Research by Topic
No study has ever proven that California’s 12-second rule for fire prevention makes furniture safer—but it does fill our homes with toxic flame retardants linked to a host of ailments. Just how serious is the problem? Sightline’s infographic makes the case. view graphic »
Answers to some common questions about economics, health, and pollution with regard to coal exports in the Northwest, including: why care about coal exports and are coal terminals good neighbors? read more »
Every day, oceans do us a huge favor by absorbing about a third of the carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere by human activities. But as we burn more fossil fuels and clear forests, our oceans absorb more and become more acidic. The result is water that’s potentially lethal to a large swath of creatures that play a huge role in aquatic ecosystems, the Northwest economy, and our dinner plates. read more »
Communities in Oregon and Washington are weighing the prospect of coal export facilities. Proponents of shipping American coal to Asia argue that coal will bring significant economic benefits to the region. In this research memo, we examine the risks of coal markets, review the history of coal exports on the West Coast, and evaluate the employment dimensions of coal terminals. read more »
Stormwater doesn’t match the traditional image of pollution. There are no factory smokestacks belching waste. Yet polluted stormwater packs a punch. Sightline’s report, Curbing Stormwater Pollution, looks at the challenges we face and the opportunities we have to clean up our waterways. read more »
Rain may not seem like a likely culprit for many of Puget Sound’s pollution woes. But on it’s journey from sky to stream it picks up a host of toxics from our roofs, roadways, and yards. The end result is a toxic cocktail that spills into our waterways. This report catalogs the challenges polluted stormwater poses for the Puget Sound region, and highlights local Low Impact Development projects that are helping solve the problem. read more »
In the Northwest, coal often feels like someone else’s problem. But the truth is coal is big in our region. The two coal-fired power plants in Oregon and Washington are some of the largest polluters in our region, but efforts are underway to transition the region away from this dirty energy source. read more »
According to Sightline’s Cascadia Scorecard, several of the region’s wildlife icons are still at risk. Overall, gains for salmon, orcas, and wolves outweighed declines in caribou and sage-grouse, pushing the index to an all-time high. Still, more progress is needed. read more »
Maps showing current and historical ranges for selected species, including grizzly bear, sage-grouse, caribou, salmon, and gray wolf. read more »
Five key Cascadian wildlife populations remain far below their historic abundance. But there are a few promising signs for these Northwest icons. Wolves have staged a remarkable comeback in Montana and Idaho in recent years, while chinook salmon and southern resident orca populations both experienced promising (though perhaps temporary) gains. Even the fragile Selkirk caribou population had showed some tentative increases before a recent stumble. Oregon’s greater sage-grouse, however, continues to struggle. These species serve as rough proxies for the natural wealth that northwesterners have inherited, and for our stewardship of that inheritance. read more »
