1. WA State Climate Impacts Assessment (HB 1303)
CIG Fall Forecasting Meeting
October 2, 2007
Marketa McGuire Elsner

2. Outline Background of HB 1303
WA State Climate Impacts Assessment (Integrated Assessment)
Sector Objectives
Products
HB 1303 in the Context of the Governor’s Climate Change Initiative

3. HB 1303 Background Passed in Spring 2007
Supports emissions reduction and use of alternative fuels via changes in the Revised Code of Washington (RCW) and various funding programs
Calls for CTED and Ecology work with Climate Impacts Group to evaluate impacts of climate change on Washington State
Develop comprehensive assessment that includes impacts of global warming on public health, agriculture, the coastline, forestry, infrastructure, and water supply and management

4. Conceptual Approach to Assessment
Integrated assessment of regional climate impacts:
The study of how climate, natural resources, and human socioeconomic systems affect each other
Source: Snover et al. (2002). Integrating Natural and Social Science for Regional Assessment of Climate Impacts on the Pacific Northwest. Mississippi River Climate and Hydrology Conference. Louisiana, May 2002.

5. Source: Snover et al. (2002). Integrating Natural and Social Science for Regional Assessment of Climate Impacts on the Pacific Northwest. Mississippi River Climate and Hydrology Conference. Louisiana, May 2002.

6. State Climate Impacts Assessment –Sector Objectives
Climate Scenarios
Hydrology and Water Resources
Agriculture -New
Salmon
Forests
Coasts
Human Health -New
Infrastructure -New
Adaptation

7. Products of HB 1303
A report describing how climate change is projected to affect the people and resources of Washington state over the next 100 years, with focus on the next 50
Will be based on the 2007 global climate change scenarios released by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
Will indicate how impacts vary by region across the state and indicate locations of high and low sensitivity to climate change
Will characterize barriers to adaptation to these impacts (e.g., legal, institutional) and prioritize areas for future action.

8. Products of HB 1303
A web portal providing free access to data and maps indicating projected changes in:
Temperature
Precipitation
Sea level rise
Snowpack
Streamflow
Agricultural productivity
Public health risk
Salmon risk
Forest risk
Coastal vulnerability

12. Related Studies Evaluation of impacts to 2100
HB 1303
State Climate Impacts Assessment
Governor’s EO
Washington State
Climate Change Challenge (PAWGs)
Evaluation of impacts to 2100
Focus on the next 50 years
Indicate how impacts vary by region across the state
Indicate locations of high and low sensitivity to climate change
Characterize barriers to adaptation to these impacts (e.g., legal, institutional) and prioritize areas for future action
Examination of the impacts of climate change and recommendations of specific steps the State of Washington should take to prepare for its impacts.
Charge:
Identify vulnerabilities
Identify potential adaptation approaches
Prioritize near-term approaches
Identify research needs
Interim Results and Progress Report
Dec 2007
Final Report
Dec 2008
Preliminary Recommendations
Dec 2007
Final Report
Feb 2008

13. Thank you