Science News of August 14, 1912
Hello, and Happy New Year everyone.
Barbara Brown (LWVMM Board Sec.) and I attended the public meeting in Charleston on the proposal to rescind the Clean Power Plan. It was very interesting and informative and we were surprised at the number of people who spoke in support of the CPP.
If you are opposed to rescinding the CPP, you need to make your voice heard before the January 16 deadline. And as much as I hate to say it, this is your opportunity to participate in our governance, so even if you agree that the CPP should be rescinded, you should take the opportunity to make that known, too.
Vicki Conner, Morgantown
League of Women Voters
Please consider sending in comments here: https://www.regulations.gov/comment?D=EPA-HQ-OAR-2017-0355-0002
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Big Win in the Big Apple
From Bill McKibben, 350.org, January 10, 2018
Today we have news of a mighty win: one of the planet’s central cities has gone fully on the attack against the fossil fuel industry, which means the tide is finally turning in the climate fight.
Just an hour ago we stood with New York Mayor Bill de Blasio as he made two major announcements: New York’s pension funds will divest from the big oil and gas companies, and the city is suing the biggest of these corporations for the climate damage they’ve caused.
This is a huge moment in our fight to stop climate change. A city as iconic as New York could trigger a wave of action against the fossil fuel industry from other powerful cities and states around the U.S. and globally. For that to happen, we need each and every one of us to continue to demand change.
Join me, Senator Bernie Sanders, and many other powerful movement leaders and grassroots organizers to discuss this massive victory and how we can build on this momentum to forge a Fossil Free world together — Tune in on Jan 31st via livestream at a watch party near you.
When we dreamed up the idea of fossil fuel divestment in 2012 we thought: some colleges and churches will do this. We didn’t dare dream that half a decade later the richest city in the world would be leading the charge. As one of the financial centers of the world, New York sends a powerful message about the fiscal folly of fossil fuels.
And not only is New York City divesting, it is also taking those most responsible to court. Fossil fuel companies – and their lies and lobbyists – are to blame for the climate crisis we’re in and it’s high time they’re held to account.
It also shows us what is possible when we step up and fight back. New Yorkers, still reeling from Superstorm Sandy, fought long and hard for this win. Now we need more people to take up this fight in their communities. There’s no excuse for any city or state, any province or region, any pension fund or portfolio, to be in business with this industry.
Find out what you can do in your city or town to work towards climate justice on Jan 31st. Join (or host) a watch party with your community to talk about what climate action is possible in 2018.
The time has come, Bill McKibben, 350.org
P.S. The announcement during today’s press conference involved Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, Public Advocate Tish James, Naomi Klein, myself, and many more.
>>> The 350.org is building a global climate movement. Become a sustaining donor to keep this movement strong and growing.
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Ours Lives Depend Upon Our Actions
Dear Friends,
This week, America’s largest city became America’s first major city to set itself on the path to divesting from Big Oil. Yes, we’re talking about New York City.
And not only that, we’re suing. We’ve filed a lawsuit against the biggest culprits that got us into the climate crisis: ExxonMobil, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell. We need to stop funding the fuel of yesterday, so we can have a better and stronger tomorrow.
We know other cities and states are watching us and we want them to follow with bold climate action of their own. New York City is happy to step forward, but we don’t want to stand alone.
That’s why I’m encouraging you to join the Fossil Free campaign and get your town or city to take a stand against fossil fuels. You can get started by hosting or joining a watch party this January 31st as 350.org and other movement leaders kick off this new campaign.
Here in New York City, we are planning to move about $5 billion from investments in approximately 190 companies that own fossil fuel reserves. We’re doing this because it makes sense for our portfolio – and our planet.
Our message to elected officials everywhere: it’s clear by now Big Oil isn’t going to change its stripes; it’s time to stop pretending and start divesting.
We’re also taking decisive action because of you – and all the other activists, advocates and people of good will who have been sounding alarms for years. So thank you! Together we can make a huge difference.
Tune in on Jan 31st (or get tickets if you’re in Washington D.C.) and let’s continue this fight in your city or town.
Let’s work in common cause as though our lives depend on it. Because they do.
Sincerely, Mayor Bill de Blasio, New York City
From: Environmental Action Date: Mon, Jan 8, 2018
We need stronger climate action, not cuts to existing protections. Take action to tell the EPA: Don’t destroy the Clean Power Plan!
TAKE ACTION: Tell Pruitt to keep, protect and strengthen the Clean Power Plan!
The Trump administration is trying to trash the Clean Power Plan, which aims to cut carbon emissions from the nation’s electricity sector 32 percent by 2030, compared to 2005 levels — one of the strongest actions ever taken by the United States to combat climate change.1
The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) held a hearing in November on the Clean Power Plan in the heart of coal country. And as it turns out, even in coal country, regulating carbon emissions is popular a good idea. In fact, during the course of the two-day hearing, of the over 250 people who spoke, only about 30 people spoke in favor of a repeal.2
One of those people in favor of the Clean Power Plan was a 72-year-old coal miner who has mined hills of Kentucky for four decades. He spoke about how emissions from coal power plants have affected his health.
“Our health, environment and global climate are actively being destroyed,” he told EPA officials. “For the sake of my grandchildren and yours, I call on you to strengthen, not repeal, the Clean Power Plan.”3
Will you speak up now to stop attacks on our environment? Let’s protect the Clean Power Plan!
Trashing the Clean Power Plan could allow fossil fuel companies to dump more pollution into our air and would have devastating impacts for our health, wildlife and our entire planet.
We need stronger climate action, not cuts to existing protections. Don’t destroy the Clean Power Plan!
Thank you for taking environmental action,
The Environmental Action team
1. Coral Davenport, Jonathan Ellis, Lisa Friedman, Brad Plumer and Tatiana Schlossberg, “What Is the Clean Power Plan, and How Can Trump Repeal It?,” The New York Times, October 10, 2017.
2. Brady Dennis, “In the heart of coal country, EPA gets an earful about Clean Power Plan’s fate,” The Washington Post, November 28, 2017.
3. Brady Dennis, “In the heart of coal country, EPA gets an earful about Clean Power Plan’s fate,” The Washington Post, November 28, 2017.