Can District residents do more to help to save the Amazon?
Creating a more sustainable DC may be the most important thing we can do!
The DC Environmental Network believes that the most important thing we can do to stop the burning rainforests of the Amazon, to protect the global bee population, to eliminate plastics as a threat to our oceans, and to push back against the worst, looming, impacts of climate change, is to act locally.

We are most empowered in the places we live our lives and also with the many decisions we make each day that have the potential to both positively transform our community, or increase the speed in which we feel the full brunt of climate change.

We are all given opportunities in the District of Columbia to live more globally sustainable lives each day.

The DC Environmental Network is committed to taking advantage of as many opportunities to promote, expand, and share what we learn so that District residents will feel empowered to act locally, and feel confident that the impacts of our actions will help create a more sustainable world.
Actions to protect our rainforests!
Having said all that, what can we all do today to protect our planets forests?

CNET published a very comprehensive list of actions some of us might take to aid in protecting the Amazon rainforest. For example, the list includes reducing beef intake, something we can implement in our lives today.

"Here are some ways you can aid in protecting the rainforest:


  • Donate to the Rainforest Trust to help buy land in the rainforest. Since 1988, the organization has saved over 23 million acres. 

  • Reduce your paper and wood consumption. Double-check with Rainforest Alliance that what you're buying is considered rainforest-safe. You can also purchase rainforest-safe products from the alliance's site. 

  • Reduce your beef intake. Beef found in processed products and fast-food burgers is often linked to deforestation.

  • The World Wide Fund for Nature (known as the World Wildlife Fund in the US and Canada) works to protect the species in the Amazon and around the world. 

  • Ecosia.org is a search engine that plants a tree for every 45 searches you run.  


  • Donate to Amazon Watch, an organization that protects the rainforest, defends Indigenous rights, and works to address climate change. 

  • Donate to the Amazon Conservation Team, which works to fight climate change, protect the Amazon and empower Indigenous peoples. 

  • Amazon Conservation accepts donations and lists exactly what your money goes toward. You can help plant trees, sponsor education, protect habitats, buy a solar panel, preserve Indigenous lands and more. 


  • Donate to One Tree Planted, which works to stop deforestation around the world and in the Amazon rainforest. One Tree Planted will keep you updated on the Peru Project and the impact your trees are having on the community.

  • Sign Greenpeace's petition telling the Brazilian government to save the Amazon rainforest and protect the lands of indigenous and traditional communities."
Did Exelon really propose increasing District energy rates by $162 million over 3 years?
Yes, Exelon did propose this alarming rate increase this year.

Mark your calendar. On Thursday, September 5th @ 3:00 PM, join the DC Environmental Network for a briefing featuring People's Counsel Sandra Mattavous - Frye and her team. Sandra will share the historic significance of this $162 million-dollar rate increase, and associated request for changes that will make increases automatic and multi-year.


“OPC is shocked and dismayed by the size of Pepco’s rate increase,” said People’s Counsel Sandra Mattavous-Frye. “Pepco is proposing a fundamental change in how rates are calculated in the District. OPC will continue its unwavering commitment to be a strong and thorough advocate for ratepayers and will advocate vigorously to ensure that Pepco’s rates are reasonable, and that Pepco is only authorized to collect from its customers those costs that are necessary for the delivery of safe, reliable, resilient, affordable, and environmentally sustainable service. OPC will thoroughly analyze Pepco’s application. My goal is to ensure that any rate plan authorized by the DCPSC both generates real, tangible benefits for District consumers and supports the District’s environmental goals and modernization policies,” People’s Counsel Mattavous-Frye further stated.

Learn how these proposed rate increases may hamper progress on grid modernization and other initiatives necessary for reducing the carbon emissions that cause climate change.

Participants can also ask questions and share views about the Pepco/Exelon merger commitments, Solar, DC Water Consumer Protection Amendment Act of 2018 implementation, and other issues of concern to the environmental community.

Hope to see you next Thursday, on September 5th!
Are you coming to this DC Environmental Network briefing?
LOCATION
DCEN, 820 First St. NE, Suite 1180 (Next to Union Station)

DATE AND TIME
09/05/19 3:00pm - 09/05/19 4:30pm

I'll be there!
Maybe
I can't make it