A recap of January 2024.

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Synthesis is a 2-minute read to give you the quick hits of our recent work, to amplify our partners' projects, and to share important environmental stories.

February is Black History Month! Here at WCA, we recognize that the fierce progress and significant achievements made in the conservation movement could not have happened without the contributions and leadership of Black people and communities. Check out our blog about Black conservationists in Washington and in history. [[link removed]]

Photo credit: Ricky Osborne

The first month of the Washington Legislative Session flew by quickly! Together, we’ve made progress on our environmental priority bills reducing plastic pollution, electrification of buses, and protecting consumers from unfair oil pricing. If you haven’t already, sign up to receive our weekly Olympia action digest! [[link removed]]

January was an action-packed month at the legislature. WCA teams led and supported three different lobby days --The ReWRAP Act Lobby Day, Youth Climate Lobby Day, and Ranked Choice Voting Lobby Day– at the Capitol! Hundreds of activists gathered in action to speak with their legislators about the issues they care about.

HUGE wins in the fight for climate justice! On January 26, President Biden took bold climate action to pause approvals for new Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) facilities. The same day, Puget Sound Energy announced that it is abandoning expansion of its planned LNG project in Tacoma. This victory results from years of organizing by the Puyallup Tribe and community groups who appealed permits for the project. Read more about it here. [[link removed]]

WCA and our staff union, the Evergreen Workers Union, finalized contract negotiations and signed a two-year agreement! WCA is proud to have a finalized contract that recognizes the important work that our valued staff members do to conserve and protect healthy air, water, land, and forests and a thriving democracy every day. Read more here. [[link removed]]

You may have heard of Ballot Initiative 2117 – a right-wing initiative led by out-of-touch multi-millionaire Brian Heywood to repeal our state’s landmark climate and polluter accountability law, the Climate Commitment Act (CCA). In 2021, a coalition of families, businesses, Tribal Nations, and environmental organizations including WCA came together to pass the CCA. We’re united in opposition against this senseless attack to take our state backwards.

Photo credit: Ricky Osborne

As you know, WCA and coalition partners are working hard to legislate a statewide producer-funded recycling service. Read this thoughtful op-ed [[link removed]] by WCA intern and UW student, Kaleigh McGarry explaining why Washington’s recycling system is due for a reform and how the ReWRAP Act can help us achieve that.

Recently, WCA’s Forest Team met with Jay McLaughlin from the Mt. Adams Resources Stewards (MARS) and toured the community forest in Klickitat County. They learned about the interesting approach the community forest has taken to build trust and partnership with the local community. Learn more in this op-ed by Rachel Baker, WCA’s Forest Program Director. [[link removed]]

UPCOMING EVENTS

The Snake River Dinner Hour series returns! Join us on Tuesday, February 13th at 6:00 pm PST for the series kickoff, ‘Federal actions and commitments to restore Snake River Salmon’ and hear from the people responsible for reaching the historic agreement with the Biden Administration that sets the pathway for lower Snake River dam removal. Register here. [[link removed]]

Register now for our annual fundraiser: [[link removed]] Spark, Powering Transformative Change happening on May 9, 2024 at the Museum of History and Industry. This is the year we’re defending our record of bold progress and action for people and the environment! Come hear from Governor candidate Bob Ferguson, tour a world-class museum, eat mouth-watering food, and sip refreshing drinks together with our community.

STAFF CORNER: Ellie Morgan (she/her)

Ellie was born in Chicago, moved to Washington State as a child, and now lives in Seattle. She is more notably connected to Washington through her Nordic diaspora heritage, in which her paternal grandmother and great grandparents had been amongst the Nordic population who emigrated in the 19th century.

Ellie works in the accounting department as WCA Ed Fund’s Admin Associate. She handles invoices, reimbursements, credit card/bank reconciliation, QuickBooks data entry, and payroll. Outside of work, she enjoys traveling, sports, cooking, reading, hiking, photography, camping, and spending time with loved ones.

“I believe in [WCA’s] statement of protecting people and nature as one. I am passionate about the work our organization does and I am proud of our dedication to diversity, equity and inclusion. I feel as though I make a positive impact in this world through my job.”

RACIAL JUSTICE GLOSSARY

Government-to-government consultation

As part of its treaty and trust responsibilities, the US government must consult with sovereign Tribal governments regarding any policy or action that may affect Native nations. Consultation must be a dialogue and provide an opportunity for joint decision-making on a nation-to-nation level.

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Washington Conservation Action

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