WECAN
Washington Education &
Climate Action Network
Climate Action Network
Who We Are
Washington Education & Climate Action Network (WECAN) is a state wide community dedicated to furthering Washington’s efforts to deal with our rapidly changing climate. We are uniting to create a more resilient Washington, today and tomorrow. Through our collaborative efforts, we can accelerate the dissemination of climate knowledge and educate an ever larger number of Washingtonians dedicated to building a better future.
Spotlight
October Meeting: Solarpunk 101
A Solution for Understanding How to Envision and Build a Better Future.
Solar: Focuses on clean, renewable energy, decentralized power, and a practical harmony between humankind and the natural world. Punk: Represents a do-it-yourself (DIY) ethos. Action-Oriented: Emphasizes building tangible alternatives in the present.
Michael Joseph
Head of Sustainability
Climate Action Across WSU:
As a premier research institution and a land grant university, Washington State University has a deep interest in the factors impacting our climate. We have initiatives that run the gamut from sustainable agriculture to forest canopies in urban areas to building energy efficiency and more. Page through the carousel for a sampling of the ever-growing list of climate initiatives at WSU.
School of the Environment (SoE)
The School of the Environment at Washington State University advances earth, environmental, and geosciences to better understand global ecology, ecosystem science, and sustainability of both the natural and human-built world.
Ravenholt Urban Forest Health Lab
Located on WSU’s Puyallup Research and Extension Center. The Ravenholt Urban Forest Health Lab’s focus is to increase the forest canopy in underserved urban communities to increase the climate resilience in key areas.
Center for Sustaining Agriculture and Natural Resources (CSANR)
CSANR has managed active research and education programming related to the intersection of agriculture and climate for more than a decade, focusing on greenhouse gas mitigation, carbon sequestration, climate change impact assessment and adaptation.
Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach (CEREO)
CEREO is an active network of more than 350 faculty, staff, students, and community leaders working to resolve environmental issues through collaborative partnerships.
Honey Bees + Pollinators Program
The WSU Honey Bees + Pollinators Program is dedicated to fostering resilient ecosystems in Washington and beyond. We intertwine innovative research, community engagement, and education to safeguard pollinators, pivotal to our food security and environmental health.
WSU Energy Program
Operating similar to a consulting firm, the WSU Energy staff of energy engineers, energy specialists, technical experts, and software developers provide unmatched energy services, products, education and information – with a focus on advancing the environmental and economic well-being of our customers.
Climate Extremes Lab
WSU Vancouver
The Climate Extremes Lab at Washington State University aims to advance the scientific understanding of extreme weather events that affect communities around the world and how such extremes are affected by the warming our planet is experiencing.
WSU Breadlab
Through innovation and discovery, education and advocacy, WSU Breadlab is leading the movement to put nutrition and sustainability at the center of our conversation about food.
We do it by developing agronomically sensible and economically viable grain crops…
We do it by developing agronomically sensible and economically viable grain crops…
Master Gardener Program
The Master Gardener Program, founded in 1973 by WSU, consists of more than 4,000 volunteers spread over all counties across the state. Master Gardeners donate more than a third of a million hours each year to educational outreach regarding horticulture and environmental stewardship. Climate Change is one of the program’s key priorities
Climate Action Teams
Master Gardener Program volunteers formed a state-wide group focused on climate change. The focus of the group is to leverage the ‘boots on the ground’ strength of the program and create educational outreach that can be delivered to communities in each of Washington’s 39 counties.
Institute for Northwest Energy Futures
WSU Tri-Cities
INEF is meeting the global challenge of developing a sustainable clean energy future, using an integrated systems approach to optimize the interrelationship between emerging clean technology solutions, existing resources, and the economic, social, and political ramifications of these solutions.
Food Waste Prevention
WSU Extension
Current estimates show that 30-40 percent of the food supply in the U.S. is wasted each year. This is a serious problem for climate change, because methane is a greenhouse gas that heats the atmosphere up to 80 times faster than carbon dioxide.
Greening Offices, Clark County
Clark County WSU Extension became a certified Green Business in 2022 through the Clark County’s Green business program and established a Green Team with a focus on driving sustainable practices and initiatives that educate the community to support a healthy resilient workplace.
AgWeatherNet
AgWeatherNet’s (AWN) mission is to collect and deliver quality spatiotemporal weather data across the state of Washington that drives on-target forecasts, models, and climatology.
Key Climate Initiatives across Washington:
Our rapidly changing climate is affecting everything we do, everywhere. To make impactful improvements, we need to look beyond the borders of WSU to the many other organizations across our state who’s mission is to make things better today and into the future.
The Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water and the Environment
The Gonzaga Institute for Climate, Water, and the Environment engages in regional capacity building, scholarship, and teaching to promote the flourishing of Inland Northwest communities, waters, and lands in the face of a changing climate.tice.
EarthGen
EarthGen equips youth to grow their power as changemakers. Through our science-based, action-oriented programs, young people gain the knowledge, skills, and experience they need to become leaders for climate solutions and environmental justice.
Washington State Climate Office
University of Washington
The Washington State Climate Office (WASCO) was first established in 2003, and fills a valuable niche in Washington State, with a focus on current and past climate, providing training and capacity building, data and information resources, and pursuing applied research on climate and its impacts.
Climate Commitment Act
State of Washington
The Climate Commitment Act (CCA) caps and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from Washington’s largest emitting sources and industries, allowing businesses to find the most efficient path to lower carbon emissions.
Coastal Hazard Resilience Network
Coastal Hazards Organizational Resilience Team (COHORT) is an interagency team established to enhance the resilience of Washington’s coastal communities and Tribes by addressing risks such as flooding, erosion, sea level rise, and other coastal challenges.
Climate Impacts Group (CIG)
The University of Washington Climate Impacts Group builds climate resilience by advancing understanding of climate risks & enabling science-based action to manage those risks. We create impartial & actionable science and as a catalyst for building regional climate resilience.
Department of Ecology
State of Washington
Our vision: Our partnerships protect and sustain healthy land, air, water, and climate in harmony with a strong economy.
Our mission: To protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.
Our mission: To protect, preserve, and enhance Washington’s environment for current and future generations.
The Washington Soil Health Initiative
WaSHI, is a partnership among the Washington State Conservation Commission, the Washington State Department of Agriculture, and Washington State University, working together to establish a coordinated approach to healthy soil in Washington.