Program Links
The climate is changing. We know this and we need to take action now. It is urgent that we dramatically reduce our greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and make our community more resilient to the related impacts we will experience.
Climate Change Assessment: Bainbridge Island
Bainbridge Island is expected to experience a wide range of changes and associated impacts from climate change on our hydrology, vegetation, shorelines and surrounding waters. The table below summarizes those impacts.
Projected Changes and Associated Impacts from Climate Change for Bainbridge Island
| Area | Impacts |
|---|---|
| Rising Sea Levels | ● Damage to or loss of City assets such as roads |
| ● Damage to or loss of private property | |
| ● Erosion | |
| ● Salt water intrusion | |
| Extreme Weather Events | ● Increased flooding of roads and private property |
| ● Potential for slope instability and erosion | |
| ● Increase in power outages | |
| Increasing Temperatures | ● Increased risk of heat-related illness |
| ● Increase in drought conditions | |
| ● Changes in disease vectors | |
| Vegetation Change | ● Changes in dominant vegetation. |
| ● Decreased tree growth and increased fire risk for Summer water stress | |
| ● Changes in pest distribution and type of pest | |
| Hydrologic Changes | ● Changes to surface and groundwater availability, quality, and timing |
| ● Changes to extent of stream discharge | |
| ● Drought stress on vegetation | |
| Ocean Acidification | ● Decreased pH in ocean waters |
| ● Damage to marine organisms (e.g., oysters) and related economic impacts. | |
| ● Implications from sewage and septic discharge. |
A comprehensive assessment of the current and projected climate impacts for Bainbridge Island was completed as part of the most recent update to the Bainbridge Island Comprehensive Plan and for the Bainbridge Island Climate Action Plan. https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12544/BICIA-Final-28-July-2016.
A preliminary assessment of sea level rise for Bainbridge Island was completed in 2019 as part of the development of the Bainbridge Island Climate Action Plan. https://www.bainbridgewa.gov/DocumentCenter/View/12893/Sea-Level-Rise-Assessment-October-24-2019
Climate Change Assessment: Puget Sound
The Climate Impacts Group at the University of Washington completed a comprehensive climate assessment for the Puget Sound Region in 2015 titled “State of Knowledge: Climate Change in Puget Sound. https://cig.uw.edu/publications/state-of-knowledge-climate-change-in-puget-sound/
Climate Change Assessment: United States
The Fourth National Climate Change Assessment was completed in 2018. The report includes an assessment of the current and projected climate impacts for the Northwest. https://nca2014.globalchange.gov/highlights/regions/northwest. The next National Climate Assessment is due in 2021.
Climate Change Assessment: Global
A special report from the Intergovernmental Program on Climate Change (IPCC) on the impacts of global warming of 1.5oC above pre-industrial levels and related global greenhouse gas emission pathways was published in 2018. https://www.ipcc.ch/sr15/. The next IPCC report is due in 2022.