Bates Energy Action Movement: February 2008

Sunday, February 10, 2008

SustainME

From ItsGettingHotinHere.org:

This weekend, February 8-10, 2008 over 60 students from all over Maine descended on Bates College for a charged learning and action experience. Kicking it off with a keynote from State Senator Phil Bartlett the students put all of their energy towards concluding with a pathway to a campaign and network that will eventually reach all of the colleges in Maine. Senator Bartlett was instrumental in getting the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) passed in Maine, and Maine students will now build off of this legislation to achieve the goals set by the 1Sky platform:

-20% reductions by 2020 and 80% reductions by 2050

-Moratorium on new Coal power plants

-Create 5 million new green jobs

Maine Students have set an action plan towards this goal that will work in small achievable steps to arrive at new legislation that strengthens RGGI in its post-2019 regime. Students will start on Tuesday by attending a public hearing of Maine bill LD 2149: “An Act to Lower Energy Costs and Increase Renewable Energy in Maine” sponsored by Representative Hannah Pingree. Along with working to push this legislation, students will be working on the bill LD 2126: “An Act To Minimize Carbon Dioxide Emissions from New Coal-powered Industrial and Electrical Generation Facilities in the State” sponsored by Representative W. MacDonald. These two bills are a step in the right direction, but will not be enough, so Maine students will work with other organizations and the legislature to work on a bill that will take RGGI into the post-2019 regime. Over the next 8 months this focus will be accompanied by the network’s push to get all colleges in Maine to sign the American College and University President’s Climate Commitment (PCC).

These are bold steps we must take to ensure our future. The students of Maine will work together on making their state an example for the national and international climate movement. They are calling on all Maine colleges and universities to join us in this unified effort and to realize the power we can have together.

Together, we call ourselves SUSTAIN MAINE!

Thank you so much to all of the speakers who gave their time to educate us, and all of the participants that braved the elements to create something truly inspiring.

If you want to contact SustainMaine do so at sustainmainesteering@gmail.com

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.