Last week, the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change predicted that we have just over a decade to get climate change under control to prevent catastrophic climate change.

Carbon emissions need to be decreased drastically in order to do this. This is a reality that we in the Pacific Northwest are beginning to deal with after the drought, wildfires and smoke of this past summer. This threat will worsen and become more of a problem to our communities and our collective health if we don’t act now.

The Kitsap Audubon Society Chapter, with almost 1,000 members in Kitsap County, is supporting the passage of I-1631, as is Audubon Washington and National Audubon. Research has shown that climate change is the greatest threat to birds, seriously affecting vital habitat and food sources that they can’t adapt to quickly enough.

While Kitsap Audubon and other organizations, as well as individuals, are doing their part to help keep Washington clean and green, bigger corporations must be involved. Initiative 1631 would place an escalating fee on emissions from burning fossil fuels by major corporations and then use those funds to develop clean renewable energy, such as wind and solar that will become the “go-to” source of energy.

Passing Initiative 1631 is very important in helping to address climate change.

Diane Bachen

President, Kitsap Audubon Society

Bainbridge Island