Take Action to Reduce the Severity of Climate Change

To reduce the severity of climate change, we must rapidly reduce gases that trap heat in the environment (greenhouse gas emissions) and the use of fossil fuels. When we burn gasoline, oil, coal and natural gas, we're releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

National

The White House released its National Climate Assessment highlighting impacts happening in Washington state. Essential water resources for communities and agricultural industries in places like the Yakima Valley and the state's shellfish industries and salmon fisheries are threatened.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's guide, Assessing Health Vulnerability to Climate Change, helps public health departments assess local vulnerabilities to health hazards associated with climate change. The assessments will help inform targeted public health actions to reduce the health impacts of climate change.

National Climate Assessment

Fact Sheet: What Climate Change Means to Washington and the Northwest (PDF)

Assessing Health Vulnerability to Climate Change (PDF)

State

Governor Inslee signed an executive order initiating a series of actions to reduce carbon emissions in Washington state and meet the state's statutory carbon emission limits.

Executive Order

Actions to reduce carbon emissions in Washington state

Department of Health's Role

What You Can Do

Tips for changes you and your family can make to lower how much you contribute to climate change.

Healthy Community Design and Community Efforts

Healthy community design efforts and what communities are doing to make a difference.