Dear WASLA Members and Readers,
I know I have been saying it for the past year, and now it is finally true; our 2024 WASLA Conference is around the corner! With less than a month before the event, I am elated by our slate of informative sessions, innovative vendors, and inspiring keynote speakers.
This year’s conference theme, Current(s), references the river that shapes Spokane, new ways of thinking in our profession, and the passage of time in our landscapes. Our keynotes frame this last concept, asNick Zentner speaks to the distant past and how the land beneath us formed, whileConnie Chung projects into the future, helping us bring our ideas into reality. I hope you will join us in Spokane this year!
Unrelated to the conference, I want to remind our members of the Climate Action Resource List that our Climate Action Committee created last year. This extensive list details tools, metrics, white papers, institutions, and more that are local to Washington State and the greater Pacific Northwest, which can help our members apply the goals of the ASLA Climate Action Plan to their work. You can access this growing resource list on our website under ‘Get Involved’ and ‘Climate Action’ or by clicking here.
Related to climate, I want to bring a significant piece of legislation to the forefront: Washington Initiative 2117 (I-2117) threatens to repeal theClimate Commitment Act (CCA) that Washington voted into law in 2021. The CCA is vital climate legislation that allocates billions of dollars for conservation and climate initiatives. It sets a cap on greenhouse gas emissions from Washington’s largest polluters and industries, enabling businesses to identify the most effective ways to reduce their carbon footprint.
This robust program complements other essential climate policies, helping Washington meet its goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. Additionally, the CCA emphasizes environmental justice and equity, fostering investments in climate resilience, clean transportation, and addressing health disparities statewide.
In short, the CCA centers on the ideals and values of landscape architects. I-2117 will be on the ballot this November, aiming to repeal the CCA. Voting NO on I-2117 will protect the Climate Commitment Act and preserve our state's funding for clean energy, natural climate solutions, and environmental justice.
Currently,
Nick Zurlini
