Climate Change and Health Series – Profile: Washington State, USA
Washington State is bounded by the Pacific Ocean (west), Canadian border (north), Idaho border (east) and the Columbia River/Oregon border (south). Washington is unique for its diverse topography which includes two mountain ranges (Cascades and Olympics), five volcanoes (Mt. Baker, Rainier, St. Helens, Adams and Glacier Peak) the largest temperate rainforest (Hoh) in North America, islands, semiarid productive farmland to the east and thousands of rivers, streams and lakes.
Demographics, economics and other considerations
The total state population is over 7.6 million, adding nearly 1 million residents since 2010. Over 75% of the total population resides in western Washington with 2.2 million in Seattle and surrounding areas. Historically, Washington is relatively racially homogenous, nearly 70% of state residents identify as white, with Hispanic or Latino (13%), Asian (9.6%), Black or African American (4.4%), two or more races (4.9%) and Native American (1.9%) minority populations. Seattle and surrounding King County have diversified in last 20 years with over 50% of new residents born outside the United States.
The Cascade Mountains are a natural dividing line between western and eastern Washington, which vary significantly in terms of culture, politics and economics.
Western Washington and especially Seattle/King County is one of the most progressive areas in the country, this is reflected in political leadership which trends from ‘liberal’ to ‘ultra-liberal’, adoption of a $15 per hour minimum wage, ambitious greenhouse gas emission reduction goals including an 80 percent reduction compared to a 2007 baseline by 2050, plant, protect and prepare 3 million trees by 2025, tuition-free community college for public high school graduates. Aviation, technology, healthcare, academia are major industries including Boeing, Amazon, Microsoft, Harborview Medical Center and the University of Washington. Rapid economic growth has pushed the median household income in Seattle/King County to nearly $100,000 and average home value to almost $800,000. However, economic prosperity has not benefitted all groups, with the income gap between black ($55,152) and white ($100,298) households widening in the past 20 years and over 11,700 residents experiencing homelessness (2020 count; this figure likely rose due to the COVID-19 pandemic and associated economic impacts).
As with many other rural areas in the United States, Eastern Washington has grown increasingly conservative in recent years, with all but 1 district represented by Republicans in the state legislature. This was also reflected in the 2020 presidential election results with all but one eastside county going for Trump. Agriculture is the primary economic sector in eastern Washington, producing apples, cherries, wheat, potatoes and wine grapes. Academia is also a major employer with three large public universities and several private institutions. The economic growth experienced on the westside has not been felt east of the Cascades, as the median household income in the most populated eastside county, Spokane ($56,904), is far lower than King County ($94,974).
Climate Change and Health Concerns
Extreme heat: A report from 2015 indicated that the Puget Sound region had warmed 1.3 degrees between 1895 and 2014 with significant warming in all seasons except spring. This warming trend is projected to continue through the 21st century with more frequent and extreme heat events. Washington experienced an historic heat wave in June 2021, as temperatures above 110 degrees smashed records in areas of the state. Mortality, hospitalizations and emergency medical service call rates increase significantly on days over 97 degrees. Vulnerable populations in Washington State include the nearly 12,000 western residents experiencing homelessness and 187,000 migrant/seasonal farmworkers on the eastside.
Poor air quality: risk of wildfire is projected to increase due to higher temperatures and drier conditions in the Pacific Northwest. The combination of heat, wildfires and unfavorable wind conditions can result in poor air quality, as illustrated when Washington State experienced the worst air quality in decades for several days in 2017. Populations adjacent to major roadways, ports and heavy industry in Seattle/King County (westside) and Spokane (eastside) with existing poor air quality and disproportionately impacted by socioeconomic determinants of health are more vulnerable during poor air quality events.
Precipitation: too much/too little precipitation may be an emerging issue in Washington State. A study by Seattle Public Utilities found that extreme precipitation events in western Washington had gotten 30 percent stronger since 2003 whereas eastern Washington is currently experiencing extreme drought. Flooding can contribute directly to water contamination/associated illness and reduced crop yields may worsen food insecurity which already impacts nearly a third of state residents.
Emission reduction strategies
Western: King County Metro Transit has committed to moving to a 100% zero-emission fleet no later than 2040, currently operates 185 zero-emission buses (of 1,600 total buses), purchased 120 more in 2020 and is developing the associated charging infrastructure.
Eastern: Puget Sound Energy operates the Wild Horse Wind and Solar facility, which includes 149 wind turbines and 2,408 solar panels (enough to power around 80,000 homes).