As we approach the summer months, we Washingtonians are all eager to feel the sun on our skin after a long, cold, winter. With our excitement for the warmth comes an unwelcomed beast: wildfires. Exacerbated in recent years by climate change, wildfire smoke led Seattle to take the crown for worst air quality in the world on multiple occasions last year. Air quality is a serious issue facing the Western U.S. and many parts of the globe, and the health outcomes of wildfire smoke in particular are concerning. According to the EPA, reduced lung function, worsening asthma, heart failure, and eye and respiratory tract irritation are all possible consequences. Additionally, the U.S. Forest Service details that while wildfire is a natural process, there are multiple negative impacts on the environment ranging from habitat loss to increased carbon dioxide emissions, further intensifying climate change.
I believe that with the trajectory of climate change, Washington state is doomed to endure ever-increasing seasons of wildfires due to worsening drought and heat. I urge our state and local government officials, from Olympia to Washington, D.C., to take immediate comprehensive action on climate change to lessen the impacts on public health and safety. Policies limiting greenhouse gas emissions must be strictly enforced, especially for large corporations, and our water sources need to be protected from pollution and waste. We all deserve to breathe clean air and explore our forests, free from fires.
Jaime Robb
Mountlake Terrace
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