Fossil Fuel Divestment: NY City Mayor acts to Protect Portfolios and Planet for Future Generations

 “Fossil fuel companies have misled the public for too long, and we must take action now..."  -- Mayor de Blasio

Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer, and Pension Fund Trustees Announce Significant Next Step to Divest Pension Funds From Fossil Fuel Reserve Companies

December 18, 2018

Issue landmark Request for Proposal to analyze fossil fuel risks and develop divestment plan

NEW YORK—Mayor Bill de Blasio and Comptroller Scott M. Stringer today announced the next big step in the New York City Pension Funds’ action to address the risk posed by climate change by divesting from fossil fuel reserve owners – an unprecedented process and the first-of-its-kind in the United States.

The Request for Proposal (RFP) released today seeks advisers to analyze, evaluate, and recommend prudent fossil fuel divestment strategies for the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS), the Teachers Retirement System (TRS), and the Board of Education Retirement System (BERS), together representing 70 percent of the total assets of the City’s $200 billion pension funds. The RFP will result in a comprehensive analysis of the City Pension Funds’ holdings and the risks the fossil fuel industry poses to pension assets.

This analysis – the first-of-its-kind of a pension fund of this size – will inform the development of a comprehensive and prudent divestment strategy to preserve the retirement funds of City employees and address climate change risks, consistent with fiduciary duty.

“Divestment is a critical part of our strategy to fight climate change while insulating our pension funds,” said Mayor de Blasio. “Fossil fuel companies have misled the public for too long, and we must take action now to protect our portfolios as well as our planet for future generations. I thank the Comptroller and the rest of my fellow Trustees for standing strong as we continue taking these steps to divest from fossil fuels.”

“The future of New York City can’t be tied to fossil fuels – and today, we’re taking the next big step to protect our planet and the retirement security of hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers,” said New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer. “Climate change poses an existential threat. But by moving towards a fossil fuel free investment strategy, New York City is planting the seed for a clean, green, and thriving economy that can truly support future generations. The steps we take in New York City set a precedent around the country and the world, and the leadership from the Mayor and the trustees are charting a roadmap for responsible climate action.”

Read more at the Official Website for the City of New York

Cuomo supports a Green New Deal for Carbon-Free Electricity by 2040

Cuomo sets Goal for Carbon Neutral Electric System by 2040

By MARIE J. FRENCH

12/17/2018 | 04:44 PM EST

ALBANY — Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday set a new goal to reduce emissions from the state's electricity generation and promised to support a Green New Deal to get to a completely carbon-free economy.

Details were sparse on what Cuomo's conception of a Green New Deal would entail or when he'd mandate that the state eliminate carbon emissions across the economy. His current goal for the electric sector is 50 percent renewables by 2030, and for emissions in most sectors of the economy to be cut 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

“New York will launch the Green New Deal to make New York’s electricity 100 percent carbon neutral by 2040, and ultimately eliminate the state’s entire carbon footprint," Cuomo said during a speech in New York City, where laid out his agenda for 2019.

Environmental advocates expressed optimism at Cuomo's new goals.

“The new goal is incredibly exciting and motivating,” said Kit Kennedy of the Natural Resources Defense Council. "What happens now is going to be crucial. In other words, is this a goal … and that’s it, or can we get done what we need to get done in New York state on the ground in terms of policy deployment, acceleration of energy efficiency, electric vehicles, Article 10 [the state siting law for large-scale generators] reforms, offshore wind, storage, the whole gamut of zero-carbon technologies."

For advocates who have consistently pushed for more aggressive action, the lack of details or a goal to get to zero percent emissions in the short-run were disappointing.

“A vague pledge of carbon neutrality by the year 2040 is not the bold action necessary to move New York off fossil fuels," said Food and Water Watch's Alex Beauchamp. "Cuomo must go much bigger: A true Green New Deal for New York must include a moratorium on all new fossil fuel infrastructure and a commitment to transition New York to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030."

The Cuomo administration did not respond to questions about what a Green New Deal would include, whether legislative action would be required or whether electric generators would be able to purchase carbon offsets to comply with the 2040 goal.

The Democratic governor has already directed the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to study how the state could get to 100 percent renewables, not just in the electric sector but across the economy. He's said he supports that goal. The study was expected to be completed by the end of this year.

Climate Bill addresses Justice for Communities and Workers

Climate protection bill would hit renewable goal

In a recent Another Voice column (“Energy policies can be pro-business, pro-environment”), the authors gets things half right.

The Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA), the focus of their article, is also pro-community and pro-working families! If enacted, the CCPA would commit New York State to a just transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2050.

This transition would impact the entire economy, from energy generation to transportation to how we heat and cool our buildings. It would require that state agencies apply climate and equity filters to all decision making. This would ensure that no New Yorkers get left behind during the transition and that state government is accountable to climate goals.

The CCPA was perhaps the first climate bill in the country to take justice for communities and workers seriously. It acknowledges the disparate impacts of climate change on vulnerable communities and would support implementation of community-based climate solutions. The bill would redirect 40 percent of existing state climate and clean energy funding to vulnerable communities to enhance climate resiliency and reduce energy poverty by opening up access to renewables and energy efficiency.

The CCPA would also set job standards for industries called into action by public sector investments so that workers and their families can thrive as our economy transitions.

Global consensus has been reached that we’re now living through an intensifying climate crisis. The CCPA is a commonsense response to this crisis and represents a transformative strategy for achieving a just transition for all New Yorkers.

Clarke Gocker

Buffalo

Published on 12.18.2018 at BuffaloNews.com

 ~     ~     ~

To read the text of the Climate and Community Protection Act and see the bill's co-sponsorship in the NYS Senate, click here

Public Comments: Climate Action Sustainability Plan for Internal County Operations

Erie County is pleased to release the draft Climate Action and Sustainability Plan (CASP) for internal county operations.

Click here to download the Plan for review.


Comments can be entered here.

The CASP was a collaborative effort involving all County departments through the County’s Green Team initiative and outlines a plan to move County government operations toward a sustainable future.

Development of the CASP was funded through New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (“NYSERDA”). NYSERDA has not yet reviewed the information contained herein, and the opinions expressed in this report do not necessarily reflect those of NYSERDA or the State of New York.

The public comment period will be open through Monday, January 1, 2019.

NY Renews Coalition urges Cuomo to pass Comprehensive Climate Bill in 2019

NY Renews urges Cuomo to pass Climate and Community Protection Act in 2019 after speech embracing carbon neutrality

by NY Renews  |  December 17, 2018

New York, NY — In his “Justice Agenda” speech outlining legislative priorities for 2019, Governor Cuomo talked about moving New York completely off fossil fuels – but now we need a real plan and bold legislative action to get us there.

Governor Cuomo can implement his vision and go further by supporting the passage of the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) in 2019. The NY Renews coalition of 150 plus groups, has advocated for the CCPA since 2015.

While the Governor spoke of a “100% carbon-neutral electricity” target, electricity generation represents approximately 20% of our state’s emissions profile and New York needs more comprehensive action to face up to the urgency of the climate crisis. The CCPA would put New York on the path to 100% renewable energy – not just in electricity generation, but economy-wide – while mandating fair labor standards for green jobs and targeting investments in low-income communities and communities of color.

The CCPA has passed the Assembly for the past three years; Assembly Speaker Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins have both recently reaffirmed their support, with additional support from incoming Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Senator Todd Kaminsky and many newly-elected Senators.

We look forward to working with the Governor and the legislature to see that the Climate and Community Protection Act becomes law in 2019.

Pending Climate Bill could Transform NY Energy Market

Could New York go carbon free by 2050?

The Climate and Community Protection Act could transform New York’s energy market.

By Susan Arbetter | December 12, 2018 |  Excerpt

The Climate and Community Protection Act, sponsored by state Sen. Brad Hoylman and Assemblyman Steve Englebright, is an expansive bill that requires New York state to generate 50 percent of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. By 2050, the bill would require the elimination of all greenhouse gas emissions.

The bill is process-oriented. Baked into the plan is a climate action playbook that proponents say will guide the state from its current level of fossil fuel use down to zero.

For workers who may be displaced by the proposed transition to renewables, the bill includes prevailing wage standards and addresses the needs of environmental justice communities where many fossil fuel plants are currently located. The bill is, in one activist’s words, “a B-12 shot for the state’s renewables.”

Currently, New York only uses 3 percent wind energy and less than 1 percent from solar energy. “This is the most important issue on Earth,” said Englebright, who chairs the Assembly Committee on Environmental Conservation. “States now have to pick up the slack that has been created by the inaction of the federal government.”

State Sen. Todd Kaminsky, who was recently tapped to chair the state Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee starting in January, agreed. “There is no doubt we need to take aggressive steps to address climate change,” he said. “This bill will be the central vehicle by which we will accomplish that.”

Peter Iwanowicz, executive director of Environmental Advocates of New York, said the state needs a strong foundation for setting its clean energy goals in law. “Right now the goals don’t exist in law,” he said. “They are at the whim of the executive.”

Young Activist Condemns World's Inaction on Climate Change at U.N. Summit

Greta Thunberg, a 15 year-old high school student from Sweden, realized at a young age the difference in what climate experts were saying needed to be done and the actions that were being taken in society.

She decided to take matters into her own hands.

With focus and poise beyond her years, Greta spoke truth to power in an audience of adults including U.N. officials and world government representatives at the recent Climate Summit (COP 24) in Poland. She cited inaction on climate change as a burden that adults are leaving on their children:

You say you love your children above all else, and yet you're stealing their future in front of their very eyes. Until you start focusing on what needs to be done, rather than its what is politically possible, there is no hope. 

Watch a short video of Greta's powerful and moving speech at the U.N. Climate Summit below:

On Hope: 
Elsewhere, in a TEDx Talk, Greta said, "Yes, we do need hope, of course we do. But the one thing we need more than hope is action. Once we start to act, hope is everywhere."

School Strike for the Climate:
The U.N. Summit speech was not Greta’s first climate action. Earlier this year, Greta demanded that her government in Sweden undertake a radical response to climate change. She protested for more than a month in Stockholm, sitting on the steps of the parliament building, every day during school hours for three weeks. She has returned to school for four days a week; she now spends her Fridays on the steps of parliament.  Read more about Greta and what makes her special in The New Yorker

New National Climate Assessment of impacts, costs and risks starkly contrasts with Trump Administration's fossil fuel agenda

But Who will Protect the People of the United States?

Climate Change Puts U.S. Economy and Lives at Risk, and Costs Are Rising, Federal Agencies Warn    
The National Climate Assessment describes increasing heat, fire and flood damage. It's a stark contrast to Trump's energy policies and climate claims. 
Inside Climate News - 11.23.2018: click here

Unable to Bury Climate Report, Trump & Deniers Launch Assault on the Science

Evidence and warnings in the National Climate Assessment are a high-stakes problem for Trump's fossil fuel-friendly agenda, both in politics and in court. 
Inside Climate News - 11.30.2018: click here

Progressive congressional lawmakers seek a 'Green New Deal' to mitigate climate change, protect health and create jobs

                                                                                                                        ji sub jeong/huffpost

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, diverse lawmakers prioritize climate change with 'Green New Deal'
'Our lives are on the line,' says Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez regarding climate change.
NBC News - 11.30.2018: click here
 

CLIMATE: Sanders plots Green New Deal-style bill

Senate bill would include a transition to 100 percent renewable energy and big investments in clean energy technology and green infrastructure.

E&E News - 12.03.2018: click here

CLIMATE CHANGE - Who will Protect the People of the U.S.?

Ocasio-Cortez and progressive Dems' Green New Deal gains traction as Trump shrugs off dire warnings from climate scientists
While President Trump attributes his climate change skepticism to his “very high levels of intelligence,” a growing legion of lawmakers and young activists are taking heed of dire warnings being issued by experts and scientists about the catastrophic consequences of inaction.
 
Progressives, led by New York City’s own Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, are joining forces behind an ambitious plan to wean the U.S. off fossil fuels, boost renewable energy jobs and build a “smart” power grid.
 
The major push to make climate change a priority when Congress convenes in January got off to a high-profile start weeks ago when Ocasio-Cortez applauded young activists from the environmental advocacy group Sunrise Movement protesting at soon-to-be-House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office on Capitol Hill.  

A damning federal government report about the economic and societal impacts of climate change released last week, which Trump openly dismissed, has only emboldened believers steeling for a showdown with mainline Democrats and added weight to their calls for a so-called “Green New Deal.”
NY Daily News - 12.02.2018: To read more, click here



VIDEO:  Solving Our Climate Crisis - A National Town Hall
U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders, Rep.-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, environmental author & 350.org founder Bill McKibben, CNN commentator Van Jones, Union of Concerned Scientists Dr. Brenda Ekwurzel and climate activists
Now This - 12.03.2018: To view the video, click here

A CLEAN START - Environmental Advocates of New York

Dear Advocates,

Former President Obama once said, “Elections have consequences.” That statement might be doubly true for the election we just had in New York.

New Yorkers have elected a new majority to the State Senate. In doing so, over a quarter of the Senate chairs will be filled by new members. With these changes comes great opportunity for popular, common-sense environmental legislation to finally see the light of day in the Senate.

You know from your involvement with us that there has been environmental stagnation in Albany. Critical pieces of legislation have been blocked by leaders who refused to step up and protect our environment, strengthen our communities, or improve our health. Bills with broad backing like the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) and the Environmental Bill of Rights easily passed the Assembly this year with bi-partisan support, only to be buried in the Senate. The CCPA actually had a majority of Senators listed as official co-sponsors.

Where the previous Senate Majority had failed to recognize the importance of having a right to clean air and water or the potential of good jobs in the clean energy economy, we trust the new Senate Majority will take a different path. We expect the new Senate will join the Assembly in being champions of the environment by prioritizing policies that benefit our health, our communities, and our economy. The Climate and Community Protection Act and the Environmental Bill of Rights would both be a good place to start. The incoming Majority Leader, Andrea Stewart-Cousins has championed the climate bill.

Similarly, the change of leadership in the US House of Representatives holds promise for positive action on the environment. It starts with a fundamental flip of ideals—science is important again, climate change is real, and actual oversight of agencies like the EPA is necessary. While there may be scant hope for the House to be joined in their ideals by a federal government that remains hostile to the environment, they should provide a counterbalance to the dirty policies of the Trump administration.

This election does not mean our job is done. We still need to make our case—loudly—but now to more receptive ears. The opportunity to make real environmental progress is much greater today than it was a week ago. Let’s get to work.

Sincerely,

Peter M. Iwanowicz
Executive Director
Environmental Advocates of New York

~      ~      ~

Environmental Advocates of New York strongly supports these bills:

Climate and Community Protection Act 

A.8270-B (Englebright, et al.)    S.7971-A (Hoylman, et al.)

The impacts of climate change are affecting New York’s economic security, safety, and public health. Poor air quality, which is worsened by climate change, is making our children sick and shortening the lives of seniors. Extreme weather events place people in danger, cost billions in lost production and revenue, and damage or destroy communities.

Read more here...

Environmental Bill of Rights 

A.6279 (Englebright, et al.)     S.5287 (Carlucci, et al.)

This bill establishes in the New York State Constitution a right to clean water, clean air and a healthful environment. It addresses a gap in our legal foundations, and provides an expression of values that other states have already seen fit to establish and to pronounce.

Read more here...

~      ~      ~

UPDATE (11.14.2018):

The Adirondack Mountain Club (ADK) strongly supports the Environmental Bill of Rights legislation

This proposal would amend the State Constitution's Bill of Rights to include a right to clean air and water and a healthful environment. This proposal establishes for New Yorkers the constitutional right to clean air, clean water and a healthy environmental equivalent to other basic rights guaranteed in New York State’s Constitution Article 1 Bill of Rights, such as, the right of freedom of worship and religious liberty, freedom of speech and the press, compensation for taking private property, equal protection of law, and security against unreasonable searches and seizures, among others. The basic human right to clean air and water and a healthful environment has been starkly absent from this list of constitutional protections, but recent threats to our water and air have reminded us that we cannot take for granted that these life sustaining elements will be protected. It is critical that we recognize the basic human rights to clean air and water and a healthful environment and detail these in the Article 1 Bill of Rights. 
Read more here... 


To Download the PDF document at the ADK website, Click Here

For this and other ADK Policy Positions, visit the ADK Website Here
 

Open Discussion: Climate and America’s Migration Issues

THE SIERRA CLUB

CLIMATE AND CLEAN ENERGY WRITERS GROUP

Thursday, November 15, 2018

Climate and America’s Migration Issues

Climate Change is driving migration throughout the world by demolishing homes, destroying harvests and disrupting local economies.  The UN states that “An annual average of 21.5 million people have been forcibly displaced by weather-related sudden onset hazards – such as floods, storms, wildfires, extreme temperature – each year since 2008”.  At the same time, immigration policy is an issue that is dividing America.  

Join a discussion of this crucial issue!

6:00-7:30 PM - Crane Branch Library - 633 Elmwood at Highland 
2nd Floor Meeting Room
  
Free and open to the public – writers and non-writers alike
billnowa@gmail.com for info

Sustainability and Justice: The Need for Water Protectors

Distinguished Lecture by

WINONA LADUKE 

~ Water Protector ~

Winona LaDuke - Water Protector

November 16, 2:30pm - 4:45pm,
Center for the Arts Screening Room, UB North Campus [Map].

Refreshments, lecture and discussion,
RSVP Here by Nov. 15.


During the Standing Rock actions against the Dakota Access Oil Pipeline, a new term was born - ‘Water Protector’.  This became the preferred way to talk about the residents of the Standing Rock resistance camps; rather than protestor. 

Water Protectors are not radicals that want us to return the middle ages, but futurists that want a clean, healthy environment for their children and the next seven generations.  In these times of climate chaos and political inaction, we must all be Water Protectors.

Winona LaDuke is a rural development economist and author working on issues of Indigenous Economics, Food and Energy Policy. A graduate of Harvard and Antioch Universities, she has written extensively on Native American and environmental issues.

LaDuke lives and works on the White Earth reservation in northern Minnesota, and is the Executive Director of Honor the Earth. She works nationally and internationally on the issues of climate change, renewable energy, environmental justice and sustainable food systems alongside Indigenous communities.

A presentation in the UB RENEW Distinguished Lecture Series

Public Open House: Outer Harbor Access and Activation Project

Lois Gibbs, Environmental Health & Justice Activist, to Speak in Lockport

                      Photo: James Neiss

Lois Gibbs, the former Niagara Falls resident who led the fight for evacuation of the Love Canal neighborhood plagued by toxic chemical pollution 40 years ago, will return for a speaking engagement and panel discussion.

Gibbs will speak on Saturday, November 3 at the Cornell Cooperative Extension, 4487 Lake Ave., Lockport [Map], for a discussion on local environmental issues. She will hold a meet-and-greet at 9 AM, a news conference at 9:30 and a panel discussion at 10 AM. The event is sponsored by the Niagara County Democratic Committee and is free and open to the public.
 
Lois Gibbs was critical in the creation of the Superfund, a federal government program designed to fund the cleanup of toxic wastes. Gibbs is the founder of the Center for Health, Environment and Justice and lives in Virginia.

The discussion panel will include:

• Lois Gibbs, Exec. Director of the Center for Health, Environment, and Justice

• Richard Lipsitz, WNY ALF President

• Russ Quarantello, IBEW 237 Business Manager

• Diane Lemanski, Babcock Neighborhood Organizer (Clean Air Coalition)

• Bev Kinney, Grand Island Town Councilwoman

• Representative for Citizens for Responsible Government  

Public Meeting: Importance of Transit in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Citizens for Regional Transit

Quarterly Public Meeting

The Importance of Transit for Meeting U.S. Target 

Greenhouse Gas Reductions and 

Ongoing Efforts to Meet Those Targets

Thursday, October 18

5:30 - 7:00 p.m. (doors open at 5:00)

Central Library

1 Lafayette Square, Buffalo

Central Meeting Room (upstairs)

PRESENTERS:

• Bonnie Lawrence, Erie County Dept. of Environment & Planning

• Doug Funke, Citizens for Regional Transit

• TBD, Representative from the NFTA

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Rep. Higgins to Introduce McMurray at Endorsed Candidate Event

The Sierra Club Niagara Group is holding an Endorsed Challengers Meet & Greet Rally which will be FREE and open to the general public. This is an opportunity to hear each candidate briefly describe his/her platform and their views on a variety of environmental topics.

As a highlight of the event, Congress Member Brian M. Higgins has been confirmed to introduce candidate Nate McMurray, who is running for U.S. Congressional District 27.

Friday, October 12, 5pm-7pm, UAW Region 9 Hall, 35 George Karl Blvd, #100 (just off Wehrle Drive, near Transit), Williamsville, NY  [Map]

Besides meeting the candidates, attendees will have an opportunity to donate money and/or volunteer for those campaigns which they choose to support. FREE food and beverages will be available.

Turnout in New York’s September 13^th primary was almost triple that of the 2014 primary for governor.  Interest in this year’s elections is sky high with both the U.S. House of Representatives and the NY State Senate in play.  Excitement is building and a big crowd is expected for this event.

Candidates who will be featured at the Meet & Greet Rally are listed below.

Name                                      Race

Nate McMurray                       (US Congress, District 27)

Joan Elizabeth Seamans       (NY Senate, District 61)

Carima El-Behairy                   (NY Senate, District 60)

Karen McMahon                     (NY Assembly, District 146)

Patrick Burke                          (NY Assembly, District 142)

Michelle Roman                      (Mayor of Lockport)

Luke Wochensky                    (NY Assembly, District 147)


Watch this Video shared by Bill Nowak:

https://www.facebook.com/events/1107460882712472/

(After opening the link, click the Speaker symbol to hear the sound)

Conference: World on Your Plate -- Food and Sustainable Living

FRIDAY Oct.5: Panel Discussion focused on the place-based “revolution” happening in the Buffalo-Niagara region. 

Panelists: Dennice Barr (Fruitbelt food and land trust), Deidra M. EmEl  (WNY Peace Center), Rahwa Ghirmatzion (Executive Director, PUSH Buffalo), Lynda Schneekloth (WNY Alliance & Sierra Club), Agnes Williams, (Indigenous Women’s Initiatives) and Alexander Wright (African Heritage Food Co-op).

SATURDAY Oct.6: Featured Speakers

• Jacqui Patterson - Director of NAACP Environmental and Climate Justice Program

• Sarah van Gelder - Author, columnist, founder & director of People’s Hub, co-founder of YES! Magazine

FOOD, WORKSHOPS, VENDORS & MORE: There will be a light dinner served on Friday. Refreshments and a local, organic, vegetarian lunch on Saturday, plus 14 workshops to choose from on a variety of issues, vendors, informational tables, music and more. 

WHEN: Friday October 5, 5pm-9pm and Saturday, October 6, 9am-4:30 pm

WHERE: Daemen College, Wick Student Center, 4380 Main St., Amherst [Map]

TICKETS:  $10 - $35; Students with ID & Pre-registered are FREE, scholarships are available. More information at WorldOnYourPlate.org

Presentations: Our Damaged Democracy - Can We Fix It?

Our Damaged Democracy: 

Can We Fix It?

Join us for what is certain to be a lively discussion, inspired by Our Damaged Democracy: We the People Must Act, the recent book by Joseph A. Califano, Jr. 

Featured panelists and their presentations are:
James E. Campbell, PhD, UB Distinguished Professor of Political Science, SUNY University at Buffalo, on polarization in American political life, plus the role and impact of the president
Jamie P. Pimlott, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, Niagara University, on the role of Congress, plus women in politics or the lack thereof
Peter Yacobucci, PhD, Associate Professor of Political Science, SUNY Buffalo State, on the role of the Supreme Court, current issues, plus ideas for conflict resolution

Monday, October 1 - 6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site
641 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202 

The TR Site is easily reached via public transportation. Parking is free in the lot behind the building and is accessible from Delaware Avenue or Franklin Street (between Allen and North Streets. Note: Franklin Street is one-way northbound). 

Special thanks to our co-sponsors: The Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site and The Association for a Buffalo Presidential Center

 

Refreshments will be served. This event is free and open to the public. Please let us know you'll attend by making a reservation by calling the League office at 716-986-4898.

Presentation: Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change

Tim DeChristopher is a climate change activist and the co-founder of the environmental group Peaceful Uprising and the Climate Disobedience Center.

As a graduate of the Harvard Divinity School, Tim’s work combines environmental activism and religious thought.

His career as an activist was launched by an act of civil disobedience in 2008, when he disrupted an oil and gas land auction to protect land parcels around Utah’s Arches and Canyonlands National Parks. His efforts led to the protection of the land and his imprisonment for 21 months.


PRESENTATION by Tim DeChristopher: 
‘Beyond Fatalism: Resistance and Resilience to Climate Change’
Thursday, October 4, 2:00-3:30pm
Niagara University
Galisano Center for Integrated Sciences, Room 101
Lewiston, NY [Map]

This event is part of the Office of Multicultural Affairs’ Diversity Thursdays Series, the Political Science Department’s Social Justice Speaker and Discussion Series, and is co-sponsored by the Environmental Science Program, the Sociology Department, and the Earth and Social Justice Program Houses.

WNY Environmental Summit - Saturday, Sept. 29, 8:30am-Noon - Daemen College

Environmental Group to hold Public Event for Endorsed Political Candidates

Sierra Club Niagara Group is holding an Endorsed Challengers Meet & Greet Rally which will be FREE and OPEN to the general public.

The Meet & Greet Rally is an opportunity to hear each candidate briefly describe their platform and views on a variety of environmental topics.

Candidates to be featured at the Rally, along with the offices they are seeking, are shown below:

The Rally will be held on Friday, October 12, 5 PM - 7 PM, at UAW Region 9 Hall, 35 George Carl Boulevard, just off Wehrle Drive near Transit Rd. [Map]

Food & Drink will be provided

This will be one of the most important elections of our time. Control of the U.S. House of Representatives and the New York State Senate is up for grabs. 

We need to elect strong leaders who will stand up for the people and for justice, who will fight to cut pollution and protect public health, and who will help create new, well-paying jobs in a clean energy economy.

New York State needs Commitment to Renewable Energy

By Geovaira Hernandez

On Sept. 8, thousands of people worldwide united for a day of action around climate and economic justice. Rise Up for Climate, Jobs and Justice events, like the one we helped organize in Buffalo at Canalside – which drew several hundred residents – arrived ahead of the Global Action Climate Summit this week in San Francisco.

The summit brings together elected officials, labor unions, thought leaders and nongovernmental organizations to discuss the Paris climate goals, and how to accelerate efforts to reduce global emissions.

Not surprisingly, considering its intent to withdraw the U.S. from the Paris agreement and its assault on basic environmental protections, the Trump administration will not participate in the summit.

With hopes of federal action on climate now dashed, groups like PUSH Buffalo, the Communications Workers of America and the Sierra Club are working in coalition with others across regions and states to pressure elected officials to commit to a just and equitable transition away from fossil fuels toward an economy powered by 100 percent renewable energy.

In Washington State this fall, residents will vote on Initiative 1631 which, if passed, would generate $1 billion of revenue annually through a corporate polluter fee. The revenue would be used to fund climate solutions that benefit the most environmentally overburdened communities.

Earlier this week, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill that sets California on a path to 100 percent renewable energy by 2045. This is a huge development, and the first law of its kind enacted by a state legislature in the U.S. Importantly, progress in each of these areas wouldn’t have happened without sustained grassroots leadership from so-called frontline communities.

California’s commitment to 100 percent renewable energy sets a compass point for the rest of us to follow. Now, we’re demanding that elected leaders in New York deliver on a progressive climate justice agenda that includes not only a commitment to 100 percent renewable energy but prioritizes clean energy investments in frontline communities and creates good paying, green jobs.

As members of the statewide New York Renews coalition, we’re calling specifically for Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo to pass the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA) in 2019 and to support a corporate polluter penalty and reinvestment policy like the one being advanced in Washington State. Together these moves would position New York as a true global climate leader accountable to a progressive populism that is now rising all around us.

Geovaira Hernandez, climate justice organizer at PUSH Buffalo, co-authored this with Lynda Schneekloth, of Sierra Club Niagara Chapter, and Debora M. Hayes, area director, Communications Workers of America.

This article was published as an op-ed in The Buffalo News

~        ~        ~ 

SEE ALSO: 

- NY RENEWS: Cut Pollution, Fund Solutions for NY

- NYS Assembly Passes Climate Bill Promoting Renewable Energy, Green Jobs, and Community/Worker Protections

EVENT: Rise for Climate, Jobs & Justice - Sept.8, 12:30 PM, CANALSIDE, Buffalo

On Saturday, Sept. 8, People will gather in Buffalo to rally along with others across the USA and around the World to demand that local leaders commit to building a fossil-free world that works for all of us.

Join Us at CANALSIDE in Buffalo 

on Saturday, Sept. 8 !

~ For More Information on the Buffalo Rally, go Here ~

Many U.S. cities will rally for Climate, Jobs & Justice on the same day

Rise for Climate, Jobs & Justice is a Global Event

For more information, and to view locations of Rallys across the USA

as well as in other cities around the world, Click Here

 

Lung Association gave an 'F' to Erie and Chautauqua Counties for Ozone -- Increased Heat due to Climate Change is one Contributing Factor

Erie, Chautauqua counties receive 'F' in Lung Association's annual 'State of the Air'

By Nick Lippa  | Apr 18, 2018 | WBFO

The American Lung Association has released their 2018 “State of the Air” report citing air quality has worsened. It found 9.4 million New Yorkers are breathing unhealthy air.

Credit: American Lung Association

Chautauqua and Erie counties both received an "F" grade for high ozone days from 2014 to 2016. Ozone can have a major impact on children and older adults with asthma and other lung diseases. One of the reasons things look worse is because 2016 was the second hottest year in recorded history for most of America.  Increased heat often means increased ozone.

American Lung Association Vice President for National Policy Janice Nolen said great progress has been made over the past two decades, but rising seasonal temperatures could pose a problem in the future.

“With ozone it does vary a lot because of the relationship with the heat,” said Nolen. “It also means that we have to do more to clean it up because we are battling that heat that is growing as a result of climate change. It’s sort of a continuing struggle. When you look at the trend charts we’re heading in the right direction but we are not where we need to be yet.”

There is also a problem of pollution coming from other parts of the country and settling in certain areas. American Lung Association Vice President of Communications for the Northeast Michael Seilback said New York is part of a region that’s become known as the tailpipe of the nation.
“New York and Connecticut both filed comments with the EPA asking them to take action against a power plant in Pennsylvania, whose air pollution in the ozone is traveling and settling over our region,” said Seilback.

While a hot 2016 year caused serious ozone problems for the region, something New York got “A” grades for was short-term and year-round particle pollution maintenance.

Read more at WBFO 

The American Lung Associations's 'State of the Air 2018' report is here.

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How is Ozone formed at the Ground Level?

Ground-level Ozone ('bad' ozone) is created by chemical reactions between Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) and Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in the presence of Heat and Sunlight.

Emissions from industrial facilities, electric utilities, motor vehicle exhaust, gasoline vapors, and chemical solvents are some of the major sources of NOx and VOCs.

How can Ozone affect my Health?

If you have asthma, bronchitis, or emphysema, ozone can make your symptoms worse. Carefully follow your asthma management plan on days when ozone levels are high.

Ozone has also been linked to:

    - Coughing and pain when taking a deep breath
    - Lung and throat irritation
    - Wheezing and trouble breathing during exercise or outdoor activities


Who is most at risk?

Ozone can affect anyone, but it bothers some people more than others. People most likely to experience health effects caused by ozone include:

• People with asthma or other lung diseases
• Older adults
• People of all ages who exercise or work hard outside
• Babies and children

Protect Yourself and Your Family

The good news is there's a lot you can do to protect yourself and your family from the health effects caused by ground-level ozone. Start by learning about the Air Quality Index from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

See information at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention 

See also the New York State DEC Air Monitoring Website

Former Top EPA Official to Speak at Roosevelt Inauguration Site in Buffalo

EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck | AP Photo/Mike Groll

Judith Enck is a former top official in the Environmental Protection Agency during the Obama administration. She previously served as New York’s deputy secretary for the environment. 

Enck has a lot to say about climate change, the assault on environmental regulations and more-talk-than-action involving renewable energy.

Jim Heaney, Investigative Post Editor, will interview Judith Enck.

WHEN: Wednesday, June 6, 2018, 7 p.m.

WHERE: Theodore Roosevelt Inaugural Site, 641 Delaware Ave., Buffalo [Map]

TICKETS: $10 -- Click here


Attendance includes free admission to the inaugural site’s museum between 6 and 7 p.m., complete with docents to help you make the most of your visit. The museum tells the story of Roosevelt’s inauguration in Buffalo and his legacy as president and conservationist. 

Waste Tunnel Collapse at Tonawanda Coke Plant triggers Call for Government Investigation of Emissions

Tonawanda Coke Confirms Waste Tunnel Collapse

Last Friday, The Tonawanda Coke Corporation confirmed allegations by the Clean Air Coalition that the waste heat tunnel at their facility had collapsed, possibly causing toxic emissions to spew into the surrounding community.

The waste heat tunnel is a concrete tunnel that runs underground the length of the battery, all 60 coke manufacturing ovens. The main purpose of the waste heat tunnel is to collect the waste combustible heat from the ovens. Now that the tunnel has collapsed, gases can't normally flow into the facility's chimneys, and the company can't draw enough fresh air into the manufacturing process. Without enough fresh air drawn into the process, the coking process will possibly create toxic releases into the ambient air, and into the surrounding community.

One of the chemical's of concern is benzene, a known carcinogen linked to leukemia and other types of illnesses.

You can view the press coverage here from the Buffalo News, WIVB Channel 4, and WGRZ, Channel 2.

We call on the Environmental Protection Agency, the US Attorney General's Office and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to perform a full investigation of the incident. We are calling on state and federal agencies to determine the cause of the tunnel collapse, risks posed to workers, and risks posed to the surrounding community.

If you live or work in the area and are noticing dark smoke or odors coming from the facility, submit a complaint to the New York Department of Conservation by calling 851-7000 or completing and mailing in this complaint form.

The Clean Air Coalition of WNY will keep you posted as this situation progresses.