Fast, Frequent, Reliable Rail: A Climate and Health Imperative

Washington’s transportation system is at a crossroads. Highway congestion is worsening, vehicle emissions are polluting our air, and the climate crisis is making extreme heat and wildfire smoke more common. These challenges directly impact public health, with increasing rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases linked to air pollution. Yet one of the most effective, energy-efficient solutions—passenger rail—remains largely underutilized.

Shifting more travel to rail is not just a climate imperative; it’s a public health necessity. Diesel pollution from cars, trucks, and short-haul flights is a major contributor to serious health conditions, disproportionately affecting communities near highways and airports. Rail, however, is far more energy-efficient and can be electrified, providing fast, reliable, and clean transportation while reducing harmful emissions. Expanding passenger rail service along the I-5 corridor would not only cut greenhouse gas emissions but also improve air quality in communities burdened by highway and airport pollution.

The legislature has a bill before them - HB 1837/SB 5667 - which represents a critical step toward making this vision a reality. By establishing clear priorities for intercity rail service improvements, Washington can begin the process of modernizing its transportation system in ways that protect both the climate and public health.

Rail: A Solution to the Climate and Public Health Crises

Transportation is Washington’s largest source of greenhouse gas emissions, with highway travel and short-haul flights playing a significant role. Passenger rail can reduce these emissions dramatically. Trains are at least three times more energy-efficient than cars and planes, and when electrified, they offer near-zero emissions travel. The World Health Organization and numerous peer-reviewed studies have demonstrated the link between fossil fuel combustion and increased rates of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. By shifting travel away from high-emission modes to a robust rail system, we can significantly cut pollution and improve public health outcomes.

Diesel emissions contain fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), both of which contribute to asthma, heart disease, and premature death. Communities near highways and airports—disproportionately low-income communities and communities of color—bear the brunt of these health impacts. According to state health department data, childhood asthma hospitalization rates are significantly higher in areas with heavy traffic and diesel exposure. Electrifying rail infrastructure and increasing passenger rail service will help reduce these harmful emissions and protect public health.

Mobility Justice: Expanding Transportation Access for All

At least 25% of Washingtonians do not drive, including elderly residents, people with disabilities, and those who cannot afford a car. While urban areas offer transit options, regional travel remains difficult without a personal vehicle. Investing in intercity rail would provide a more accessible, affordable alternative, ensuring that more people can reach jobs, healthcare, and education without relying on cars.

Rail Investments Save Money and Lives

A common misconception is that rail infrastructure is prohibitively expensive. However, the Washington State Department of Transportation’s Long Range Plan for Amtrak Cascades found that improving rail service could ultimately generate revenue while reducing long-term transportation costs. Additionally, studies show that reducing transportation-related air pollution leads to immediate health benefits, including lower hospitalization rates and decreased mortality from respiratory and cardiovascular diseases.

The transition to a cleaner, more efficient transportation system is not a futuristic vision—it is an urgent necessity. Other regions have successfully implemented fast, frequent, and reliable intercity rail, and Washington has an opportunity to do the same. With federal funding available for rail expansion, now is the time to act.

As health professionals, we recognize that climate change is the greatest public health threat of our time. Investing in intercity rail isn’t just about convenience; it’s about reducing pollution, improving air quality, and creating a more just and sustainable transportation system.

We urge policymakers to support HB 1837 and SB 5667 as essential steps toward a healthier and more resilient Washington.

Clearing the Air – Why Shipping Pollution is a Public Health Issue

Washington’s bustling ports connect our state to global trade, but they also generate staggering amounts of pollution that harm public health—especially for communities living near ports, shipping lanes, and freight corridors. Maritime vessels rely on some of the dirtiest fossil fuels available, producing particulate matter (PM2.5), nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur oxides (SOx), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—pollutants that are well-documented drivers of respiratory disease, cardiovascular dysfunction, and premature mortality.

A growing body of medical literature links port and shipping emissions to increased emergency room visits, higher rates of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), stroke, and ischemic heart disease. A 2018 study published in the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health found that communities near high-traffic ports experience significantly elevated exposure to PM2.5, leading to heightened inflammation, oxidative stress, and endothelial dysfunction—all precursors to cardiovascular disease. Additionally, exposure to SOx emissions leads to the formation of secondary fine particulates (sulfate aerosols), which penetrate deep into lung tissue, causing chronic respiratory irritation and reduced lung function, particularly in children and older adults.

The environmental justice implications of this issue are severe. In Washington, the communities surrounding ports—such as those near Seattle’s Harbor Island and Tacoma’s industrial waterfront—have some of the highest rates of asthma, cardiovascular disease, and preterm births in the state, according to state health department data. These residents, disproportionately from low-income and historically marginalized backgrounds, are subject to pollution levels that far exceed EPA-recommended safety thresholds.

This session, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) is advocating for two critical bills to curb the health harms of shipping pollution:

HB 1689: Cutting Ship Emissions at the Dock with Shore Power

While docked at port, large cargo and cruise ships continue burning heavy fuel oil to power their onboard systems, releasing a constant stream of diesel exhaust and ultrafine particulate matter directly into surrounding communities. HB 1689 would require ships to connect to shore power instead, allowing them to draw clean electricity rather than combusting fossil fuels.

The health benefits of shore power are profound. A 2021 study in Environmental Science & Technology found that shore power infrastructure reduces NOx emissions by up to 98% and PM2.5 emissions by 90%. NOx, a precursor to ground-level ozone, is a major contributor to asthma exacerbations and chronic lung disease, while PM2.5 is linked to increased rates of lung cancer and atherosclerosis.

Eliminating these emissions at the source is a direct investment in the health of Washington’s portside communities.

HB 1652 / SB 5519: Phasing Out "Scrubber" Pollution and Transitioning to Cleaner Fuels

Many ships continue to burn high-sulfur bunker fuel while using exhaust gas cleaning systems—commonly known as “scrubbers”—to wash pollutants out of their emissions and discharge them into the ocean. This practice allows ships to skirt cleaner fuel requirements while still producing massive amounts of airborne sulfates, heavy metals, and carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

HB 1652/SB 5519 would phase out these outdated scrubber systems and require ships to transition to cleaner fuels, dramatically reducing emissions of toxic air pollutants. Research has shown that reducing emissions from shipping prevents thousands of premature deaths each year, cutting global mortality rates related to air pollution by as much as 34%. Additionally, cleaner fuels decrease ambient SOx levels, reducing the formation of acid rain, which degrades both air and water quality and has been linked to increased hospitalizations for respiratory distress.

As physicians and health professionals, we have a duty to advocate for policies that protect public health and prevent disease at the source. The evidence is clear: shipping emissions are a major and preventable contributor to respiratory and cardiovascular disease in Washington’s most vulnerable populations. By enacting HB 1689 and HB 1652/SB 5519, Washington can significantly reduce disease burden, prevent premature deaths, and move toward a healthier, cleaner future.

It’s 89 Seconds to Midnight - 2025 Doomsday Clock Announced

The Bulletin of Atomic Scientists 2025 Doomsday Clock Announcement reflects a stark reality, the competing crises of a renewed nuclear arms race and unstable climate pose a grave and imminent risk to human health. 

By moving the Doomsday Clock to 89 seconds before midnight, the scientific community is telling us that time is short to correct course, too short to compete once again in a global arms race, only this time with China as well as Russia as adversaries. 

As a leading voice for sane nuclear policy in the Pacific Northwest, the Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility have worked for over 40 years to move back the hand on the clock.

“As a leader in the Washington chapter of Physicians for Social Responsibility, doctors like myself have long warned about the existential health risks of nuclear weapons. Every new weapon built, every line of communication broken, intensifies that risk” - Dr. Joseph Berkson 

In 2015, the Obama Administration reneged on its promise of working towards a world without nuclear weapons, and instead began the process of nuclear weapons modernization, revamping the Cold War arsenal with newer and deadlier weapons. This move signaled to the world that it was through nukes, and not negotiations that the modern era would be forged. All but one of the treaties between the US and Russia, NewStart, have been abandoned. NewStart, which limits the number of warheads actively deployed by each country to 1,500, is set to expire next year. Meanwhile, China has doubled its arsenal of 200 weapons, potentially seeking parity with the US’s arsenal of over 5,000 weapons. 

One doesn’t need to imagine an accident or nuclear war to understand the threat of nuclear weapons to civilization. In Washington, we need only to look at Hanford. A site critical to the Manhattan Project, Hanford produced ⅔ of the radioactive plutonium supplying for the current US nuclear arsenal. The resulting waste has been catastrophic. Hanford costs taxpayers over $3 billion a year, and the workers who toil to contain its waste experience abnormally high rates of cancer. Even with constant monitoring, Hanford poses a potentially disastrous risk to Eastern Washington and communities down the Columbia River. 

Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are all but guaranteed to occur in the next decade. It’s unknown how this will affect the Bangor-Trident Nuclear Submarine Base in Kitsap County, home to more deployed nuclear weapons than anywhere else in the western hemisphere. What is known is that every new weapon increases the risk. 

What we need now more than ever is a strong response from civil society to force the moral courage needed by many members of Congress to strongly oppose nuclear weapons. We need a movement similar to the Nuclear Freeze, which is why WPSR founded the Washington Against Nuclear Weapons coalition, to create an overwhelming demand to avert nuclear war.

Contact: 

Sean Arent, Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Manager, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility 

253-363-0843 or sean@wpsr.org

Dr. Joe Berkson, Nuclear Weapons Abolition Task Force 

206-605-1837 joseph@wpsr.org

Green Anesthesia: A Prescription for Sustainability in Washington Healthcare

Healthcare contributes nearly 5% of global greenhouse gas emissions, and operating rooms play an outsized role. Among the hidden culprits are inhaled anesthetics—often used for general anesthesia or sedation but potent contributors to global warming, with some gases thousands of times more impactful than carbon dioxide. Washington State's Senate Bill 5236 offers a critical opportunity to address this issue, making our healthcare system a leader in environmental stewardship.

Anesthesia is a crucial part of medical care, ensuring patients undergo surgeries and procedures safely. We cannot ignore the environmental impact of inhaled anesthetics, which can deplete the ozone layer and are potent greenhouse gasses that contribute to global warming. The good news is that lower-emissions anesthetic options exist, including more efficient use of inhaled anesthetics as well as lower impact intravenous medications. These strategies are supported by the American Society of Anesthesiology and the American Association of Nurse Anesthesiology. Senate Bill 5236 proposes a statewide approach to study and implement these proven strategies, ensuring safe and sustainable anesthesia care for all Washingtonians.

As a pediatric anesthesiologist, I’ve seen firsthand how evidence-based, lower-emission practices can transform care. Over the past eight years, my hospital has reduced its anesthetic emissions tenfold without compromising safety or patient outcomes. We’ve also saved money by improving efficiency—proof that what’s good for patients and the environment is also good for healthcare systems.

The stakes are high, and time is short. In our region, climate change is already harming vulnerable populations. Each summer, wildfire smoke fills our skies, endangering children with asthma, prematurity, and other health conditions. By passing this bill, Washington can take a meaningful step to protect public health and inspire others to follow suit.

Senate Bill 5236 isn’t just about reducing emissions; it’s about leadership. By aligning healthcare with sustainability, Washington can set a precedent that ripples across states and industries. Together, we have the power to lead by example, proving that sustainable healthcare isn’t just possible—it’s essential for safeguarding the health of our patients, our communities, and our planet.

Elizabeth E Hansen, MD PhD

Associate Professor of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of Washington

Pediatric Anesthesiologist, Seattle Children’s Hospital

The views, thoughts, and opinions expressed in the text belong solely to the author, and are not on behalf of the author's employer.

Biography

Elizabeth Hansen is a pediatric anesthesiologist passionate about sustainability in anesthesia and efforts to green the operating room as part of her commitment to environmental justice and equity.

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility Applauds Introduction of Recycling Reform Act

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) joined Zero Waste Washington, Senator Liz Lovelett and Representative Liz Berry this Thursday for a press event on the Recycling Reform Act, which will help to transform the state’s recycling systems address Washington’s growing waste crisis, and improve public health.

At the press event announcing the bill, WPSR Task Force member and cardiologist Dr. Mark Vossler spoke about the urgent health implications of Washington’s recycling challenges. Vossler noted that toxic emissions from improperly managed waste and incineration contribute to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. By improving how we manage materials, this bill will reduce pollution, protect vulnerable communities, and create a healthier future for all Washingtonians.

The Recycling Reform Act aims to reduce waste generation, improve recycling infrastructure, and ensure that producers take responsibility for the lifecycle of their products. By addressing these systemic gaps, the legislation will not only lower greenhouse gas emissions but also curb harmful pollutants that disproportionately affect overburdened communities.

HB 1150 will be heard in the House Environment and Energy Committee on January 21st.

WPSR applauds the leadership of Senator Lovelett and Representative Berry in advancing this bill, which will help to address the public health issues related to recycling. We advocate for swift passage to protect the health of Washington residents and ecosystems.

Watch the full press conference.

Learn more about the bill here.

Read more about WPSR’s Healthy Climate Agenda here.

About WPSR - Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility mobilizes health professionals and advocates to address the health threats posed by climate change, environmental injustice, and unsustainable resource use.

WPSR's 2025 Legislative Kickoff

Last week, WPSR unveiled our priority policies for 2025 at our Legislative Kickoff event! We were thrilled to see so many supporters there, people like you who are eager to address the ways that the climate crisis and economic inequity threaten the health of people and communities across Washington.  

Missed the event? Want to brush up on key policies or the legislative process? You can find the event recording here and slides here.

Release: Pipeline Anomalies Expose Safety and Transparency Failures of GTN Xpress Expansion

FOR RELEASE
Stop GTN Xpress Coalition 

Bend, Oregon 

20 December 2024

Pipeline Anomalies Expose Safety and Transparency Failures of GTN Xpress Expansion

A recent report from Natural Gas Intelligence revealed “significant anomalies” along the Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) pipeline, forcing the company to declare a force majeure, a legal term used when a company cannot fulfill its obligations due to unexpected and uncontrollable events. This report comes on the heels of an EE News article where a former pipeline inspector raised concerns over corrosion and damages to the pipeline. 

Despite the serious implications, this incident has largely been kept quiet, with limited details shared with the public or regulatory agencies. The force majeure led to a reduction in natural gas flows at the Kingsgate hub.

Under current regulations, these incidents are reserved for annual reporting to the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA), meaning critical safety information may not come to light for months or even years.

"This is a glaring example of how the fossil fuel industry operates in secrecy, putting profits ahead of public safety and transparency," said Nora Harren of 350 Deschutes. "If GTN can’t maintain its existing infrastructure, how can they justify expanding it with the GTN Xpress project, which is happening in our community in Deschutes County?"

Why the Silence Matters
The GTN Xpress pipeline runs through vulnerable communities in Oregon, Washington, and Idaho, where residents face the risks of pipeline leaks, explosions, and increased emissions from expanded fracked gas flows. Discreet disclosure of these anomalies endangers public safety and erodes trust in the regulatory system meant to protect communities.

"By waiting until annual reports to PHMSA, GTN is effectively keeping communities in the dark about serious safety risks," said Helen Yost of Wild Idaho Rising Tide. "This lack of transparency is unacceptable when lives and livelihoods are at stake."

“The health impacts of such failures are profound,” said James Moschella of Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. “Pipeline leaks release hazardous air pollutants that can exacerbate respiratory illnesses, cardiovascular conditions, and other chronic health problems, particularly for children and seniors. Communities deserve the most up-to-date information to protect their health and safety.”

Communities across the GTN pipeline corridor have rallied this week in powerful demonstrations against the start-up of GTN Xpress. Targeting methane perpetrators like TC Energy, Intermountain Gas, and Cascade Natural Gas, demonstrators have traveled hundreds of miles to assert their opposition directly at the doors of these corporations, highlighting the rupture risks, and environmental harms posed by this project. 

Guidance for Communities: Protecting Against Pipeline Risks
To counter the risks of pipeline failures and expansions, the Stop GTN Xpress coalition encourages communities to take action:

1. Understand Your Rights: Learn about local and state regulations, as well as how to engage with PHMSA and other regulatory bodies.

2. Pressure for Transparency: Demand immediate public disclosure of pipeline safety incidents, not delayed annual reporting.

3. Organize Locally: Collaborate with advocacy groups, faith leaders, and community members to build coalitions against harmful fossil fuel projects.

4. Advocate for Renewable Energy: Push for investments in clean energy alternatives that reduce reliance on dangerous infrastructure.

5. Engage Your Lawmakers: Call on elected officials to reject GTN Xpress and strengthen oversight of existing pipelines.

A Call to Stop GTN Xpress
"This is exactly why we’ve been fighting the GTN Xpress expansion," said Harren. "The pipeline is already a ticking time bomb. Expanding it will only increase the risks to our communities and worsen the climate crisis."

The Stop GTN Xpress coalition demands:

• Immediate reform to PHMSA’s reporting requirements to ensure timely public access to safety information.

• Rejection of the GTN Xpress expansion in favor of cleaner, safer energy solutions.

About Stop GTN Xpress Coalition
The Stop GTN Xpress coalition is a network of organizations and advocates fighting the proposed GTN Xpress pipeline expansion. The coalition is committed to safeguarding our communities and environment from the harmful impacts of fossil fuel infrastructure.

The coalition includes Rogue Climate, Columbia Riverkeeper, Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT), 350 PDX, 350 Deschutes, 350 Eugene, Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility, Breach Collective, Extinction Rebellion Portland, Sierra Club, Beyond Toxics, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility, Oregon Interfaith Power and Light (OIPL), 350 Corvallis, 350 Salem, Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon, Earth Ministry/Washington Interfaith Power and Light (WAIPL), 350 Seattle, We Black Radio, Third Act,  Waterkeeper Alliance,  Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Central Oregon, and the Consolidated Oregon Indivisible Network (COIN).

Track WPSR’s Climate and Health work at WPSR.org/climate.

WPSR's 2025 Legislative Kickoff: Join us on January 7th!

As the 2025 legislative session approaches, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) is hosting a virtual legislative kickoff event on Tuesday, January 7th, from 6:00–7:30 PM. This engaging and informative session will prepare advocates to champion policies that address the critical intersections of climate, health, and economic inequity across Washington State. Make sure to add this event to your calendar!

This year, public health will be at the forefront of discussions in Olympia. Facing a difficult budget shortfall, lawmakers will be forced to make many difficult decisions. As health professionals, we advocate for our lawmakers to make choices that are good for our health and improve our climate and address economic inequities. We’ll be working to promote progressive taxation and housing, as well as the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and climate adaptations to extreme heat.

Attendees will:

• Gain insight into WPSR’s legislative priorities for 2025.

• Hear from members of the Climate and Health Task Force and the Economic Inequity and Health Task Force about their key focus areas.

• Learn actionable advocacy strategies to make an impact as a health professional or ally.

Whether you’re new to legislative advocacy or a seasoned advocate, this session will equip you with the tools and knowledge to make your voice heard during the upcoming session.

Event Details

• Date: Tuesday, January 7, 2025

• Time: 6:00–7:30 PM

• Location: Virtual (Zoom)

Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with WPSR’s community of advocates and prepare for an impactful legislative session.

Add this event to your calendar and join us in advocating for a healthier, more equitable Washington.

For more information about WPSR’s mission and priorities, visit WPSR’s Climate and Health webpage and view our Economic Inequity and Health Policy Priorities.

California governor visits Seattle for rally against ballot measure that aims to undo climate efforts

by Lisa Stiffler on October 21, 2024

Washington Gov. Jay Inslee hosted California Gov. Gavin Newsom in Seattle this past weekend in an effort to get out the vote in opposition to Initiative 2117.

The ballot measure would eliminate a program requiring Washington’s largest polluters to pay for greenhouse gas emission permits, and would forbid leaders from creating similar efforts in the future.

The cap-and-invest carbon market was created by the state’s Climate Commitment Act and has raised billions of dollars that pay for climate programs including initiatives in communities and tribes hardest hit by the impacts of climate change, state transportation infrastructure projects, and support for job creation and climate tech companies working on decarbonization. Read More

Honoring Nihon Hidankyo: A Call for Nuclear Disarmament

October 22, 2024

For Immediate Release:

By Dr. Joseph Berkson, Nuclear Weapons Abolition Program Co-Chair and Dr. Ken Lans, WPSR Board President

The honoring of a grassroots organization of atomic-bomb survivors with the Nobel Peace Prize is a profound moment that can provide inspiration for citizen action against the civilization-ending threat of nuclear weapons. For decades, the group Nihon Hidankyo—comprised of survivors of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki—has dedicated itself to preserving the painful memories of that tragic history. 

Nihon Hidankyo’s recognition is a reminder of the existential risks that most of us prefer to push aside. The survivors, or hibakusha, have lived through the unimaginable and have spent their lives advocating for a simple yet monumental goal: the total abolition of nuclear weapons.

Since our founding at the height of the cold war in 1979, Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) has advocated for scaling back and eventually eliminating these weapons of total destruction. As health professionals in a state with the Hanford Nuclear Reservation and Naval Base Kitsap, with its fleet of nuclear submarines, we have an intimate understanding of the health consequences that the mining, production, storage and use of nuclear weapons can impose. Knowing the unimaginable scale of death and lingering suffering even a single bomb would bring, we’re driven in our educational efforts, actions and advocacy by a desire to prevent something for which there is no cure.

Who can bring about the needed change in how we think about and handle this present peril? UN Secretary-General António Guterres framed it clearly: “It is time for world leaders to be as clear-eyed as the hibakusha, and see nuclear weapons for what they are: devices of death that offer no safety, protection, or security. The only way to eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons is to eliminate them altogether.”

But leaders are more likely to act when they are pushed. The easing of Cold War tensions in the 1980s and 1990s followed large-scale public activism and demonstrations, like the massive 1982 march in New York City that included a speech by a Hiroshima survivor. 

In 2021, the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons entered into force after being ratified by 50 countries. Today, 94 countries have signed the treaty, and 73 have ratified it. However, the major nuclear powers all remain missing, which leads to asking if this is an impractical desire by nations without nuclear arsenals to influence those that possess them?

Some also argue that complete disarmament is unrealistic. But is the only alternative continuing down the current path of nuclear escalation? The U.S. is now planning to spend $1.7 trillion to upgrade its nuclear arsenal — at a time when critical domestic needs, like healthcare and education, are underfunded.

Within Congress, some call for a reevaluation of our nuclear strategy. In Newsweek, U.S. Rep. Adam Smith, D-Bellevue, has urged reconsideration of our reliance on land-based nuclear missiles. His closing words were powerful: “A world without nuclear weapons is a goal we should continue to strive for because a nuclear war cannot be won and therefore must never be fought. Until that can be achieved, we must have the moral fortitude to make decisions that get us closer to that goal, not push us to the brink of a catastrophic nuclear holocaust.”

This is not an abstract issue for experts or diplomats to debate in isolation. It’s a matter of life and death, and citizens can play an active role. We can pressure our elected representatives to rethink nuclear policies. Advocacy groups like WPSR, in collaboration with the Washington Against Nuclear Weapons (WANW) coalition, are already working to lobby members of Congress. You can join this effort—whether individually or through your own organization. Together, we can amplify the call for a safer, nuclear-free world.

In honoring Nihon Hidankyo, let’s not just reflect on the past. Let’s also take concrete steps toward a future where no one else will suffer from the horrors of nuclear warfare.

Housing for All: What Works and How We Get There

October 22, 2024

For Immediate Release:

WPSR's Economic Inequity & Health Task Force invites you to a free, virtual event on November 19th at 6pm: Housing for All: What works and how we get there. Housing is essential for health and wellbeing and every one of us deserves to be housed. So how do we make systemic changes to ensure everyone has safe, stable, affordable housing? Join us to hear about efforts that have made a difference and upcoming opportunities to advocate for statewide housing policies.

REGISTER: https://www.wpsr.org/housingforall

Governors Inslee and Newsom Join WPSR to Oppose Ballot Initiatives

October 22, 2024

For Immediate Release:

WPSR hosts California Governor Gavin Newsom, Washington Governor Jay Inslee, local elected officials, and health care professionals representing WPSR's Task Forces. This diverse group of local and national leaders came together to rally community members behind efforts to protect and promote funding that addresses the climate crisis, preserves education, and provides long-term healthcare for Washingtonians

Initiative 2117: A Risk to Our Health

July 22, 2024

For Immediate Release:

Physicians Release Report on Health Risks of Initiative 2117 - Call for NO Vote to Protect Public Health

Seattle, WA — Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR), a statewide advocacy organization composed of healthcare professionals, is urging residents to vote NO on Initiative 2117, a proposal that threatens the health and well-being of Washington communities by repealing the Climate Commitment Act (CCA).

Their latest report, I-2117: A Risk to Our Health, details the significant health impacts that Initiative 2117 poses to Washingtonians, especially to children and overburdened communities. 

“Repealing the CCA would reverse significant public health advancements, particularly for our most overburdened communities,” stated Dr. Mark Vossler, one of the white paper's lead authors.

Key health benefits at risk include:

• Improved Air Quality: Investments have significantly reduced the risk of respiratory conditions like asthma, especially in children

• Cardiovascular Health: Lower air pollution levels, which will lessen heart attack and stroke incidents

• Mental Health: Enhanced urban green spaces promote physical activity and mental well-being

• Heat Protection: Urban forestry projects mitigate extreme heat risks

The CCA, enacted in 2021, has been instrumental in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and reinvesting in overburdened communities. The CCA mandates that 35-40% of its revenue benefits overburdened populations, with at least 10% directed to Tribal projects. Repealing these measures would exacerbate health disparities in economically disadvantaged and minority communities.

“Healthcare professionals witness firsthand the devastating effects of pollution and climate change on public health,” emphasized WPSR Executive Director Max Savishinsky. “A vote against Initiative 2117 is a vote for a healthier, more equitable future for all Washingtonians.”

WPSR calls on all residents to protect public health by voting NO on Initiative 2117.

Download the report here | Report One-Pager

For more information, please visit www.wpsr.org/wpsrvoteno2024

WA Healthy State Building Codes Threatened by Lawsuit

May 24, 2023

For Immediate Release:

WA Building Codes Council Acts to Keep New Construction Codes on Track for Clean and Efficient Heating and Cooling

Move comes as gas industry marshals its national playbook locally in Wash. with lawsuit aimed at unwinding state action for healthy homes and buildings 

Washington’s State Building Code Council (SBCC) took action today to keep its recently updated construction codes for new homes and buildings on track to continue to drive the transition from fossil fuels to clean energy for space and water heating. The council’s action comes on the heels of a new gas industry lawsuit, just filed earlier this week, aiming to block updated the construction codes approved last year that were supported by thousands of Washingtonians. 

SBCC members voted to start a process to make several minor changes to both the commercial and residential codes to safeguard the policies from legal challenges. The gas industry’s suit, filed on behalf of plaintiffs including Northwest Natural and Avista, appears to be an attempt to leverage the recent 9th Circuit Court of Appeals decision which found that a policy to restrict gas infrastructure by Berkeley, California, was preempted by federal law.  

“The SBCC is taking no chances and adding extra insulation to the new construction codes in the face of underhanded and deeply self-interested tactics by the gas industry to use the 9th circuit's over-reaching decision to undo any and all state and local actions to ensure new buildings are climate-friendly,” noted Dylan Plummer, senior campaign representative with the Sierra Club. “The gas industry’s lawsuit is an insult to Washingtonians who overwhelmingly want action on climate change.” 

The lawsuit on Berkeley’s ordinance was financially backed by SoCalGas, the largest gas utility in the country. An industry analyst has called the 9th Circuit ruling a “playbook” opportunity for the gas industry to “storm the walls” of local policies. 

"Washington's State Energy Strategy found that electrification is the lowest-cost pathway to achieving our statutory climate targets, and accordingly, the Washington Legislature directed the State Building Code Council to pass codes that achieve the goal of building zero fossil-fuel greenhouse gas emission homes and buildings by the year 2031,” said Deepa Sivarajan, Washington Local Policy Manager for Climate Solutions. “Upholding the intent of Washington's clean codes is crucial to ensuring that new buildings in Washington aren't digging us deeper into a fossil fuel future, as well as reducing air pollution and increasing resilience by preferring electric heat pumps that offer both heating and cooling." 

The SBCC is moving the codes to a performance standard approach, which uses an efficiency benchmark that is based on the top-flight cost-effective performance on the market. Heat pumps, which provide both AC and heat in the same unit, run up to three times more efficiently than gas furnaces, and will save Washingtonians $1,000 a year according to the Department of Commerce. 

“Heat pumps are already the go-to in new construction today for performance, efficiency, lower energy bills and clean air, and updating building codes accordingly is common sense,” said Rachel Koller, Managing Director with Shift Zero. “Nearly 5,000 people submitted public comments or testified in support of the updated building codes. It’s only May and we’ve already had days of record-breaking heat. Washingtonians want to transition to clean, electric heating and cooling in their homes.”

Jonny Kocher, Manager at RMI stated, “Most new homes in Washington are already being built with heat pumps for space heating because it's the most cost-effective and climate-friendly solution. Even with minor revisions by the SBCC to reduce legal risk, the next code will push the market for clean electric heating and cooling even further. RMI is confident that an all-electric future for new homes and buildings in Washington is here to stay and that Washingtonians will benefit from the clean air, energy savings, and fewer climate-warming emissions that building electrification delivers.”

The industry representatives participating in the lawsuit have attempted to fight the transition away from polluting gas in buildings for years. Northwest Natural has previously sued Oregon over its climate change policies, and has been preparing to run a $4 million ballot measure campaign in the small city of Eugene, OR over that community’s commitment to all-electric new construction. The New York Times reported this year that Northwest Natural hired a mercenary toxicologist in an attempt to downplay the health risks of gas stoves. Last year, current and former Oregon lawmakers and 32 organizations submitted a petition to the Oregon Department of Justice calling for an investigation into NW Natural for false advertising and advertising to children. The Spokane Home Builders Association previously attempted to run a ballot measure in Spokane that would have preemptively prevented any requirement to move to more efficient, electric new buildings, before the measure was thrown out in court.

The SBCC’s action today will prompt a couple-month process for the changes to the residential and commercial building codes to be proposed and go through public comment. Code updates could then go into effect after the SBCC votes, likely this fall.
Contacts: Tiffany Cain, tiffany@resource-media.org; Stephanie Noren, stephanie.noren@climatesolutions.org; Sage Welch, sage@sunstonestrategies.org

Read more in this Politico article on the legal threat to the WA SBCC codes.

March 2023 Legislative Update

In this post: The WA Legislative session is (still!) in full swing and WPSR is working tirelessly to advance legislation that will make our state a safer, more just, and healthier place for all. We are bringing the health voice to bear on important bills that make our upside-down tax system more fair, address our housing and climate crises, and mitigate the threat of nuclear disaster. Read on about what we are up to, and please: join us in our work to address the gravest threats to health!

Economic Inequity & Health

We are working hard to create a more equitable tax code and a state where everyone has a safe, affordable home:

• The Working Families Tax Credit (WFTC) went into effect this year! Over 100,000 people have claimed the credit and over $25m has been sent to working families throughout WA. Now, we are pushing to make the credit more accessible.

• The Wealth Tax has a second hearing today! Sign in PRO here by 3pm to support the wealth tax and help make our tax code more equitable. Polling shows broad support among Washington voters for a state wealth tax.

• Unfortunately a bill to create a Guaranteed Basic Income (GBI) pilot has stalled, but made it further in the legislative process than it did last year, which is promising!

• WPSR is also supporting the Estate Tax and the Affordable Homes Act, which is a real estate excise tax (REET) that would fund housing efforts. 

• We have been advocating for tenants' rights by supporting Rent Stabilization and a 6-Month Notice of Excessive Rent Increases. Unfortunately, neither bill passed the House, but we will continue to advocate for rent fairness and support these bills next year.

• The Covenant Homeownership Account - supporting first time homebuyers affected by Washington's history of discriminatory housing practices - has passed the House and is currently in the Senate awaiting a hearing.

Climate & Health

We have made historic strides in climate action in the past year, but our work continues! With funds coming in from the newly implemented Climate Commitment Act, our legislators must invest in climate through funding healthy homes and clean transportation. Specifically, our legislators must:

• Invest in and expand the Weatherization Plus Health program, which is instrumental in creating energy efficiency in our buildings and for improving our health through necessary home upgrades;

• Create a High-Efficiency Heating and Cooling Program to help low and middle-income families in Washington make necessary upgrades to their homes such as funding of heat pump installations;

• Fund the electrification of our medium and heavy duty vehicles, including trucks, vans and school buses

Now is crunch time for budget negotiations, and our legislators need to hear from you! Send a letter to your legislators, telling them to invest wisely in climate in this year's budget. 

Nuclear Weapons Abolition

Many of our nuclear abolition priorities have now been introduced into Congress, but a majority of Washington's Congressional Delegation remain silent. We need your help reaching out to your representatives and senators in Congress to sponsor these important pieces of legislation:

• H.R. 77 Embracing the Goals and Provisions of the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

• H.R. 669 Restricting the First Use of Nuclear Weapons

• H.R. 1134 People Over Pentagon Act 

With New START - the last remaining Nuclear Arms Control Treaty in jeopardy, we must urge a return to diplomacy focused on securing and reducing nuclear arsenals. And, with the ongoing specter of a nuclear accident or exchange in Europe,  and the increasing toll on human life in Ukraine, we must also push on Congress to negotiate an end to the conflict. You can help by signing our petition for an Immediate Transition Away From Nuclear Weapons. 

Needless to say, we are taking on many critical issues that impact the wellbeing of Washingtonians and people everywhere.  And given the magnitude of the challenges, we simply can't do it alone. Please, join us as an advocate, and as a supporting member and be a part of our work to make the world a safer, just, and healthier place for all.

Health Professionals Urge FERC to Deny a Controversial Plan to Expand a Fracked Gas Pipeline

Press Release: Health Professionals Urge FERC to Deny a Controversial Plan to Expand a Fracked Gas Pipeline

• More than 500 physicians, nurses, and other public health officials signed onto a petition calling on FERC to deny TC Energy's proposed fracked gas pipeline expansion

• Pipeline passes through rural, low-income and Indigenous communities in Oregon, Washington and Idaho

WHAT

More than 500 physicians, nurses and community members signed onto a letter urging the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to deny a proposed bid to expand shipments of fracked gas through an aging Northwest pipeline. 

As soon as mid-March, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, or FERC, could vote on whether to approve a bid from the Canadian-owned natural gas company TC Energy, the owner of the infamous Keystone Pipeline, to expand the amount of fracked gas exported through the aging Gas Transmission Northwest (GTN) pipeline. The pipeline runs through communities across Idaho, Washington and Oregon, including low-income neighborhoods and lands important to indigenous communities.

Physicians and other medical professionals, including members of Physicians for Social Responsibility, are joining other community members in sounding the alarm about the impact the pipeline’s expansion could have on local communities. More than 500 people have signed onto the letter.

WHY

Pipelines and expansion projects are frequently approved at higher rates in rural, Indigenous and low-income communities, which force these communities to bear the health disparities such projects are associated with: air, water and noise pollution. 

Should TC Energy’s bid be approved, the proposed expansion would include the construction of expanded or new compressors which vent methane and other volatile organic compounds like formaldehyde, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and carbon monoxide. All of these air pollutants have serious health impacts, including increased risks of stroke, cancer, asthma and low birth weight and premature babies. 

QUOTES

“We are in a climate crisis, where we are already experiencing the devastating effects of rising temperatures, the direct result of burning fossil fuels, including so-called “natural gas” i.e., methane,” said Ann Turner MD, a member of Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility. “As medical practitioners, we see the impact the climate crisis has on people each and every day. And we have a responsibility to sound the alarm. We urge FERC to prioritize the health of our most vulnerable communities over profit.” 

“States in the Northwest have made great strides in reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and creating healthier communities,” said Dr. Mark Vossler, board member at Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility. “I urge FERC to consider the human health impact of the proposed pipeline expansion and respect the leadership of local, state and Tribal governments in addressing the climate crisis. FERC should deny the permit for this  pipeline expansion proposal which is both unnecessary to meet our energy needs and harmful to people in our communities.”

"Idahoans dread FERC approval of the GTN Xpress expansion project, which would force greater fracked gas volumes and hazardous emissions through the aging GTN pipeline. This expansion project would further threaten and harm the health and safety of rural communities, environments, and recreation economies for decades," said Helen Yost of Wild Idaho Rising Tide. "This proposed expansion does not support the best interests of concerned Northwesterners living and working near compressor stations and the pipeline route."

ORGANIZATIONS

• Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility 

• Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility 

• San Francisco Physicians for Social Responsibility 

• Wild Idaho Rising Tide 

ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND CONTACT

To coordinate interviews: Contact Byron Kimball, Byron@gomixte.com, 619-732-0789 ext. 297

Link to use in your story:

• Campaign video

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About Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility

Oregon Physicians for Social Responsibility works to protect human life from the gravest threats to health and survival. Learn more. 

About Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility engages the community to create a healthy, peaceful, just and sustainable world. Learn more. 

About San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility

San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility works to protect human life from the gravest threats to health and survival. Learn more. 

About Wild Idaho Rising Tide

Wild Idaho Rising Tide (WIRT) confronts the root causes of climate change, water degradation, and air pollution, by asserting direct actions and promoting locally organized solutions, in solidarity with frontline communities of resistance and an international, volunteer, grassroots network of activists. Learn more. 

Climate Change is Making Us Sick in Washington

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Max Savishinsky, WPSR                                                
Phone: 206.547.2630
Email: Max@WPSR.org

Impacts and Solutions are Focus of WPSR's Climate/Health 2022 Report

Seattle, July 14, 2022 - Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility released its  2022 Climate and Health Report, detailing the harms of climate change to human health. The report enumerates the opportunities for improving the quality of life for millions of Washingtonians through climate action, including actionable steps that individuals, businesses, and policy-makers can take. 

Climate change and human health are inextricably linked, and the worsening effects of climate change are already having real, documented impacts on the health of Washington communities. The report finds that the 2020 wildfire smoke in Western Washington led to as many as 179 excess deaths from respiratory illnesses. From wildfire smoke to extreme weather events, Washington residents, especially low-income and BIPOC Washingtonians, are facing increasing rates of asthma, heat related illness, and threats from infectious diseases, among countless other health concerns.

“The longer we wait to act, the more the earth will warm, the more the climate will be disrupted, and the more dire and widespread the impacts and harms on people will become,” writes Ken Lans, a founding member of WPSR and a member of the Climate and Health Task Force.

This report serves as a guide for tackling climate-related health factors in our policies, in our healthcare providers’  offices, and in our homes. Download the 2022 Climate and Health Report.

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility (WPSR) is a health professional-led advocacy organization working to create a healthy, just, peaceful and sustainable world. For over 40 years, WPSR has taken on the gravest threats to human health and survival, including advocating for nuclear abolition, economic equality, and climate justice.

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For more information, contact Max Savishinsky at Max@WPSR.org

WPSR Calls for Peace in Ukraine

As health professionals and people concerned with peace, we must call for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine.

WPSR joins PSR National and members of our Washington Against Nuclear Weapons Coalition in strongly condemning Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Intentionally taking lives - whether military or civilian - is unconscionable. We must not give in to violence and war at a time in history when we must work cooperatively to end a global pandemic and focus our resources and attention on meeting the challenges of a climate crisis, exploding inequality, and other threats to health and wellbeing.

We call on all parties to protect and respect Ukraine and its people, sovereignty, and territorial integrity. We call on Russia to immediately withdraw from Ukraine, and engage in a ceasefire. We call on our own government to earnestly work for immediate and long-term diplomatic solutions that will provide for true security, both at home and abroad.

We are deeply concerned about the myriad, heightened risks of nuclear harm that this conflict could trigger, whether by accident, or on purpose. No country has the right to imperil Europe and the world with nuclear weapons. Today, more than ever, it is clear that we must work together for true security, and finally and permanently eliminate the threat of nuclear weapons.

If you are a member of an organization in Washington state and believe that our nations should reduce and eventually eliminate our reliance on nuclear weapons to ensure security, please join us by signing this letter to President Biden to issue a Nuclear Posture Review that prioritizes restraint, safeguards, and health and wellbeing of our country, rather than profits for nuclear weapons industries.

You can also take individual action by signing this medical alert through the International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War.

Together, we must act to restore peace and prevent the harms that cannot be cured.

Congress must seize this moment...

In early August, 60 healthcare and public health organizations from around the nation signed a letter to Congress, insisting that their infrastructure bill and budget reconciliation bill (both in progress on Capitol Hill as of our writing this) include specific and robust investments in solutions to the climate crisis.

Join the below-listed organizations in taking action against the climate crisis with a donation to WPSR’s Climate & Health Task Force HERE.

Dear Members of Congress:

As health organizations, we represent physicians, nurses, mental health professionals, public health and health care professionals, health scientists and researchers, patients and advocates all dedicated to promoting health and saving lives. Climate change is a health emergency. Addressing it by transitioning the nation to clean, renewable electricity and clean transportation will avoid the worst health impacts of climate change and achieve immediate improvements in air quality and health at the same time. Congress’ current work on legislation to invest in infrastructure and other priorities must yield a package of climate change measures that meet the urgency of this moment by achieving a roughly 50% reduction in U.S. greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.

Air pollution and climate change are impacting the health of millions of Americans now, and those impacts will only get worse without action. Emissions from fossil fuel or other combustion-based operations are worsening air quality, which is especially harmful for children, seniors, pregnant people, people with respiratory illnesses and people who work or play outside. These same emissions are also driving climate change and with it, sweeping and dramatic health harms. More intense and frequent wildfires, strong storms and persistent extreme heat are already causing physical and mental harm.

As a result of numerous current and legacy racist policies and practices, people of color are disproportionately more likely to have multiple pre-existing health conditions, to face social disadvantages and environmental risks that make them more vulnerable to climate change. Communities of color are also three times more likely than white communities to live in areas experiencing the worst air pollution.

Congress must seize this moment to make major investments in climate and health solutions. By cleaning up the nation’s electricity and transportation, you can not only slash greenhouse gas emissions but also improve health by cleaning up other dangerous air pollution.

As you debate investments in infrastructure and consider the American Jobs Plan and American Families Plan, our organizations ask you to approve legislation to:

• Invest in clean, non-combustion renewable energy. A clean electricity standard that achieves 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and rapid reductions in natural gas and coal use are necessary to drive a nationwide transition to pollution-free sources like wind, solar, geothermal and tidal. To protect health equity, clean energy legislation should not include offset credits that would allow for increased pollution in communities already experiencing poor air quality.

• Establish long-term clean energy tax incentives. Paired with a clean electricity standard, ten-year tax incentives for clean electricity, energy storage, transmission will help drive innovation and deployment of pollution-free energy.

• Rapidly transition to zero-emission vehicles, buses and ports. Include historic investments in electric vehicles and buses and the necessary charging infrastructure. Specifically, please include $40 billion in electric vehicle manufacturing, $40 billion over the next decade in charging infrastructure, and at least $20 billion to help transform the nation’s diesel school bus fleet to electric, zero-emission buses. As part of a transition to a pollution-free transportation sector, include investments to electrify the nation’s ports, which have some of the poorest air quality in the country.

• Commit to environmental justice by ensuring 40% of investments in clean air go to frontline communities. Any efforts to reduce air and climate pollutants should not worsen existing inequities and should direct benefits to the communities that have been disproportionately burdened by air pollution and climate change.

Investing in infrastructure is an opportunity to protect health from climate change – particularly for underserved communities – that Congress and the nation can't afford to miss. The below organizations urge swift and bold investments towards a healthier future.

Sincerely,

Allergy & Asthma Network

Alliance of Nurses for Healthy Environments

American Heart Association

American Lung Association

American Psychological Association

American Public Health Association

American Thoracic Society

Arkansas Public Health Association

Association of Public Health Nurses

Association of Schools and Programs of Public Health

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America

Children's Environmental Health Network

Climate Psychiatry Alliance

Colorado Public Health Association

Delaware Academy of Medicine/Delaware Public Health Association

Florida Public Health Association

Georgia Clinicians for Climate Action

Georgia Society for Public Health Education

Health by Design

Health Care Without Harm

Illinois Association of School Nurses

Illinois Public Health Association

Indiana Public Health Association

Interfaith Public Health Network

Kansas Public Health Association

Maine Public Health Association

Medical Society Consortium on Climate & Health

Medical Students for a Sustainable Future

Michigan Public Health Association

Missouri Public Health Association

Mothers & Others For Clean Air

National Association of Nurse Practitioners in Women's Health

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners

National Association of School Nurses

National Environmental Health Association

NC Public Health Association

Nevada Public Health Association

New Hampshire Public Health Association

New Jersey Association of Public Health Nurse Administrators

New Jersey Public Health Association

New Jersey Society for Public Health Education (NJSOPHE)

New York State Public Health Association

North Dakota Public Health Association

Oregon Public Health Association

Pennsylvania Public Health Association

Philippine Nurses Association of America

Physicians for Social Responsibility

Physicians for Social Responsibility/Florida

Preventive Cardiovascular Nurses Association

PSR Colorado

Public Health Institute

Respiratory Health Association

San Francisco Bay Physicians for Social Responsibility

Society for Public Health Education

Tennessee Public Health Association

Utah Public Health Association

Washington Physicians for Social Responsibility

Washington State Public Health Association

Wisconsin Health Professionals for Climate Action

Wisconsin Public Health Association