Bates Energy Action Movement: Maine Student Climate Conference at C.O.A.

Wednesday, February 7, 2007

Maine Student Climate Conference at C.O.A.

This weekend everyone is invited (and encouraged!) to attend the Maine Youth Climate Change Summit which is being held at the College of the Atlantic.We will be leaving Friday after classes and returning Sunday afternoon.Please email me if you are interested in attending.Heres the website: https://webmail.bates.edu/portal/services/go.php?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.coa.edu%2Fhtml%2Fpressreleases_234.htmHeres what you have to look foward to:The conference will start off friday evening with keynote speaker Alison Drayton, a high official with the United Nations Development. Drayton was also a former negotiator for the United Nations climate treaty, Kyoto Protocol, Convention to Combat Desertification, and for the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Drayton will be speaking on the future of the Climate Convention and the Kyoto ProtocolThe focus of saturday morning will be on the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, with a choice of workshops that includes a discussion of the possibilities of solar energy on Maine campuses, a biodiesel basics class and the views of a climate change skeptic.Saturday's mid-afternoon workshop focuses on a panel on science and technology with environmental engineer Robert Niven, who has been working on developing a cost-effective, environmentally-benign carbon capture and storage process, called CO2 Accelerated Concrete Curing.Sunday morning sessions will focus on organizing a network for Maine youth tackling climate change issues. The summit is sponsored by the Sierra Student Coalition and Planktos.This is guaranteed to be an incredibly informative and fun weekend! We encourage anyone who is interested to come.Love,The Bates Energy Action Movement

1 comment:

Unknown said...: COA became completely carbon neutral, meaning that the college will, as COAs stop the emission of green house gases in an amount equal to or exceeding the emissions that we create. And the emissions they take into consideration are not just those from heating buildings or running computers, they also consider all travel to and from campus, including faculty commuting and parents and prospective students visits.
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Step It Up Maine!

On April 14, over 1000 organizations will be hosting events in their communities to call on policy makers to take aggressive action to mitigate anthropogenic climate change, the greatest threat of our generation. Our message: "Step It Up! Cut carbon emissions 80% by 2050." You can be a part of this historical event by joining us at the Maine State House in Augusta as we hand deliver a joint statement signed by thousands of Maine students and citizens. We will be celebrating with information, speakers, and music. Maine of us will be biking from out school and other will be carpooling. If you cannot make the event, your signature and voice can by signing the petition below Please take 30 seconds to sign online and help initiate lasting change that will benefit many generations to come! Students of Maine Sign HERE: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/865908518 Citizens of Maine Sign Here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/358025097 Thank You! Jack Murphy jmurphy3@bates.edu April 14: Noon - 3pm Maine State House Augusta, Me If you would like more information on 'Step It Up!' visit www.stepitup2007.org If you would like more information on the event in Augusta, email Jack Murphy (jmurphy3@bates.edu)

Events

2/8 - 2/10: 5th annual Maine state climate summit at Bates College!
January 31: National Global Warming Teach-in FOCUS THE NATION!
Step It Up Maine! April 14 Noon-3pm Maine State House
Step It Up @ Bates: April 8, 2pm at Hathorn - come take a break and show congress that you want action now! We've got cookies!
Teach-In: Wed 02/28 @ 8pm in Pgill G52 - Come learn and talk about the how we can make Bates Carbon Neutral and what you can do!
Meeting: Wed 2/14 9:15 @ the ronj- All Welcome and encouraged to come

What exactly is "Global Climate Change"?

The average surface temperature of earth has increased more than 1 degree Fahrenheit since 1900 and the rate of warming has been nearly three times the century-long average since 1970. Almost all experts studying the recent climate history of the earth agree now that human activities, mainly the release of heat-trapping gases from smokestacks, tailpipes, and burning forests, are probably the dominant force driving the trend. The gases add to the planet's natural greenhouse effect, allowing sunlight in, but preventing some of the resulting heat from radiating back to space. Drawing on research on past climate shifts, observations of current conditions, and computer simulations, many climate experts say that without big curbs in greenhouse gas emissions, the 21st century could see temperatures rise 3 to 8 degrees, weather patterns sharply shift, ice sheets shrink and seas rise several feet.

What is carbon neutrality?

The essence of carbon neutrality is a net result of zero emissions of carbon dioxide equivalents (CDE), which includes carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and occasionally other greenhouse gases like fluorocarbons and sulfur hexafluoride. The CDE for gases other than carbon dioxide is calculated by multiplying the mass of a gas by its global warming potential (e.g. 122 times that of carbon dioxide for methane), as defined by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Organizations generally begin the process of achieving carbon neutrality by taking an inventory of their emissions and then reducing the amount of energy they use - chiefly through a spectrum of energy efficiency measures. Once energy efficiency has been maximized, a variety of potential next steps include fuel shifting (such as burning biodiesel, which can be a carbon-neutral fuel) to behavioral changes (like the increased use of public transportation) to further reduce the CDEs. Ultimately, when emissions have been reduced as much as possible, carbon neutrality can be reached by the purchase of carbon offsets from reputable traders in renewable energy credits in an amount equal to the number of tons of CDEs remaining.