Climate change is not only the greatest environmental issue of our time, but also a key issue for social justice, world health, immigration and more. The observed impacts of climate change have already affected agriculture, human health, ecosystems on land and in the oceans, water supplies, and some people’s livelihoods. It touches all of the Local 20/20 Action Groups in some way. The goal of the Local 20/20 Climate Group is to work in collaboration with our other action groups and other local organizations to focus on Jefferson County opportunities to:
• reduce our community’s greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation)
• prepare for climate change (adaptation)
In working on climate adaptation, we focus on those most vulnerable. This includes: the currently unhoused, outdoor workers, those with respiratory conditions, those for whom A/C is unaffordable, people living with disabilities, people with limited English proficiency, those systematically discriminated against, those living in areas without a cooling tree canopy, those whose cultural foods may be impacted, and others. We recognize that the most vulnerable will increasingly be impacted by climate change and their ability to adapt may be limited.
In working on climate mitigation, we consider the affordability of the solutions, and prioritize programs that provide affordable solutions, including doing outreach on funding opportunities, affordable local programs, etc., and targeting outreach channels that will best reach those in our community who have fewer resources. We also consider who most bears the costs of solutions, for example, in the siting of new renewable energy opportunities, etc.
In the December Local 20/20 column in the Port Townsend Leader, Mary Purdy shared personal actions we can take to live more sustainably in 2025. The New Cool: Your 2025 Guide to Planet-Friendly Living By Mary Purdy Looking for New Year’s intentions that make you feel good while doing good?…
A high astronomical tide (9.37′), along with a strong low pressure system and 22-30 kt southeast winds all combined to give us the third highest (10.98′) of the observed water levels that the Local 20/20 King Tide team has monitored in the last 7 years. The wave run up was…
The December 4th Local 20/20 column in the Port Townsend Leader by Laura Tucker explored the myriad ways one can be more environmentally conscious in our holiday gift giving. Tips for a Planet-friendly Holiday Season By Laura Tucker Reducing your carbon footprint is an essential step in combating climate change.…
With a strong low pressure system offshore and strong winds forecast, along with a 9.5′ predicted tide, the Local 20/20 King Tide team monitored another storm this month. The predicted storm surge was 1.0′, which came in just above that. See analysis below, and at the bottom of the post…
There was a higher than average predicted tide on November 4th (8.77′ predicted) along with a strong SE wind (30 kts gusting to 43 kts), which gave us another chance to visualize the higher sea levels that will become more often in the future due to global sea level rise,…
There was a higher than average predicted tide on October 18th (8.95′ predicted) along with a somewhat strong ESE wind (25 kts gusting to 40 kts), which gave us another chance to visualize the higher sea levels that will become more often in the future due to global sea level…
The Local 20/20 Climate Group brings to reality our community’s commitment to taking action on climate change. Here’s just some of what we do:
• Co-organizers of the 2022 Car Free Day.
• Collaborating on the Climate on Tap series.
• Maintain the JeffersonCAN.org webpages that have a variety of resources for reducing one’s carbon footprint, including new resources for Electric Vehicles added in 2022.
• Summarized the 2018 IPCC 1.5’C Special Report and the US 4th National Assessment reports with a focus on how it applies to Jefferson County, WA.
• Provide up-to-date information for individuals and businesses on ways to reduce their carbon footprint. (See the JeffersonCAN website, originally created by the Climate Protection Campaign to provide tools for reducing the “carbon footprint” of an individual or business in Jefferson County,and now maintained by Local 20/20 Climate Action.)
• Participated in the Planning for Climate Change on the North Olympic Peninsula Project in 2014-2015, and currently participating in the follow on NODC Regional and Local Climate Planning project.
• Educate ourselves and others on how we as a community can prepare for climate change. A few examples:
• We help the community visualize sea level rise through participating in the King Tides project in partnership with Washington Sea Grant and the Jefferson Marine Resource Committee. We have been photographing, documenting, and learning from photographing three sites in Port Townsend at high tides and under various weather conditions. Check out the photos here.
• We developed a handout for homeowners on how climate change might impact their homes and how they can prepare. And participated in the Jefferson County Drought Forum in 2015.
• Help drive emission reduction projects through partnering with groups, and through projects such as the Taming Bigfoot Carbon Footprint Reduction Contest run in early 2016
• Collaborated closely with the Local 20/20 Energy Action Group. The two groups have now merged into this climate action group. You can find the Energy Action group pages here, but note that they are no longer maintained.
Additionally, we are the arm of Local 20/20 that networks and collaborates with “outside” groups focused on climate change, including the joint city/county Climate Action Committee (CAC), Olympic Climate Action, etc.
See our Climate Change Plans and Impacts Page for information on local and statewide climate change plans and impacts. And if you are looking for other ideas for personal action, see Taking Action on Climate Change. Finally, our Other Resources page has some reading suggestions and … other resources!
There is a Climate Working Group, covering both Climate Outreach and Climate Adaptation. It generally meets monthly, see the Local 20/20 Calendar for current times/days. We welcome new members. If you are interested in participating e-mail us at CAG@L2020.org.
Contact us at CAG@L2020.org.
