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Washington State Voters Uphold Climate Commitment Act

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10 Nov, 2024

This post was originally published on Eco Watch

In the election held November 5, voters in Washington state upheld one of the biggest climate laws in the U.S. against challenges made by Republicans.

Voters decided against a conservative repeal effort for the Climate Commitment Act, which was first signed into law by Gov. Jay Inslee in 2021. The law set up a state cap-and-invest program that limits greenhouse gas emissions and raises money for climate change resiliency and environmental restoration.

The program works by setting a limit on emissions for the state, and businesses have to buy allowances to cover their emissions. As the state’s Department of Ecology explained, the program is a sealed-bid auction where businesses submit their bids, but the highest bidder doesn’t necessarily win all the allowances.

“Instead, participants can choose to submit a single bid for all their desired allowances, or a series of bids for groups of allowances at different prices,” the department explained. “The bids are then automatically sorted in order of bid price, starting with the highest bid, and allocated to each bidder in that order. Once all the allowances are accounted for, the lowest bid that successfully won allowances is the price that all bidders pay.”

From there, anyone who bid lower than the lowest successful bid has to buy allowances from other participants. As The Associated Press reported, each allowance accounts for 1 metric ton of emissions.

The cap, or number of available allowances, is designed to decrease over time in order to help Washington continue to decrease emissions and reach its climate goals for 2030 (with emissions cut to 45% of 1990 levels), 2040 (70%) and 2050 (95%).

As the Washington State Standard reported, the law helped raise $1.82 billion in 2023 alone. The first auction in 2024 raised $136 million, and another auction is set for June 2025.

However, this year, a ballot initiative was added in Washington to repeal the act, with those who supported repealing the law arguing that it was creating a “hidden gas tax” and raising costs for gas and energy without providing meaningful environmental contributions. As The Associated Press reported, the state’s highest average gas price per gallon was $5.54 in February 2023, before the auctions began.

Those against the ballot initiative argued that fuel and energy costs could still remain high even if the law was repealed while also depleting a source of revenue for climate resilience and environmental protection and restoration efforts.

According to The Seattle Times, the repeal effort failed significantly, with 61.7% voting no on repealing the Climate Commitment Act at the time of writing.

Washington is the second state to enact such a law, following California. In Canada, Québec also has a similar program, and all three governments are planning to discuss linking their cap-and-invest initiatives. California and Québec linked their programs in 2014.

The vote to retain Washington’s Climate Commitment Act puts a spotlight on local and state actions to curb the worst effects of climate change and protect the environment in the face of a second presidency under Donald Trump, who was officially called as the winner on November 6.

Cars line up for the Bainbridge Island ferry at the Seattle Ferry Terminal in Seattle, Washington as vessels were in the process of converting from diesel to electric on Jan. 25, 2024. Annie Barker for The Washington Post via Getty Images

“Trump’s victory presents a real obstacle in the global fight against climate change. Under President Trump’s leadership, the United States will almost certainly step back from global and domestic efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increasing fossil fuel production,” Alice Hill, senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations and member of the Climate Crisis Advisory Group, said in a statement. 

“However, this outcome does not spell the be-all and end-all for climate action in the United States,” Hill added. “The power of state-level action should not be undermined, with significant progress made at sub-national level in some states. Local political and regulatory intervention will be critical in the fight for a healthier planet — with or without support from the Trump administration.”

The post Washington State Voters Uphold Climate Commitment Act appeared first on EcoWatch.

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Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Embedding environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks

Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks has become essential as businesses increasingly prioritise sustainability. IT operations contribute significantly to carbon emissions, energy consumption and electronic waste (e-waste). Organisations that embed environmental responsibility into their IT governance can reduce their ecological footprint, improve operational efficiency and strengthen their brand reputation.

Erica Smith, chief alliance officer and environmental, social and governance lead, Blue Connections IT, said, “Environmental stewardship supports financial performance, risk mitigation and brand differentiation. With rising energy costs, increased consumer demand for sustainable products and services, and growing pressure from investors and regulators, companies can no longer afford to overlook their environmental responsibilities.

“Poor sustainability practices in IT can lead to high operational costs, supply chain risks and reputational damage. Conversely, a proactive approach improves efficiency, attracts environmentally conscious customers and helps future-proof businesses against evolving policy and regulatory changes.

“Integrating environmental responsibility into IT governance integrates sustainability initiatives into decision-making systematically. Organisations can reduce waste, lower energy consumption and extend the lifecycle of technology assets while positioning themselves as responsible leaders in an increasingly climate-aware market.”

There are four key areas that present opportunities to embed environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks.

1. Device lifecycle management

A structured approach to managing the lifecycle of IT assets ensures devices are deployed efficiently, maintained properly and retired responsibly at the end of their useful life. Embracing a circular economy model, where equipment is refurbished, reused or ethically recycled, can significantly reduce e-waste and resource use. Companies that adopt this approach lower their environmental impact and unlock financial value by extending the lifecycle of IT assets.

Smith said, “Effective asset recovery strategies further support sustainability efforts. Integrating secure data erasure and refurbishment into IT governance policies lets businesses repurpose functional devices within the organisation or resell them to external buyers. Responsible e-waste recycling also supports companies to process materials ethically in instances where resale is not viable, reducing landfill contributions and preventing environmental contamination. The adoption of industry-certified data sanitisation methods also safeguards compliance with security and privacy regulations.”

2. Sustainable procurement

IT governance frameworks should prioritise the selection of technology vendors and partners committed to sustainable manufacturing, responsible sourcing and energy-efficient product design. This includes favouring IT hardware with a high percentage of post-consumer recycled materials and using minimal packaging. Additionally, employing Device-as-a-Service (DaaS) models optimises IT asset utilisation while reducing upfront investment and unnecessary hardware purchases.

Partnerships with sustainability-driven IT service providers can further enhance an organisation’s environmental impact. Working with partners that offer end-to-end IT asset management solutions, encompassing secure device deployment, certified data sanitisation and ethical recycling, simplifies the process of aligning IT operations with sustainability goals. Companies that prioritise environmental stewardship in their IT governance framework gain a competitive advantage by demonstrating their commitment to responsible business practices.

3. Energy consumption

Data centres, cloud services and enterprise networks require substantial energy resources, making green IT practices essential. IT governance frameworks should include policies to reduce consumption by optimising server efficiency, reducing redundant infrastructure and using renewable energy sources. Cloud providers with strong sustainability credentials can support carbon reduction initiatives, while virtualisation strategies can consolidate workloads and improve overall energy efficiency.

4. Employee engagement

Educating staff on sustainable IT practices, such as energy-efficient device usage and responsible e-waste disposal, creates a culture of accountability. Organisations that implement green workplace initiatives, such as responsible end-of-life disposal programs, reinforce their commitment to sustainability at all levels.

“IT governance must also align with corporate environmental, social and governance commitments. Companies can contribute to broader sustainability objectives by embedding environmental stewardship into IT policies, such as net-zero emissions targets and responsible supply chain management. Clear reporting mechanisms and regular sustainability audits aid transparency, letting businesses track their progress and demonstrate accountability to stakeholders,” Smith said.

Government regulations and evolving industry standards are increasingly shaping the sustainability expectations for organisations. Aligning IT governance frameworks with best practices for environmental stewardship keeps companies ahead of regulatory requirements. Proactive adoption of sustainable IT practices positions businesses as industry leaders in environmental responsibility.

Smith said, “Integrating environmental stewardship into IT governance frameworks is not just about meeting compliance obligations; it’s about futureproofing company operations and prioritising the broader environment. Taking a proactive approach to sustainability lets organisations drive efficiency, reduce long-term costs and contribute to a healthier planet. Businesses that lead in sustainable IT governance will be well-positioned for long-term success as environmental concerns continue to shape consumer and corporate priorities.”

Image credit: iStock.com/Petmal

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