It should be seen as a great loss to all that Jay Inslee’s efforts on Jan. 10, 2020, to implement a clean fuel standard has not passed our state Senate. Many evidently believe that the increasing greenhouse gasses in our atmosphere and the subsequent climate change are no big deal, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. We’ll have much more to worry about than some extra cozy summers if action isn’t taken very soon, and no amount of extra revenue from an unregulated fuel market could ever excuse it.
As stated by the Puget Sound Institute, a warmer climate causes harmful changes in the ecosystems around us. For example, sea levels around Washington have risen 4 inches since 1934, which might seem insignificant at first but if allowed to continue, will cause millions in damages from flooding. Local ocean acidity is increasing as well, enough to start quickly killing off the sea life that many individuals rely on for income or to keep their families fed. A clean fuel standard would make more than enough difference toward these issues to fight for; because the future must be planned for if we want the next generations to prosper.
