Citizens Climate lobby Roscommon/Crawford Chapter

  Roscommon/Crawford Chapter Latest Climate Change News I follow a number of organizations who report findings concerning climate change on the internet. One of my favorites is the Environmental Defense Fund,* a US nonprofit environmental advocacy group. Most of the information for this blog came from their recent posting, “ Now is the Time for Bold Action on Climate .” Here is a synopsis of their three recommendations for action. 1. Electrify the transportation sector while cleaning up electricity generation Transportation is the single largest source of climate pollution in the U.S. Fortunately, we have the technology that offers jobs, cleaner air and a big reduction in air pollution. By 2035, all new cars — and by 2040, all new trucks and buses — sold in the U.S. must be zero emission, with deployment prioritized in frontline communities that have long suffered a disproportionate burden of air pollution. Momentum is building. GM, Volvo and some other automakers have already

    Climate Change News   Lots of climate change news is trending just now; some good and some not so good. Let’s look at the not-so-good first. It has become clear that the problem in Texas with its loss of power and water, is mostly due to cold weather and the recalcitrance of Texans about spending money to winterize their systems. Elsewhere, a report from Japan is disturbing as it has been revealed the island nation is building NEW coal fired power plants in the wake of Fukushima and their decision to close other nuclear power plants. These new plants are likely to cause air pollution by carbon dioxide emissions for many years. They have promised to take a second look at this in October. But you need not focus on reports from distant nations as we have enough issues in the United States to keep us occupied. First, an example of one of the expanding problems in the US: The New York Times reports on a local problem with the headline “A North Carolina Town Risks Washing Away.”

             Roscommon/Crawford Chapter Bill Gates’s Big Ideas About Climate Change   Bill Gates has some big ideas about climate change. So many ideas, in fact, that he wrote a book about them. The book is now being pitched on various mediums, (think radio, TV, podcasts, and magazines) and I must admit, seeing this much marketing effort to sell books made me a little suspect about the content, especially since Gates’ previous philanthropy and expertise has not involved climate science. Full disclosure: I haven’t read the book yet, only several reviews that have shown Gates’ considerable data and engaging thoughts about the topic.   Here is what I have learned from the things I have read about his book “How To Avoid a Climate Change Disaster.”   Gates says we need to get to zero greenhouse gas emissions promptly. He uses an engaging simile; It’s like filling your bathtub, he says, with the end result being that everyone drowns. We now have the water spigot on our tub turned

                                                                Roscommon/Crawford Chapter Climate Change News   The biggest news on the climate change front just now is in two parts: 1. Our newly unfolding plan from President Joe Biden about climate change remedies 2. The Canadian government’s revised climate plan released this past December.   The Canada news takes a bit of explaining: In 2018, the Canadian government decided to implement a price on pollution by requiring cash payments to the government from fossil fuel companies according to the type and amount of the fossil fuel to be supplied to consumers. Sound familiar? Here is the language from Canada.   “A price on carbon pollution is an essential part of Canada’s plan to fight climate change and grow the economy. It is one of the most efficient ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and stimulate investments in clean innovation. It creates incentives for individuals, households, and businesses to choose cleane

                                                                                                                                                                                                       Roscommon/Crawford Chapter                                                                                             Happy New Year   We are beginning the new year with a surprising amount of good news on the climate change front. As the potential shutdown of the federal government loomed in late December because of government inaction on budget matters, at the last minute, the lame duck Congress passed a new budget bill with a price tag of $2.3 trillion dollars. The bill that fixes the budget and prevents the shut-down is the omnibus spending bill that was passed on December 22 and was subsequently signed by the President despite his threats and grumbling. The bill was debated until the last moment due to arguments around the $900 billion coronavirus relief portion of the bill and

                                                              Roscommon/Crawford Chapter Merry Christmas   As winter begins to again cover our fields and forests with a white blanket, your friends at the Roscommon/Crawford Chapter of Citizens Climate Lobby want to wish you a Merry Christmas. We are anxiously awaiting 2021 and its promise of newness: a vaccine for COVID for everyone, a new administration for our federal government, and the near certainty of more effective treatments for the ills created by increasing air pollution from carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. We think now is the time for an outpouring of ideas for local action to dovetail with expected federal programs that will slow down continued air pollution and set the stage for eventually cleaning our atmosphere to return it to its more pristine state. The overall map for action is clear; we need to reduce the stranglehold that the fossil fuel industry has on our transportation and power generation sectors

                                                   Roscommon/Crawford Chapter Biden Plan for Fixing Climate Change   Now that we have fired the old President, we can expect the incoming Biden/Harris Administration to take immediate and aggressive action in fixing climate change, unlike the former administration whose work on climate reminds of those sailors who re-arranged the deck chairs on the Titanic. Here is a summary of the Biden action plan for fixing climate change. John Kerry has been named as special envoy for climate protection and a standing member of the U.S. National Security Council, responsible for global climate leadership as the United States resumes its former role   encouraging world-wide cooperation in reducing air pollution. It is expected that Biden will name other men and women to additional climate leadership jobs in his Administration. Stated goals of the new Administration are the following as indicated in the published Biden plan:      1.