are appointed by the Governor and advise covered and opt-in agencies on incorporating EJ into agency activities.The HEAL Act places an emphasis on the prioritization of vulnerable populations and overburdened communities within agency efforts in EJ activities. The HEAL Act directs the Department of Health to continue maintaining and regularly updating the Washington Environmental Health Disparities (EHD) Map.



This dashboard allows for identifying and tracking of investments made to benefit vulnerable populations in overburdened communities. By publishing this dashboard, we hope to empower communities, agencies, and decision makers alike to ensure that environmental benefits are distributed equitably, promoting healthier and more sustainable communities for all Washingtonians.

The Health Environment for All Act (HEAL Act) requires covered agencies to embed environmental justice into how it makes decisions on budgets and funding – including focusing investments to improve environmental health and reduce pollution in overburdened communities. Starting in fall 2024, agencies are required to report to OFM on their progress in implementing these budgeting and funding requirements. The interactive map gives communities, lawmakers, and others a way to track Washington state’s progress towards these goals.   

HEAL Act Budgets and Funding Dashboard

environmental_justice

Washington State Refinery Economic Impact Study

A new Washington State Refinery Economic Impact Study analyzes how the state’s five refineries affect the economy and how that could change in the future. The study helps readers understand how changes in the oil market might impact refineries, refinery workers, nearby communities and tribes. It also examines how competitive Washington’s refineries are when it comes to converting their facilities to make alternative fuels.

Executive Order 18-01: State Efficiency and Environmental Performance

On Jan. 16, 2018, Gov. Jay Inslee signed Executive Order 18-01, State Efficiency and Environmental Performance (SEEP), which aims to align the state’s day-to-day operations with its ambitious policy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollution.

SEEP directs state agencies to identify and adopt cost-effective measures that reduce emissions, focusing on new facilities, existing facilities, ferries, electric vehicles, environmentally preferable purchasing, and finance. In addition, it sets up a governance structure to develop and implement projects, foster peer exchange, and establish accountability.

The Secretary of the Department of Transportation (WSDOT) shall ensure that the Washington State Ferry system begins the transition to a zero-carbon-emission ferry fleet, including the accelerated adoption of both ferry electrification and operational improvements that will conserve energy and cut fuel use.

Zero-Carbon-Emission State Ferry Fleet

Therefore, Directors shall ensure that all newly-constructed state-owned (including lease-purchase) buildings shall include consideration of net-embodied carbon.