Washington Department of Ecology rejects federal draft report that it says diminishes effects of climate change

The Washington Department of Ecology rejected a federal draft report from the U. S. Department of Energy, calling it misleading and a downplay of climate change impacts. Governor Bob Ferguson pointed out that the report ignores decades of scientific research and endangers the lives of Washington residents. New analysis from Ecology shows that the state has warmed nearly two degrees since 1900, with projections indicating extreme heat days could increase up to ninefold by the 2050s.

The report warns of more intense flooding, summer droughts, and severe wildfire seasons in Washington. Casey Sixkiller, director of the Washington Department of Ecology, stressed that climate change denial through selective information undermines the reality faced by communities. The analysis also cites billions in losses due to events like the 2015 drought and marine heatwaves. Ecology attributes these impacts to human-caused greenhouse gas emissions and insists on the urgency of emission cuts. The agency aims to accelerate efforts to meet its 2030 climate goals.