The Washington state legislature tasked the Washington state Department of Ecology, with support from the Climate Impacts Group, to analyze recent national and international climate reports and provide recommendations to Washington lawmakers on whether to amend Washington state’s statutory limits on greenhouse gas emissions (RCW 70A.45.040). National and international reports on climate change, like the fifth National Climate Assessment (NCA5) and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change...| Climate Impacts Group
Even though this spring and summer had fewer days above 90 degrees than other hot years, it was also the third driest on record, on top of below-normal rainfall since the 2024 water year started. Washington will need more than above-normal precipitation this winter to make up for the precipitation deficit of the last three years. Washington State Deputy Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.| Climate Impacts Group
The Washington Department of Ecology issued an official rebuke of a draft report by the U.S. Department of Energy being used to justify the Trump Administration’s rollback of federal climate regulations. At the same time, Ecology also released a new analysis that details worsening local impacts now and in the future due to rising global emissions. The Climate Impacts Group IPCC AR6 and NCA5 assessment is cited.| Climate Impacts Group
Heatwaves in August were experienced regionally in August. Late summer high temperatures are magnified by a lack of rain, which has become more common in the Northwest during the summer months. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.| Climate Impacts Group
Fall and winter in Bellingham, and the rest of Western Washington, could be closer to seasonal norms, as last winter’s La Niña weather pattern — now in a neutral phase — is expected to return half-heartedly late in the year. Deputy State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco is quoted.| Climate Impacts Group
A new online tool, developed by conservation nonprofit American Forests and the Washington Department of Natural Resources, lets Washington residents explore where [summer heat] inequities exist. Climate Impacts Group’s report In the Hot Seat is mentioned.| Climate Impacts Group
Humans expected that a region like the Pacific Northwest would only ever grow so cold or hot, so wet or dry. But the range of these limits is expanding, pushing our world toward more extremes. In this story, Seattle Times journalists document some of these changes already underway in our melting mountains — shifts and species threats that will continue to intensify if fossil fuel emissions are not controlled and the planet continues to warm.| Climate Impacts Group
Washington was slumped in a drought even before the summer began. The rain that began falling early Friday was a welcome sight, but it won’t be near enough to overcome the long-standing deficit. State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger is mentioned.| Climate Impacts Group
Extreme heat launched the Bear Gulch Fire across 2,000 additional acres of forest on Tuesday and Wednesday, pouring thick smoke on the Hood Canal communities of Hoodsport and Skokomish, Washington. In the three months leading up to the fire, Lake Cushman received 30% of its normal 9.4 inches of rainfall. State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger is mentioned.| Climate Impacts Group
Against [the] backdrop of escalating climate risk, C2ES recently traveled to Seattle, Washington to kick off the second regional Climate Resilient Communities Accelerator. The first in-person convening of the South-Central Puget Sound Accelerator focused on extreme heat and wildfire smoke impacts in the region. State Climatologist Guillaume Mauger is mentioned.| Climate Impacts Group
About the Strategic PlanThe Climate Impacts Group (CIG) has helped the Northwest region of the United States understand and build resilience to climate change since 1995. To respond to the increasing and evolving demands for climate services, CIG created a five-year strategic plan for 2024-2029. The updated vision, purpose, strategic priorities and action areas were co-created through extensive collaboration, input and feedback among all CIG staff and informed with detailed input and feedback...| Climate Impacts Group
The Climate Impacts Group (CIG) has named Susan Dickerson-Lange as its new director. In her role, Dickerson-Lange will provide strategic leadership for CIG, driving financial stewardship and fundraising while supporting the team to deepen partnerships and expand offerings advancing climate resilience in the Pacific Northwest.| Climate Impacts Group
Dear Climate Impacts Group community:I was delighted to join the Climate Impacts Group as the new director this February, and I am honored to lead this amazing team. Between collaborating with Amy Snover on a chapter of my PhD dissertation in 2016, to frequently crossing paths with Guillaume Mauger on aquatic habitat restoration and climate change adaptation issues over the last several years, when I decided to make the transition to CIG, it felt like coming home!| Climate Impacts Group
For Earth Day, the Smithsonian featured Leavenworth-borth artist Claire Sianna Seaman’s Imagining a Climate Resilient Future in the Pacific Northwest. The triptych was commissioned by the Climate Impacts Group to celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2020-2021.| Climate Impacts Group