NEWS FROM AUBUBON WASHINGTON
At Audubon Washington, protecting birds means protecting the earth through promoting clean air, clean water, healthy habitats, and resilient communities. Guided by Audubon’s Healthy Birds, Healthy Planet framework, our 2026 legislative priorities respond to an increasingly complex moment, with a state budget shortfall and growing climate impacts.
Audubon Washington’s 2026 Policy Focus Areas
Protecting Coastal and Marine Ecosystems
Toxic contaminants in our marine waters build up through the food web and affect the health of local seabirds like Rhinoceros Auklets. Ships calling on Washington state ports are currently required to use low-sulfur fuels, yet many bypass this regulation by using cleaning systems known as scrubbers to clean the toxic contaminants out of their exhaust using seawater. More than 80% of scrubbers dump the polluted seawater back into the ocean and inland waters. This discharge contains heavy metals and other toxic contaminants that threaten water quality, public health, marine economies and fish and wildlife. Audubon Washington is supporting legislation that would close this loophole and reduce air and water pollution from ocean-going vessels and improve marine ecosystem health
Climate and Clean Energy Infrastructure
Audubon’s 2023 report, Birds and Transmission: Building the Grid Birds Need, lays out why we need to rapidly upgrade the transmission grid to transition to a clean energy economy and avoid the worst impacts of climate change for birds and people. We understand the risks birds face from a rapid transmission build-out, but there are well-tested solutions that can be implemented to alleviate these. Audubon is supporting legislation first introduced in 2025 aimed at improving the capacity and reliability of Washington’s electric transmission system.
Sustaining Wildlife Conservation Through Stable Funding
Bird conservation depends on sustained investments in habitat management and wildlife research and monitoring, which is why we are a long-time champion for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) budget. Audubon Washington is working with partners to explore long-term funding solutions for the Department that provide stability for wildlife management and habitat protection.
Follow the progress in the Bill Tracker!
2025 Environmental Lobby Day. Photo: Mallori Pryse
