SWELTERING IN SEATTLE: HEATWAVE UNDERSCORES VICE PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE ON CLIMATE CHANGE

By Dr. Stephan Blanford, executive director

Have you ever had one of those days that feels vastly different to those that proceeded it? Last Tuesday was that for me! 

I received an invitation over the weekend from “The Office of the Vice President” to join her during a brief visit to Seattle. Not the kind of email that you receive every day. Adding to my initial surprise, I later learned that the event would be occurring at the McKinstry headquarters, across the street from the Children’s Alliance offices. 

After dignitaries ranging from Seattle’s Mayor Harrell to Senator Cantwell warmed up the crowd (on a stifling 90+ degree day), Vice President Harris touted the administration’s record in restructuring the economy through the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) on its one-year anniversary. But a clear theme that animated her address was the climate crisis, underscored by the horrific fires in Maui and a hopeful judicial ruling in Montana. There, children were the lead plaintiffs in a successful lawsuit challenging the fossil fuel industry, arguing that all children in the state are harmed by the state’s inaction. Similar suits are planned across the nation, and I’m optimistic that arguments that center children and their futures will be persuasive. 

Here in Washington, our kids are also facing the effects of climate change. We all remember sweltering in 2021’s record-breaking heatwave, but as a result of historical racist practices, many communities of color suffered disproportionately higher levels of heat. An NPR study from 2020 showed that formerly redlined neighborhoods in nearly every city were significantly hotter than non-redlined neighborhoods. This was clearly demonstrated in Seattle where ground temperatures in areas of the previously redlined Duwamish River Valley soared to over 120 degrees.  

Extreme heat has significant impacts on our kids’ health. It can increase the risk of infectious disease, cause heat exhaustion and heat stroke, and increase stress and anxiety. Wildfires, like those currently raging in Spokane and across eastern Washington, are also exacerbated by soaring temperatures. The resulting poor air quality is a hazard for us all, but particularly for young children whose respiratory systems are still developing.

We want every child to experience optimal health and look forward to the bright future they deserve. Climate change is a serious threat to that future and must be addressed.        

I returned to our offices shortly after the Vice President concluded her remarks feeling a renewed sense of determination. As we in the Pacific Northwest contend with the oppressive heat that much of the country has endured all summer, we must redouble our efforts to advocate for the children and their families that will be most impacted by climate change. If we work together, we can push our lawmakers towards equitable solutions that ensure Washington will be a place our children can thrive in the years to come.