Gov. Jay Inslee (right, center), Ecology Director Maia
Bellon (right, front), and members of the Inslee administration meet with Chilean
President Michelle Bachelet and other Chilean dignitaries.
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In 2015, Washington and Chile
established a memorandum of understanding regarding climate change, sustainability, and clean
energy at the international climate summit in Paris, COP21. Wednesday’s meeting
was a chance to follow-up on that agreement and discuss potential next steps
for cooperation.
According to Bellon, the
conversation with President Bachelet was positive and focused on a range of
topics, including similar climate change impacts that Chile and Washington
contend with, such as drought and ocean health. Discussions also included renewable
energy and economic transformation.
After
the United States withdrew from the Paris climate accord earlier this month, Bellon
tweeted, “I remain as committed as ever to protecting our environment. I will
not give up on our future.” Finding common ground with other states and with nations
like Chile that recognize the threat climate change poses plays an important
role in maintaining that momentum toward finding solutions.
Washington
has been a longstanding leader when it comes to addressing climate change. In
2008,
the state Legislature was the first in the country to adopt limits on
greenhouse gases, and, last year, Ecology adopted the nation’s most progressive
rule to cap and reduce carbon pollution, the Clean Air Rule.
Bellon
said when Washington adopted the Clean Air Rule, it was a watershed moment in the country’s history
because it was the first time a state adopted a regulation to limit carbon
pollution under a state clean air act.
Despite the wavering federal commitment to combat
climate change, Gov. Jay Inslee said that it is imperative for Washington and
other states to continue to take action.
“Washington
state is leading the way on climate issues where Washington, D.C., is failing,”
Inslee said following the decision to withdraw from the Paris agreement.
To learn more about what Gov. Inslee is doing to
combat climate change, visit the
governor’s news site.
By Camille St. Onge, Climate Change and Air Quality
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