ORGANIZE COMMUNITIES Launched our Tribal Nations program, including hosting an exciting training series on working with Tribal Nations, attended by over 350 partners. Led a Spanish-language webinar with Latino Community Fund to connect with outdoor workers on the health impacts of wildfire smoke in their communities. Partnered with LGBTQIA+ collaborators on various Pride activities to promote inclusivity outdoors—including a community hike with QPOC Hikers and Patagonia and Earth Gay events in Tacoma, Seattle, and Burien. Stood with the Yakama Nation in opposition to the proposed Goldendale Pumped Storage project, which threatens a sacred cultural site for the Tribe. Organized more than 260 virtual activists for 2023 Environmental Lobby Days, including people from almost all 49 legislative districts, and facilitated Tribal and BIPOC breakout sessions. Co-hosted a multi-lingual webinar with Duwamish River Community Coalition, RE Sources, and Communities for a Healthy Bay focused on the Model Toxics Control Act rulemaking, increasing community understanding and involvement in the process. Housed the We Are Puget Sound exhibit at the Burke Museum, and gathered over 3,000 pledges to take 10 actions to support the Salish Sea. Collaborated with Stand Up To Oil to organize neighbors and pass Vancouver’s 2022 ban on new fossil fuel terminals and the city’s Climate Action Framework, which sets a goal of carbon neutrality by 2040. Co-hosted six Orca Action Month events in June 2023 across the Puget Sound region.
STRENGTHEN DEMOCRACY Worked in coalition to pass four policies to strengthen democracy and improve access to voting—eliminating confusing advisory votes, updating automatic registration, and more. Established a formal partnership with Native Vote Washington, and organizers canvassed at Summer pow wows and cultural events, growing their distribution list by 200 percent. Provided digital training to help candidates maximize their online presence and build engagement with broader audiences. Hosted three successful Political Action Committee events, raising needed resources that will go directly to supporting candidates. Honored our 20th annual Legislator of the Year, Senator Christine Rolfes, in 2023, and Representative Davina Duerr in 2022, for advancing bold environmental progress. Played a lead role in the Washington Voting Justice Coalition to promote fair voting systems, improve community representation, empower voters, and increase voter turnout. Joined the Yakima County Civic Engagement Coalition to host five ballot parties, including three in Spanish.
All Washingtonians deserve clean air and water, healthy forests, a thriving democracy, and environmental champions in office—no matter your age, race, gender identity, income, or zip code. We advocate for strong environmental policies and elect the leaders who will pass and enforce them.
In January 2023, Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters unified under one name, Washington Conservation Action, giving us more powerful leverage in advancing environmental progress and in our ability to protect people and nature as one. We still operate legal 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) entities.
“Our organization works closely alongside partners and allies toward our environmental justice goals because the only way we make an impact is together. With a board of directors who are now majority people of color, we are positioned to enter our next chapter better representing the people and communities whose voices we work to amplify. With a rich history of success built into our DNA from Washington Environmental Council and Washington Conservation Voters, Washington Conservation Action is poised for transformational change that will be felt for generations to come.” – Alyssa Macy, Washington Conservation Action CEO
PROTECT LAND, AIR, AND WATER RESTORING NATIVE SALMON POPULATIONS
SUPPORTING COALITIONS
WCA secured historic support for salmon recovery in 2023, including:
WCA actively participates in 20+ coalitions as an organization. We continue to invest in coalition building across several policy areas to ensure a coordinated climate movement with shared priorities.
A 10–20% increase in funding for salmon recovery compared to previous budgets
$410 million for habitat protection and restoration $50 million for grant programs focused on stream and
river restoration
$7.5 million for a plan to transition the services of the
four lower Snake River dams, including the current energy, irrigation, and transportation needs
PROTECTING STATE WATERS AND SPECIES Advanced environmental justice by pushing the state to include to include race as a factor when prioritizing cleanup of toxic waste sites. Worked in coalition to pass a bill requiring boaters to give endangered Southern Resident Orcas 1,000 yards of space starting in 2025.
IMPROVING FOREST MANAGEMENT, LOCALLY AND STATEWIDE Held the Department of Natural Resources accountable for improving forest management and delivering change with the eighth annual State of our Forests and Public Lands Report. Secured funding for three community forests ($7.3 million) in the 2023 Legislative Session. Received a USDA grant with organizational partners focused on Pierce County to increase adoption of climatesmart forestry and improve markets for climate-smart wood in the Northwest region and beyond. Passed legislation to update the Growth Management Act, helping communities reduce emissions and prepare for increased wildfire risks due to climate change. Hosted the 7th annual Carbon Friendly Forestry Conference, convening experts, community members, and policymakers to discuss management of West Coast forests for multiple benefits. Co-developed updated science-based requirements for riparian buffers along streams, protecting water quality on forestlands.
We lead the Environmental Priorities Coalition and the Stand Up to Oil Coalition. We co-lead the Shift Zero Coalition and the Washington Voting Justice Coalition.
SECURING MONUMENTAL CLIMATE INVESTMENTS WCA drove $2 billion in investments toward environmental justice from the state’s cap and invest policy, the Climate Commitment Act, including:
$83 million to usher in a new way to manage forests and protect older carbon dense forests from harvest
$160 million for transportation
programs
that
will
decarbonize
$206 million for decarbonizing buildings (for example,
removing fossil fuels through electric heat pumps in people’s homes)
$203 million in direct funding for frontline and Tribal communities