Climate-change action picks up on three fronts

The climate-change debate has never lacked for passion and energy, but it has remained, despite various fits and starts, a debate. Until now.

A confluence of events, however coincidental in timing, point toward forward movement — real momentum — on reducing greenhouse gases and making it part of our daily lives.

Last Thursday was an extraordinary moment in the country's journey dealing with climate-changing emissions, and Washington residents had a front-row seat.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency held a public hearing in Seattle on its intention to name greenhouse gases dangerous pollutants. Ordinarily routine process, no big deal, but it had taken a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2007 to set the stage for EPA enforcement.

If the EPA formally lists greenhouse gases, their regulation becomes subject to the federal Clean Air Act. Polluters will have to cap those emissions, and the order is enforceable. The high court has already said so.

Meeting those caps on emissions in the most straightforward sense means emitting less of them, with financial impacts on production and operations. What options exist to provide more flexibility and ease the burden?

The House Energy and Commerce Committee approved a 932-page bill Thursday to not only cap emissions, but also create a system for trading pollution credits and permits, and help finance clean-energy technology.

Some expect the legislation to have a rough time in the Senate, but perhaps not once all this momentum is fully appreciated. Regulation of greenhouse gases is coming.

Do business, industry and consumers want direct and indirect assistance with this new reality? Expect them to let Congress know.

Gov. Chris Gregoire reinforced this sense of momentum on climate change with her signature on an executive order directing state agencies to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions, promote fuel-conservation options and start to anticipate the potentially destructive consequences of climate change.

The executive order, combined with her testimony at the EPA hearing, sent a strong message. Gregoire let it be known that climate-change issues are now and will remain a priority for state enforcement.

Her executive orders burnishes key provisions of authority, and emphasizes an intention to proceed in the event Congress fails to act. Washington will also continue to work with other states through the Western Climate Initiative.

After years of debate, three tracks of activity — EPA, Congress and the governor's office — all moving in the same direction to confront a recognized hazard.