A regional resource for Cape & Islands climate activists
February 3, 2020 | v. 3
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Massachusetts Senate passes economy-wide carbon pricing, net zero emissions target
In a marathon late-night session, the Massachusetts State Senate passed legislation
creating economy-wide carbon pricing, and requiring the state to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In doing so, the Senate doubled down on its commitment to the market-based policy to reduce emissions, which passed the chamber in 2018 but failed to make progress in the House.
The political landscape of climate policy has shifted rapidly in the two years since the Senate last voted for carbon pricing. Increased pressure for climate action, new emissions reduction commitments from policymakers, and growing grassroots support, have all increased the odds that the Senate’s bill, and carbon pricing, will become law.
Read more here.
Source: By
Tim Cronin
, ClimateXChange, January 31, 2020
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Climate Collaborative issues position statement on solar arrays and forests
The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative
has issued a position statement
on solar arrays sited in forested areas. The Collaborative notes that while solar power should be encouraged as a key component in reducing fossil fuel usage, options exist for placing solar arrays in already developed areas, and avoiding forested and open areas. We encourage local towns to develop bylaws for siting solar arrays in areas that would not result in further loss of forested areas, open land or other natural resources.
Read more here.
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What's next for climate bills in the Mass. legislature?
The Senate climate bills now head to the House for consideration
, which can either take up the Senate bills, or pass its own. Either way, if both chambers pass climate bills they will go to a special conference committee, where the details will be negotiated. After that, the final compromise bill will go to the Governor for final approval.
Although getting the House and Governor on board with the Senate’s approach to climate policy has been difficult in the past, there are reasons to be optimistic in 2020... (But) even with the positive shift in the political landscape surrounding climate policy, bill supporters will still need to do a lot of work in the House. Keep an eye out from further public announcements on climate change and energy from the House Speaker and his leadership team. Additionally, the bills House leaders advance in the coming month will also provide an indication of how they will respond to the Senate.
Source: By
Tim Cronin
, ClimateXChange, January 31, 2020
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Take a deep dive into the Senate climate bills
here
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Sign
this petition
to your governor and state legislators:
Divest state pension funds from fossil fuels and stop funding the climate crisis!
There's a new petition
targeting state legislators and governors in all 50 states with a bold demand: divest your public pension funds from all fossil fuel companies.
Nearly all public pension funds in the U.S.are invested in fossil fuel companies, thus using our tax dollars to support powerful polluters causing the climate crisis.
Public money shouldn’t be used to fund public destruction
.
Last week, New York State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli announced he will divest from 27 major coal companies if they are found unable to adapt to a low-carbon future by a review of his office. New Yorkers have been fighting for over a decade to divest the $210 billion public pension fund. This is a major step in the right direction, and it's all thanks to massive grassroots pressure sustained over the years.
Read more here.
Source: DailyKos
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Communicating the Climate Crisis
A Deep Dive Webinar presented by ClimateXChange
February 10
3:00-4:00 pm/Webinar
Communicating the climate crisis continues to be a challenge
for many pushing for action. Led by climate communications and community engagement experts, this Deep Dive webinar will explore the psychological and social barriers of translating knowledge into action and examine a set of best practices for future action. Join policy makers, advocates and activists to learn how to deploy best practices for effectively communicating the most pressing crisis of our time.
Source: ClimateXChange.org
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Vineyard Wind holding Info Sessions in Barnstable
Take your pick of sessions in February or March
Vineyard Wind invites you to learn more about their offshore wind projects
, which are to be built 35 miles south of Cape Cod bringing power to shore in Barnstable and providing clean renewable energy to the region. Check out the following sessions:
4pm–6pm
Centerville Public Library
585 Main Street, Centerville 02632
4pm–6pm
Barnstable Town Hall,
2nd Floor
367 Main Street, Hyannis 02601
4pm–6pm
Osterville Village Library
43 Wianno Avenue, Osterville 02655
4pm–6pm
Hyannis Youth and Community Center
141 Bassett Lane, Hyannis 02601
Don’t miss an opportunity to learn more about Vineyard Wind’s projects. If you can't attend, please email Rose DeCosta–
rdecosta@vineyardwind.com
–to ask for information about sessions in your area.
Source: Vineyard Wind
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SAVE THE DATE: Local Environmental Action 2020 conference on March 7
Registration now open
Saturday, March 7
Northeastern University
Curry Student Center
360 Huntington Ave., Boston, MA 02115
An annual conference for 33 years running,
Local Environmental Action 2020 will bring together hundreds of activists from across the region to share change-making skills, learn more about the problems facing our world today, and be inspired to keep up the fight. Sponsored by Mass Climate Action Network and Toxic Action Network, the conference believes that change happens when people come together, form a plan, and take action!
Learn more about the conference, co-sponsorship options and volunteer opportunities here.
Source: Local Environmental Action
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DYK?
Do individuals exist? Can one person make a difference? Learn about scientific research demonstrating
human beings' deep interconnectedness at physical and psychological levels, and how that awareness can lead to large-scale change.
Read more here.
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DYK?
A
major new mobilization—
Stop the Money Pipeline—has been launched to
pressure banks, insurance companies and asset managers to stop financing fossil fuels and deforestation, and start respecting human rights and Indigenous sovereignty.
DYK?
You can learn tools to get people to show up for meetings, action
and
justice with this action and recruitment training sponsored by the UUA on Thurs., Feb. 6, 7-8:15PM.
RSVP here.
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Steamship Authority to Welcome Electric Buses
By Eve Zuckoff, WCAI
The Steamship Authority announced it will welcome a pair of electric buses to its fleet
to transport passengers between parking lots and ferry terminals in Falmouth and Hyannis. That’s thanks to two grants—one state, one federal—which add up to $875,000. The monies will help the authority switch from diesel to batteries, which will, in turn, help the agency reduce its carbon footprint and join the larger trend in the transportation sector toward electrification.
It’ll take 12-15 months to get the charging infrastructure in place and the buses on the roads... but that process won’t begin until January when the authority reviews the grant specifications in its capital budget review. Electric buses cost about $350,000 more than diesel buses depending on the size and charging capacity, but the cost is worth the savings to the environment.
Read more and listen here.
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Massachusetts Legislative Resources
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How are we doing? We'd love your feedback on this newsletter.
Got a great local climate story? Let us know.
Send us your thoughts or suggestions by replying to this email.
And send this action alert to your friends, and ask them to
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. Thanks!
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The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to reach carbon neutrality
—
or net zero
—
on Cape Cod and the Islands of Massachusetts by enhancing communication, collaboration, and activism among organizations, programs, and individuals committed to mitigating the climate crisis.
All donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.
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CAPE COD CLIMATE CHANGE COLLABORATIVE
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