Most scientists agree: Increased greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere are causing turmoil. Whether you call it climate change or global warming, these experts agree that we should expect new weather patterns to have significant impacts on our environment and on the way we live.
How will this climate change manifest itself in our region? More rain, less snow? More, and more severe, winter storms? Rising sea levels and eroding coastlines? Are these changes inevitable? How will local leaders plan for these potential changes? What can individual citizens do?
In Washington State, researchers, politicians and environmental activists are asking tough questions about our region's climate. During the week of February 4th, 2008, KUOW News staff, along with the staffs of Weekday and the Conversation, present "Cracking the Climate Code". Through feature reports and interviews with experts, we bring you an in-depth investigation of some of the most pressing scientific, environmental and political climate change questions that face the Pacific Northwest.
Reported by Phyllis Fletcher, Jamala Henderson, Anna King, Sara Lerner, Ruby de Luna, Marcie Sillman and Deborah Wang. Edited by Marcie Sillman and Steve Scher.
Points of interest from Cracking the Climate Code
Snow Means Water
The depth of the Cascade Mountain snow pack drives major decisions about declarations of drought and flood. Scientists, politicians and lay people look to snow for signs of climate change. We open our series in Stevens Pass with KUOW's Phyllis Fletcher.
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KUOW does not endorse nor control the content viewed on these links as they appear now or in the future.
- U.S. Geological Survey: Current streamflow conditions in Washington State
- USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service: Current snow depth around Washington State
- National Weather Service: Flood prediction for Western Washington
- King County Flood Warning System
Photo: Scott Pattee, photo by Phyllis Fletcher.
The City of Olympia Grapples with Sea Levels
Scientists predict climate change could raise sea levels in this region up to four feet by 2100. That's not good news for the city of Olympia. Its historic downtown and much of its key infrastructure is in the new flood zone. Deborah Wang reports on what the city is doing to protect itself from rising seas.
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The following time-lapse video shows how the Port Peninsula and most of downtown Olympia would be covered with water if sea level rise reaches three feet:
Sea levels rising (courtesy of City of Olympia)
Related Links:
KUOW does not endorse nor control the content viewed on these links as they appear now or in the future.
- City of Olympia Climate Change Report
- 'Sea Level Rise in the Coastal Waters of Washington State,' University of Washington Climate Impacts Group
- 'Sea Level Rise and Coastal Habitats in the Pacific Northwest,' National Wildlife Federation
Photo: Downtown Olympia would be covered with water if sea level rise reaches three feet. Courtesy of City of Olympia.
Black Rock
As temperatures rise, more of the Northwest's water come from rain instead of snowpack. Eastern Washington farmers have depended heavily on the Columbia and Yakima river basins that are both fed with snowmelt. Recent droughts have cost Eastern Washington farmers millions of dollars and shown how devastating a lack of water can be. Farmers are now looking toward increased reservoir storage as the answer. The most ambitious of these projects is called Black Rock. Richland Correspondent Anna King takes a closer look at what would be the largest reclamation project since Grand Coulee.
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Photo: Yakima River Canyon near Wymer, Washington. Photo by Daniel Hershman.
Powering Down
We've all heard of green homeowners, but how do you live lightly in a rented apartment? Two conscientious, self-described internet junkies wanted to make less of an impact on the environment. One night they came up with an experiment. They called it "Power Down Pad". Alex Tokar and Derek Hoshiko told reporter Jamala Henderson why they did it, and what it's like to live in an apartment with practically no electricty.
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Related Links:
KUOW does not endorse nor control the content viewed on these links as they appear now or in the future.
- Alex and Derek's business
- The organization where Alex and Derek met
- Tips on how to save energy in an apartment, U.S. Department of Energy
- Estimate appliance energy use, U.S. Department of Energy
Photo: Alex Tokar(left) and Derek Hoshiko. Photo by Jamala Henderson.
Cashing In On Climate Change
Current discussions about climate change focus on the threats to the environment and what may happen in the future. But where some people see doom in global warming, others envision economic opportunities. KUOW's Ruby de Luna reports on regional efforts to create green collar jobs and what it would take to make them sustainable.
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Photo: High Point Pond, West Seattle. Photo courtesy of Mithun.
Rethinking Recycling
You make dinner. As you clean up afterwards, your friends ask which of your five trash containers the paper towels go into. You wonder: Where does all this stuff end up anyway? KUOW's Sara Lerner looks inside recycling. Is the effort worth it? Is it making a difference?
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KUOW does not endorse nor control the content viewed on these links as they appear now or in the future.
- Allied Waste/Rabanco
- Seatttle Public Utilities
- Northwest Product Stewardship Council
- Snohomish County Public Works: Solid Waste
- "The Paper vs Plastic Issue Bugs Me," by Clark Williams-Derry, the Sightline Institute
- Seattle Magazine, "Talking Trash"
- "Seattle's Recycling Success Is Being Measured in Scraps," the New York Times
Photo: Plastic bag bail at Rabanco Recycling Center, photo by Sara Lerner.
Carless in Seattle?
Experts agree: If we want to slow or reverse global warming, we've got to change the way we live. You can switch to compact fluorescent bulbs, or turn down your thermostat. But in the Seattle area, cars are the biggest source of greenhouse gases. Are you willing to stop driving to stop global warming? KUOW's Marcie Sillman reports.
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KUOW does not endorse nor control the content viewed on these links as they appear now or in the future.
- Alan Durning's chronicle of his carless life
- City of Seattle's Climate Action Now
- MC Electric Vehicles
- Seattle-based V2Green technology
Photo: Miles ZX40S electric vehicle, courtesy of MC Electric Vehicles.
The Conversation
The Carbon Market
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There's a dizzying variety of tactics to stop global warming. We'll get a primer on three market–based strategies: carbon tax, Cap n' Trade, and carbon offsets from Paul Baer, Research Director for Ecoequity, an environmental think-tank.
Powered by Garbage
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Can you turn your garbage into energy? Jeff Surma will tell us. He's the CEO of Integrated Environmental Technologies which runs a small, plasma gasification plant in Richland, Washington.
How Green is LEED?
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In order for a building to be considered "green" it must be LEED certified. That stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. But what exactly does it mean if a building is LEED certified?
Green Collar Economy
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Van Jones thinks a clean energy economy can lift people out of poverty with new jobs. Jones is the executive director of the Ella Baker Center for Human Rights in Oakland, California. Now Jones is pushing to create the first–ever "Green Enterprise Zone" and attract environmentally–sound industry to Oakland.
Snowpack in Ski Areas Reveal More than a Good Run
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Ski areas are the canaries in the coalmine of global warming. Philip Mote is a research scientist for the Climate Impact Group at University of Washington. He compares the effects of climate change at Snoqualmie, Stevens and Mission Ridge Ski areas.
Related Links:Weekday
Rising Sea Levels and Adaptation
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The dream of waterfront property may be turning into a nightmare: Scientists forecast sea level will rise by over a foot in the Puget Sound by 2100. How are planners addressing the problem? And what if the average estimate is wrong? How do policy makers, insurers and scientists deal with this uncertainty?
Do Carbon Offsets Work?
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The idea behind carbon offsets is simple: You pollute with your big car, so you plant a tree. Do these programs work? Is this a "moralistic" solution to global warming? Also, we talk to Governor Chris Gregoire about the final Climate Advisory Team report and the state's plans for dealing with global warming moving forward.
Alternatives to the Gas Guzzler
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Science tells us that internal combustion engines are a major greenhouse gas contributor. Cars and light trucks represent about 60% of greenhouse gas emission from mobile sources. Today, we will take a look at greener cars, but does a greener single occupancy vehicle really reduce your carbon footprint?
Related Links:Web Extras
V2Green
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Some experts say electric cars are the wave of the future. If that's true, one Seattle company is poised to make sure your electric car is a cleaner, smarter, driving machine. KUOW's Marcie Sillman reports.
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