OLYMPIA, WA (MyBellinghamNow.com) – Washington needs to work harder to hit its climate goals of the future.

That’s according to a new report from the Washington State Department of Ecology called the Greenhouse Gas Inventory.

State Legislature previously set laws requiring the state to reduce total greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This latest inventory report says the state achieved that goal and emissions fell 6% below the legal limit in 2020.

But in 2021, emissions rose 2% over 1990 levels, largely driven by increases in the transportation sector.

Ecology claims the rise and fall was likely caused by fluctuations in travel due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

On a hopeful note, the Ecology says future reports will reveal the impact of several of the state’s major climate policies, which took effect after 2021.

The state is required to bring emissions 45% below 1990 levels by 2030.