Julie Titone

Bradley Barton with graduates of his Climate Crisis Solutions class at Maplewood Parent Cooperative school on Feb. 22, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. From left, the students are Maedot Yoseph, Talea Mustefa, Jaxon Kennard, M.J. Pankow and Ava Woodsum. (Julie Titone)

Amid smoke-filled summers, motivated teachers drive climate education

The ClimeTime program provides more resources to teach about climate change. And it gets kids thinking about solutions.

 

Sebastian Sanchez, left, instructor Hannah Dreesbach, center, and Kash Willis, right, learn how to identify trees near Darrington Elementary School in Darrington, Washington on Friday, Feb. 17, 2023. Environmental and outdoor education lessons are woven throughout the in-school and after-school activities in this small community, thanks to the Glacier Peak Institute. The non-profit arose from community concerns in the wake of the Oso landslide disaster. (Annie Barker / The Herald)

Darrington nonprofit puts kids in touch with timber town’s roots

Outdoor education is the Glacier Peak Institute’s mission. Even for kids living in the shadow of the Cascades, it’s often their first time camping.

 

Master Gardener Jackie Trimble, 68, checks on compost in the backyard of her home in Lake Stevens, Washington on Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)

DIY composting puts table scraps to good use

Composting is low-effort and high-reward: “It improves all kinds of soils, including dense and waterlogged.”

 

A Waste Management truck dumps a load of compostable waste at Cedar Grove Composting on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

New law aims to break link between food waste, warming climate

Much of our garbage is food that was still edible. Yet over 10 percent of Washingtonians don’t know where their next meal will come from.

A Waste Management truck dumps a load of compostable waste at Cedar Grove Composting on Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Solar panels are visible along the rooftop of the Crisp family home on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Breaking it down: How consumers can cash in on federal climate bill

Tax credits and discounts on electric vehicles are among many incentives to help consumers save money and the planet.

Solar panels are visible along the rooftop of the Crisp family home on Monday, Nov. 14, 2022 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Casey Katims (U.S. Climate Alliance)

Edmonds native directs U.S. Climate Alliance

In a fight to reduce greenhouse gases, Casey Katims and staff draw a roadmap for the national organization.

Casey Katims (U.S. Climate Alliance)
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State’s new Clean Fuel Standard takes aim at climate-changing pollution

As drafted, the standard seeks to improve air quality in high-pollution neighborhoods. Deadline to comment on them is Aug. 31.

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Remis Jankauskas, left, and Trent Pickford of CM Heating move a heat pump into place while working on a home’s HVAC system Friday, July 15, 2022, in Woodinville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)

Climate change prompts a push away from natural gas

What’s an effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions? Heat pumps, advocates say. And new building codes could require them.

Remis Jankauskas, left, and Trent Pickford of CM Heating move a heat pump into place while working on a home’s HVAC system Friday, July 15, 2022, in Woodinville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118

A climate bill that died in Legislature lives on, in plans for future

A bill requiring cities and counties to cut greenhouse gases failed to pass, but they’re planning to do it anyway.

Logo for news use featuring Snohomish County, Washington. 220118
In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, the Modular Offshore Grid with wind turbines as a background in the North Sea off of the Belgian coast. The Modular Offshore Grid is the first of its kind in Belgium and is of strategic importance for Belgium's further development of renewable energy in the North Sea. (Eric Herchaft, Pool Photo via AP)

Catching waves and wind: Clean energy search turns offshore

Marine energy has momentum in the Northwest. Up-front costs are high, but wind, wave and tidal energy are free and boundless.

In this photo taken on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, the Modular Offshore Grid with wind turbines as a background in the North Sea off of the Belgian coast. The Modular Offshore Grid is the first of its kind in Belgium and is of strategic importance for Belgium's further development of renewable energy in the North Sea. (Eric Herchaft, Pool Photo via AP)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
A quality control specialist at The Group14 Technologies in Woodinville, Washington on March 1, 2022.  (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
The massive mudslide that killed at least eight people and left dozens missing is shown in this aerial photo, Monday, March 24, 2014, near Arlington, Wash. The search for survivors grew Monday, raising fears that the death toll could climb far beyond the eight confirmed fatalities. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

After Oso disaster, landslide prediction remains vexing, necessary

Slides will become more prevalent with climate change. Scientists are scrambling to prepare.

The massive mudslide that killed at least eight people and left dozens missing is shown in this aerial photo, Monday, March 24, 2014, near Arlington, Wash. The search for survivors grew Monday, raising fears that the death toll could climb far beyond the eight confirmed fatalities. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)
A car drives along a section of Ben Howard road that Snohomish County will raise due to flooding on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Not so high and dry: Climate change adds to flooding risks

Road improvements are planned with future river flows in mind, starting with an area between Monroe and Sultan.

A car drives along a section of Ben Howard road that Snohomish County will raise due to flooding on Friday, Dec. 17, 2021 in Monroe, Wa. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Saman Shareghi is organically farming in his parents yard in Bothell. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

In climate change war, this Bothell man’s weapon is a garden

Saman Shareghi is growing a food forest. His is one of several efforts across Snohomish County.

Saman Shareghi is organically farming in his parents yard in Bothell. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Kate Lunceford has complaints of the use and treatments of trees in new construction in Bothell on October 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

League of Women Voters has a new mission: Defend urban trees

With a focus on climate change, the Snohomish County branch wants to preserve the urban tree canopy.

Kate Lunceford has complaints of the use and treatments of trees in new construction in Bothell on October 7, 2021. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)
Volunteer Megan Gossen gets ready to plant a paper birch tree for Green Everett Day at Forest Park on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)

Trees, fighters of climate change, are also victims of it

As the weather becomes more extreme, the trees that are synonymous with Washington are suffering.

Volunteer Megan Gossen gets ready to plant a paper birch tree for Green Everett Day at Forest Park on Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 in Everett, Washington.  (Andy Bronson / The Herald)
PUD Generation Senior Manager Brad Spangler points out a megawatt meter for one of two generators that provide power to the City of Everett at the Henry M. Jackson Hydroelectric Project on Friday, July 23, 2021 in Sultan, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

How the PUD kept things humming during the record heat wave

The public utility has been bracing for the impacts of climate change for more than a decade.

PUD Generation Senior Manager Brad Spangler points out a megawatt meter for one of two generators that provide power to the City of Everett at the Henry M. Jackson Hydroelectric Project on Friday, July 23, 2021 in Sultan, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Cars make their way across US 2 between Lake Stevens and Everett as wildfire smoke makes downtown Everett barely visible on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Wildfire smoke: A burning health issue is getting worse

As the hazardous haze increases during fire seasons, it’s time to get serious and prepare, experts say.

Cars make their way across US 2 between Lake Stevens and Everett as wildfire smoke makes downtown Everett barely visible on Friday, Sept. 11, 2020. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Libby Reed, left, and Patrick Lehr, right, plant red cipollini onions at Orange Star Farm on Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Monroe, Wash.

Agencies, nonprofits help farms adapt to changing landscape

It’s not just climate that’s a challenge. Local agriculture is also fending off urban encroachment.

Libby Reed, left, and Patrick Lehr, right, plant red cipollini onions at Orange Star Farm on Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Monroe, Wash.
Libby Reed loosens soil with a broadfork at Orange Star Farm on Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Monroe, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

By necessity, local farmers grow resilient to climate change

Snohomish County’s diverse agricultural community is learning to survive a bushel of challenges.

Libby Reed loosens soil with a broadfork at Orange Star Farm on Thursday, May 6, 2021 in Monroe, Wash. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)