Environmental and Climate Impact Assessment: Western Washington Summer 2025

The summer of 2025 in western Washington was characterized by abnormally warm and dry conditions, resulting in significant environmental stress that directly challenges the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Precipitation Deficits and Implications for SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation)

Prolonged dry conditions throughout the year culminated in a severe precipitation deficit, threatening regional water security and ecosystem health. This directly impacts the availability and sustainable management of water as outlined in SDG 6.

Regional Rainfall Deficits

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Concluded September with a precipitation deficit exceeding seven inches for the year.
• Olympia: Recorded a deficit of over nine inches for the year.
• Forks: Experienced an extreme deficit of more than 23 inches below its annual average, a critical situation for a temperate rainforest ecosystem.
• Hoquiam: Finished September approximately nine inches below its normal rainfall for the year.

Drought Conditions and Ecosystem Stress (SDG 15)

The U.S. Drought Monitor has classified the entire state as experiencing moderate to severe drought. These conditions place immense stress on terrestrial ecosystems, jeopardizing biodiversity and forest health, which are central to SDG 15 (Life on Land).

Temperature Anomalies as an Indicator for SDG 13 (Climate Action)

Summer temperatures were consistently above average, providing clear evidence of regional climate change impacts and highlighting the urgency for measures aligned with SDG 13 (Climate Action).

Analysis of Heat Events

1. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA): Temperatures were 1.2 degrees above average. The airport recorded eight days at or above 90 degrees, a significant increase from the 20th-century average of three such days. The peak temperature was 94 degrees.
2. Olympia: Temperatures were nearly two degrees above normal. The city experienced 13 days over 90 degrees, with a peak temperature of 95 degrees.
3. Other Locations: Forks reached a high of 95 degrees, while Hoquiam recorded a high of 88 degrees.

Health and Climate Resilience Implications (SDG 3)

The increased frequency and intensity of heatwaves pose a direct risk to human health, challenging the objectives of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). These climatic shifts necessitate enhanced public health strategies and climate resilience planning.

Wildfire Impacts on Health, Communities, and Ecosystems

The warm and dry conditions created a favorable environment for wildfires, which had cascading negative effects on public health, community safety (SDG 11), and terrestrial ecosystems (SDG 15).

Air Quality and Public Health (SDG 3 & SDG 11)

Wildfire smoke was a persistent issue, leading to significant degradation of air quality. This marks the seventh summer in the last nine years with adverse air quality impacts, posing a serious threat to public health, particularly for vulnerable populations, and undermining efforts to create safe and resilient communities (SDG 11).

Terrestrial Ecosystem Degradation (SDG 15)

• Statewide Impact: Over 1,600 wildfires were reported across Washington.
• Bear Gulch Fire: This significant fire in Mason County burned over 20,000 acres, causing extensive damage to forests and habitats, a direct setback for the conservation goals of SDG 15.

Seasonal Outlook and Path to Recovery

The forecast for the upcoming winter season offers potential relief from the prevailing drought conditions and an opportunity to replenish critical natural resources.

Potential for Drought Alleviation

Longer-range forecasts indicate a shift towards cooler and wetter-than-average conditions from December through February. This anticipated precipitation is crucial for mitigating the current drought situation across the state.

Rebuilding Water Security (SDG 6)

The projected increase in rainfall and the development of a healthier mountain snowpack are vital for replenishing reservoirs and groundwater systems. This outlook provides a pathway to restoring water security, a core target of SDG 6. However, the events of summer 2025 serve as a critical reminder of the region’s vulnerability to climate change and the imperative to accelerate actions toward achieving all Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The article mentions the adverse impact of wildfire smoke on air quality, which directly relates to respiratory health and well-being.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core theme of the article is the significant lack of rainfall, leading to drought conditions. This pertains to the availability and sustainable management of freshwater resources.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: The article discusses warmer-than-average temperatures, an increase in the number of 90-degree days compared to historical averages, and the resulting climate-related hazards like drought and wildfires. These are direct consequences and indicators of climate change.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The widespread drought and the large wildfires, such as the one that burned over 20,000 acres, directly impact terrestrial ecosystems, forests, and land degradation.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
  • Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s statement that “Wildfire smoke has adversely impacted air quality seven out of the last nine summers” directly relates to this target concerning air pollution.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
  • Target 6.4: By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity. The article’s detailed account of below-average rainfall (e.g., “more than seven inches of rain below average” at SEA) and “moderate to severe drought conditions” highlights the issue of water scarcity.
• SDG 13: Climate Action
  • Target 13.1: Strengthen resilience and adaptive capacity to climate-related hazards and natural disasters in all countries. The article describes several climate-related hazards, including drought, extreme heat (“eighth time SEA reached 90 degrees or better”), and wildfires (“more than 1600 wildfires have been reported”), which communities must build resilience against.
• SDG 15: Life on Land
  • Target 15.1: By 2020, ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems and their services, in particular forests. The mention of the Bear Gulch fire burning “over 20,000 acres” points to the destruction of forest ecosystems.
  • Target 15.3: By 2030, combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil, including land affected by…drought…and strive to achieve a land degradation-neutral world. The report from the U.S. Drought Monitor about “moderate to severe drought conditions across… the entire state” is directly related to land degradation caused by drought.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• For Target 3.9 (Air Pollution):
  • Implied Indicator: Frequency of poor air quality days. The article states, “Wildfire smoke has adversely impacted air quality seven out of the last nine summers,” which serves as a qualitative indicator of recurring air pollution events. This implies measurements of ambient air pollution (like PM2.5) would be used.
• For Target 6.4 (Water Scarcity):
  • Implied Indicator: Level of water stress. The article provides specific data points that measure water stress, such as precipitation deviation from the norm (“more than seven inches of rain below average”) and official drought classifications (“moderate to severe drought conditions”).
• For Target 13.1 (Climate-Related Hazards):
  • Implied Indicator: Number of extreme weather events. The article quantifies the increase in extreme heat by noting the number of 90-degree days at SEA (eight) is now the average since 2015, compared to a 20th-century average of only three. It also cites “more than 1600 wildfires” as a measure of disaster occurrence.
• For Target 15.1 & 15.3 (Ecosystems and Land Degradation):
  • Implied Indicator: Change in forest area. The article provides a direct measure of forest loss with the figure of “over 20,000 acres” burned by a single fire.
  • Implied Indicator: Proportion of land that is degraded. The U.S. Drought Monitor’s assessment of “moderate to severe drought conditions” across the state serves as an indicator for the extent of land affected by drought.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: mynorthwest.com