I have come to realize that I have underestimated how much plastic is in our environment and how detrimental it is to our environment. When I was born, there was very little plastic in the world, but for my grandchildren, ages 3 and 5, the story is very different. Now there is an enormous amount of plastic in the world with exponential growth planned, and the overarching question is: what does that mean for us, our children, and grandchildren, and for all the other organisms on earth?
During our last member meeting I gave a presentation centered on that question. What is the actual scope of the problem? What are the health effects of plastic waste? How is plastic pollution linked to climate change? These are all massive issues that I addressed in my presentation and I encourage you to follow this link if you would like to hear the presentation yourself: CCAA Monthly Member Meeting Recording (Feb 2023)
(Passcode: Im5!A?8n).
I started on my journey the way most people begin looking at the plastic problem: recycling. How could I learn how to recycle properly? What could I recycle? Could I reduce my plastic waste by buying materials that didn’t come in plastic? Down the rabbit hole I went and after some twists and turns, I ended up at Beyond Plastics, an organization founded by Judith Enck. Judith was the EPA Administrator for Region 2 during the Obama Administration, and she has been an environmental activist for…… let’s just say “a long time”. She has a drive and determination that is steely and effective, and she has used these characteristics, along with formidable knowledge, to build Beyond Plastics into a national organization. Her goal: get rid of single use plastic. She is tackling this through education, legislation, and advocacy. She is not doing this alone – she has a large group of activists, both paid and unpaid, working with and for her.
Fast forward a few months from when I went down the rabbit hole. Recycling as the “solution” has faded. I have taken Judith’s course, “Beyond Plastic Pollution” at Bennington College and I’ve become a certified speaker for the organization. If you are interested in booking a speaker to talk to your organization about plastic pollution, you can go to Beyond Plastics and look me up: https://www.beyondplastics.org/speakers-bureau I have also just started a Beyond Plastics group for Onondaga and Cortland Counties, though all I have at the moment is an email address: beyondplasticsononcort@gmail.com If you are interested in joining me to turn this into a powerful advocacy group, send me an email! You can get in “on the ground floor” so to speak
At this point you may be wondering what this has to do with climate awareness and action. Plastics are made with fossil fuels in processes that require enormous amounts of heat, and hence energy. The fossil fuel industry is relying on dramatically ramping up the production of plastics as its Plan B to continue to produce fossil fuels and burn them. The two issues are inextricably related. The overproduction of plastic is driven by manufacturers, not market demand and billions of dollars are being invested in building or expanding 325 plastic manufacturing plants by 2025. It is estimated that this will lead to an increase of 50 million tons of new plastic by 2050.
My husband (who spends all his free time working on climate change issues) and I are quite the pair. We argue over which is more urgent and deadlier – climate change or plastic pollution! I used to think it was climate change, but the more I learn, the more I realize that plastic is rapidly polluting our earth – all the organisms on the earth. So, both are urgent and important. My work with CCAA will continue, and he will help me with my plastics work. Climate, as important and challenging a cause as it is, is now (finally) an issue of world-wide concern and much progress is being made. Understanding the impact of plastic pollution is in its infancy. For that reason, among others, it demands much of my attention.
Want to know more? Feel free to contact me or simply go to Beyond Plastics
Share Your Climate Concerns
Submitted by Jan Kublick
Image provided by unsplash.com
This month I am going to discuss the role of the Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) in educating the public about climate change.
The Office of Renewable Energy Siting (ORES) was established a few years ago as part of the overall state goal to reduce and ultimately eliminate fossil fuel as a source of electricity statewide. ORES’ job is to review and if appropriate, approve large renewable energy projects in New York. The projects have to be at least 25-Megawatt capacity facilities, though a developer can submit a project which has 20 or more Megawatts of capacity for review and approval by ORES. The ORES review process is remarkably detailed, but it offers a long but easily understood path to approval that developers favor. While ORES requires a great deal of information about the local community where the project is proposed and its environmental setting, perhaps the most important thing to know about ORES is that it is a one stop permitting process. If a project qualifies to be reviewed by ORES it is not subject to local review or approval. There are 143 pages of regulations and the scope of the review is broader and more detailed than almost any review conducted by a local agency. Anyone wishing to learn more about the ORES review process may find it at: https://ores.ny.gov/regulations
Youth Speaks
Submitted by Ayden Whitted
Image provided by freeimages.com
Editor’s Note: I had the opportunity to cross paths with Ayden Whitted, a local youth who has immersed himself in activism, having started by supporting Bernie Sanders’ campaign in 2016. He is a junior at Manlius Pebble High. Knowing he was also concerned about the environment, I encouraged him to share his experience in Albany with our members.
On January 19, 2023, I had the opportunity to testify before the New York State Senate committees on finance, energy and telecommunications and environmental conservation. The goal of this hearing was to determine what legislative and budgetary measures were necessary to implement the Climate Action Council’s Final Scoping Plan. The Climate Action Council recently released the Final Scoping Plan. The purpose of this plan was to lay out what action the New York State Government needed to take to meet the emissions reduction goals in the New York Climate Act.
In this hearing, I advocated for two pieces of legislation that I believed were most necessary to adhere to the Final Scoping Plan and to reduce climate admissions. The two bills I advocated for were the Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act and the All Electric Buildings Act. I believe the Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act is a common-sense proposal that should be passed immediately. The Final Scoping Plan is clear in stating that New York needs to phase out fossil fuels. However, New York through tax breaks and other unfair advantages continues to subsidize companies and distort the market in favor of their products. The passage of the Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act would do this by cutting 1.6 billion dollars in benefits to these companies, and raising $330 million for the State of New York. The second bill I advocated for was the Affordable Energy Act. According to the Carbon Leadership Forum, 29% of all greenhouse gas emissions come from building operations. A significant amount of this is because of the process of heating buildings, as 48% of buildings in the U.S .are heated through natural gas. The All-Electric Buildings Act will decrease this number in the future as it phases out the use of gas heating in buildings within the next few years.
I enjoyed this experience immensely. I think it’s important that youth like myself have the opportunity to have their voices heard on this issue, especially, because my generation will have to suffer the consequences of climate change if nothing is changed. I think it’s important that youth organize and voice their opinions on issues that matter the most to them and I am grateful for my opportunity to do that.
Environmental Voter Project
Submitted by Jan Kublick
Photo provided by freeimages.com
I just received information from an organization I have followed closely and support, called the Environmental Voter Project. It is a Boston based non-partisan 501(c) 4 which uses data science to locate people likely to vote for pro-environmental candidates and issues but have a low propensity to vote. It then contacts people to try to convince them to register, to vote, and to vote regularly. It has demonstrated solid success with this approach. It is also a very lean and efficient operation that is transparent in what it does and how it does it. I recommend anyone curious go to the website and learn more:
The information was results from a FOX survey released recently but not widely reported, showing that climate was the most important issue to 10% of registered voters. While that may not sound like much, most elections these days are decided by much smaller margins than that. Moreover, border security was second at 13%, so climate was close behind. Among Democrats, climate was the second most important issue behind only the economy. Registered voters were also asked which party would do the best job on climate. Registered voters of both parties gave Democrats a 28% edge on the issue.
Climate is beginning to resonate with voters. CCAA needs to continue its important role in spreading the word, the concern, and the good news about renewable energy saving money and the planet. I recommend that everyone interested in climate give the Environmental Voter Project a look. We need more environmental voters
(Editor’s note: Nathaniel Stennitt, the founder and CEO of the Environmental Voter Project will make a presentation at our March 14th member meeting.)
Editor’s Note: As of publication, these issues were PROPOSED by Governor Hochul and were yet to be approved as part of the state budget.
As part of her SFY 2023-24 Executive Budget proposal, Governor Kathy Hochul has unveiled the following environmental proposals:
Environmental Protection Fund.
Governor Hochul has committed another $400 million in funding for the EPF, which provides critical support for environmental programs, including Audubon’s nature centers and sanctuaries. EPF funding is a solid investment that provides good-paying jobs, drives economic growth, and protects vulnerable wildlife and their habitats. We are disappointed that the Governor’s proposed language would allow funds from the EPF to be spent on staffing for state agencies. We look forward to working with the Governor and Legislature to find a solution that maintains full EPF funding while allowing for adequate staffing.
Funding Clean Water Infrastructure.
New York State’s investments in clean water infrastructure have funded significant improvements to our wastewater and drinking water systems. The Governor’s budget provides an additional $500 million in funding for water quality and clean water infrastructure, and also calls for creating Community Assistance Teams to assist with outreach to small, rural, and disadvantaged communities. This proposal will help ensure that birds and people have access to clean water.
Acting on Climate.
Fifty percent of bird species are predicted to be either “climate-threatened” or “climate endangered” by 2080, including at least fifty species in New York State. We can help fight climate change and support a responsible clean energy transition by continuing to electrify our economy and developing an aggressive plan to reduce carbon emissions. The Governor has proposed a “Cap and Invest” strategy that would place an economy-wide tax on carbon and several proposals that would phase out the use of fossil fuels in buildings.
Reduce Plastic Waste.
Plastics have become an abundant pollutant in our oceans and pose a major threat to marine and coastal wildlife. Establishing an Extended Producer Responsibility program in New York State and shifting the cost of recycling from taxpayers to producers is a smart solution that will reduce plastic waste and its impacts on the environment while also relieving financial pressure on local governments.
Keeping Our Forests Healthy. Over browsing by deer has an outsized impact on forest health – destroying critical habitat for declining woodland bird species and decreasing our forests’ ability to store carbon. As a science-based organization, we support evidence-based wildlife management strategies that utilize hunting as an effective management tool. For that reason, we support making the youth hunting pilot program permanent in order to support the next generation of hunters.
New York State Housing Compact. Many New Yorkers are in dire need of affordable housing, and the budget proposal would address this need by accelerating the development of 800,000 units of housing over the next decade. We strongly support strategies that convert underutilized spaces, such as excess office space and vacant residential or commercial buildings, into new housing, as well as proposals that allow for more multi-family buildings to be zoned in order to prevent housing sprawl and conserve our natural landscapes. The proposal also contains an expedited environmental review, and we will be working with the Governor’s office to ensure that our natural resources are protected and that birds and people both have a place to call home.
Record Heat Fuels Extreme Fires In Chile
Submitted by Peter Wirth, CCAA Vice President
At least 24 people are dead and nearly 1,000 are injured as over 260 wildfires rage across Chile, fueled by a heatwave with record-breaking temperatures. The 104°F (40°C) heat is hampering efforts to battle the fires, which have burned more acres in the last week than what usually burns in a year, Interior Minister Carolina Tohá told reporters. “The evolution of climate change shows us again and again that this has a centrality and a capacity to cause an impact that we have to internalize much more,” Tohá said. “Chile is one of the countries with the highest vulnerability to climate change, and this isn’t theory but rather practical experience.” (Reuters, The Guardian, AP, Washington Post $, CNN, New York Times $)
ENVIRONMENTAL CALENDAR
Madison County is hosting a Climate Stewards training!
Join Cornell Cooperative Extension for this intensive 12-week training program to support you to help your local community adapt to climate change! Starting March 23rd, volunteers will study the science and help develop projects around local mitigation and adaptation efforts, and help volunteer in CCE’s environmental outreach projects.
Training for Madison County Climate Stewards begins on March 23, 2023. The program costs $75 (financial assistance is available).
PARTY FOR THE PLANET, April 22, 2023
Rosamond Gifford Zoo, | 11 A.M. – 3 P.M.
The event features animal demonstrations and keeper chats focused on endangered species, conservation-themed games and activities, puppet shows, green infrastructure and garden tours, and more.
TULLY FEST, April 22, 2023
A local celebration to celebrate Earth Day. More details to be shared soon.
On April 29, Sustainable Manlius (the Town of Manlius environmental subcommittee ) and Renewable Fayetteville (the Village of Fayetteville environmental subcommittee) will be hosting EarthFest 2023, a large, outdoor environmental and sustainability event at the Canal Landing Park in Fayetteville. EarthFest will include informational booths, an EV car show, EV buses and many other educational and fun activities for both adults and children. Come learn about solar power, native plants, EVs and bicycles, composting techniques and sustainable practices, among other things. Earth Fest will be an amazing event celebrating sustainable practices, products and more!
You are invited to join Climate Reality this April for our free, online Power Up Training: From Acts to Action.Let’s leverage the Inflation Reduction Act and Infrastructure Act for climate action now! This is your opportunity to be part of a new era of climate action in the US. Learn what it takes to get the funding you need and how to use these new laws to make life better for your family and communities in your state. You’ll get the chance to hear from former Vice President Al Gore, grassroots advocates, leading experts, and government officials.The registration form here and that webpage also includes more specific info about what you can expect at the training.
MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!
As Governor Hochul and state lawmakers hammer out a final budget agreement, they must include the Climate Change Superfund Act (S.2129,A.3351/
The bill requires the companies most responsible for greenhouse gas emissions to pay $3 billion per year for 25 years for the environmental damage that they have done.These funds would allow New Yorkers to invest in massive infrastructure improvements, upgrade storm water drainage and sewage treatment systems, prepare the power grid for severe weather, create systems to protect people from extreme heat, and respond to environmental and public health threats.
At Protect Our Winters, the question often asked is, “What can I do?” and “How can I make a difference?” To answer this question, we’ve tapped into the outdoor industry’s most engaged climate advocates who will help guide you on your own advocacy journey. We’re stoked to offer a first-of-its-kind eight-part educational series calledFinding Common Ground: How To Be A Climate Advocate.
It’s like a college 101 course. Each course will help you along your own advocacy climate journey to provide you with the tools that will allow you to call your lawmakers and advocate for a clean energy future. And you’ll be able to spread your knowledge to your family, friends and neighbors.
If you’re ready to start this personal journey, start by clicking here.
Climate Activists, Generations Apart Share The Same Message.
One of the early voices sounding the alarm about climate change, Bill McKibben, wrote his first book in 1989 and has since published more than a dozen on the same topic spanning a long career of activism. Xiye Bastida, a young climate activist 40 years his junior, shares the same belief that the “the climate crisis is not an ambiguous force that future generations will have to deal with; it defines the reality that we live in today.”
Editor’s note: If you do not have a NY Times subscription, google “How to get a free NY Times 72-Hour Pass”.
NEW CLIMATE GROUP ORGANIZING: F4CR
Local residents concerned about the effects of climate change have banded together to form a local chapter of a grassroots organization aptly name F4CR (The Foundation For Climate Restoration). The organization is committed to restore atmospheric GHG concentrations to pre- industriallevelsby2050. Interested Central New Yorkers who would like to find out more information can connect with the group by emailing f4crcny@gmail.comandjoiningtheir Facebook Group F4CR CNY.
Here is a link to an article from the Country Folks weekly agriculture paper describing some innovations in solar arrays. Some can be placed on farm land using vertical solar panels designed to function as fencing in dual-use grazing situations. Others are systems designed to restore native plant habitats and pollinator-friendly environments.
Climate change is increasing the risk of infectious diseases worldwide From COVID to Lyme disease to various fungal afflictions, climate change has already worsened over 200 infectious diseases.
Attend the next Monthly CCAA Meeting When: Tuesday, March 14th, 6:00 p.m. Each month, CCAA invites you to join us, in-person or over Zoom. Come meet people who are committed to working towards fossil-free communities. The meetings are held on the second Tuesday of every month, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. The room opens at 5:45 p.m. for socializing. Register here.
A highlight of the meeting is a presentation by Nathaniel Stennitt,
the founder and CEO of the Environmental Voter Project (see
article in this newsletter.) A key item on the agenda will be
discussion of extending the terms of office for officers to two
Feel like saving the world? Why not donate a few dollars to CCAA? Maybe it won’t be quite enough to save the whole planet, but it will help keep us going, and that’s the next best thing! We appreciate your support.
CCAA Internships and Other Volunteering Opportunities If you are interested in volunteering with CCAA in any capacity, please contact us at newsletter@climatechange-action.com or call 315-308-0846. Don’t worry about your skill level. We are all learning. We need people who can:
Within NY Renews, the Youth Committee is a space mostly for high school and college age individuals. We’re moving towards bi-weekly trainings followed by community organizing to support our campaigns. Joining the youth committee is a great opportunity to level up your organizing, learn about campaigning, and get involved in the climate justice movement.
We meet every other week with additional time on projects for those interested. If you are interested, please fill out the sign-up form so we can get more info about your interests and experiences (it’s not competitive). We would love to hear from you!
We encourage you to follow our social media accounts to support CCAA and stay up to date on other environmental news.
