Campaign News

MEDIA STATEMENT

Carbon Washington, the sponsor of carbon tax Initiative 732, unequivocally supports King County Superior Court Judge Hollis Hill’s ruling that the threat of climate change is so urgent that the state must be placed on a court-ordered deadline to hold polluters accountable now. We also applaud the eight youth plaintiffs whose brave and convincing testimony led to this historic ruling.

As this case clearly demonstrates, continued inaction on climate change is simply unacceptable. Existing state law isn’t working and we are not on pace to achieve the state’s 2020 greenhouse gas reduction target. We are already paying for the impacts of fossil fuel pollution through increased health problems, wildfires, drought, storm damage, coastal destruction, ocean acidification, and more. If no immediate action is taken to reduce emissions, potential costs to our state from climate change impacts are projected to reach $3.8 – $10.9 billion per year by 2020, according to an economic analysis published by the University of Oregon.

We have a moral obligation to protect our children and future generations, leaving them a world that’s cleaner, healthier and safer. Initiative 732 can help the state achieve the necessary reductions in carbon emissions while making our tax code more fair, protecting low- and middle-income families, and enabling our state to prosper in a low-carbon future.

With I-732, we have an opportunity to pass the most effective climate policy anywhere in the country – one that has already been proven to work by British Columbia. We can begin right now to tackle climate change in Washington, and support this momentous ruling. Please visit YesOn732.org to learn more about I-732.

About Initiative 732

I-732 represents the most effective climate policy and the most progressive tax shift in decades in Washington and is designed to move the state toward two goals – cleaner energy and fairer taxes – with the following policy objectives:

• Tax pollution, not people. I-732 will add a $25 per ton tax to polluting fossil fuels
• Pay less at the cash register. I-732 reduces the state sales tax by one percentage point, putting hundreds of dollars a year back into the pockets of each household in Washington
• Support working families. The policy funds the Working Families Tax Rebate, providing up to $1,500 a year for approximately 400,000 low-income households
• Promote innovation and economic growth. I-732 supports business growth and job creation by effectively eliminating the Business and Occupation Tax on manufacturing

About Carbon Washington

Carbon Washington is a bipartisan grassroots group of scientists, economists, former elected officials, business owners and concerned citizens focused on seeking a solution to climate change that works for businesses and households around the state. The group developed Initiative 732 as a revenue-neutral approach to tax carbon pollution while encouraging economic growth for families and businesses in Washington. To learn more about I-732, view endorsements from around the state, and get involved, visit YesOn732.org and follow on twitter @carbonwa.

Media Contact

Samara Villasenor

[email protected]

206-478-5643