Earth Care News
December 2017
In this newsletter:
Please Donate to Support VTIPL!
Deb Markowitz’s Keynote Address Posted on Website
Burlington Community Comes Together on Paris Climate Accord Goals
The ESSEX Plan Community Forums
Town Meeting Day Resolutions Campaign
Clean Water Network Meeting & Panel Discussion
Better Buildings by Design Conference: February 7 & 8
National Interfaith Power & Light Leadership Change
Love God and Neighbor by Putting a Price on Carbon
Climate Change in the American Mind – Oct. 2017 Report
U.S. Global Change Research Program – Climate Science Report
Trump Administration Releases Climate Change Report
New Transportation Advocacy Coalition Launches
Please Donate to Support VTIPL!
VT Interfaith Power & Light depends on your support to continue our work — please donate! You can donate online here or send a check to: VTIPL, P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477. Thank you!
Deb Markowitz’s Keynote Address Posted on Website
Watch the video of Deb Markowitz’s Keynote Address given at VTIPL’s conference — it’s now posted on our website along with a photo gallery of pictures from the conference.
Burlington Community Comes Together on Paris Climate Accord Goals
Come to this event at Ohavi Zedek Synagogue (188 North Prospect St., Burlington) on Tues., Dec. 12, 7:30 pm, with Mayor Miro Weinberger, Burlington Electric, and the local religious community to explore how we can help meet the goals of the Paris Climate Accord. VTIPL will be there with resources for taking action. Also, we’ll enjoy the candlelight on this night of light – the first night of Chanukah. Contact: OZ office – 802-864-0218.
The ESSEX Plan Community Forums
The ESSEX Plan (ESSEX is Economy Strengthening Strategic Energy Exchange), launched last month, is gaining traction. It will cut carbon pollution and deliver Vermonters the cleanest electricity at the lowest costs in the region. The upcoming events are a great opportunity to learn more about it so you can be an effective advocate for bold climate action! All of the events below are from 5:30 – 7:00 pm
Tues., Dec. 12 in Brattleboro at The Root Social Justice Center;
Wed., Dec. 13 in Burlington at the Skinny Pancake;
Wed., Dec. 13 in Montpelier at Kellogg-Hubbard Public Library;
Thurs., Dec. 14 in Middlebury at Ilsley Public Library;
Mon., Dec. 18 in Norwich at Norwich Public Library.
For more information, contact Tom Hughes.
Town Meeting Day Resolutions Campaign
350Vermont, aligned with Sierra Club and 350.org, encourages Vermonters to gather signatures for a resolution to submit to their Selectboards for Town Meeting Day. The resolution asks for a halt to “any new or expanded fossil fuel infrastructure, including but not limited to energy pipelines,” as well as a commitment to at least 90% renewables, and assurance that “the transition to renewable energy is fair and equitable for all residents, with no harm to rural communities or marginalized groups.” The resolution language and more information are here.
Clean Water Network Meeting & Panel Discussion
The Clean Water Network progress meeting will be on Monday, Jan. 22 from 8:00 am – noon at the Capitol Plaza Hotel (100 State St.) in Montpelier. It starts with hot breakfast and networking at 8 am. The panel members are: Julie Moore, Secretary of the VT Agency of Natural Resources; Sen. Christopher Bray, Chair of the VT Senate Committee on Natural Resources and Energy; Rep. David Dee, Chair of the VT House Committee on Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife; and Jon Groveman, VT Natural Resources Council Policy and Water Program Director. Registration and more information are here.
Better Buildings by Design Conference: February 7 & 8
Efficiency Vermont’s annual Better Buildings by Design conference will be at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel – formerly the Sheraton – in South Burlington on February 7 & 8. This year’s theme is Putting It All Together – Integrated Design. Registration is open and the schedule is posted online. The registration fee increases after January 10. Here are the details.
National Interfaith Power & Light Leadership Change
The Reverend Canon Sally Bingham, a founder of Interfaith Power & Light, is retiring as IPL President at the end of 2017, though she will remain on the Board. The Rev. Susan Guy, Executive Director of Iowa Interfaith Power & Light, will become national IPL’s President beginning in January 2018. We are grateful to Sally for all the great work she’s done in launching and sustaining IPL, and we welcome Susan as the new IPL President!
Love God and Neighbor by Putting a Price on Carbon
The Rev. Dr. Margaret Bullitt-Jonas and Rabbi Katy Allen are faith leaders and climate activists in Massachusetts, a state which is also working to pass carbon pollution tax legislation. Read their article in Metrowest Daily News.
Climate Change in the American Mind – Oct. 2017 Report
In this Executive Summary of the report from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, the data show the increased percentage of Americans who are sure that global warming is real and happening now.
U.S. Global Change Research Program – Climate Science Report
This Executive Summary gives the highlights of the findings of this special report. It is the 4th National Climate Assessment – the reports are mandated by the Global Change Research Act of 1990. The 19-page summary makes clear the need for quick action on climate.
Trump Administration Releases Climate Change Report
The White House did not seek to prevent the release of the National Climate Assessment, a report which affirms that climate change is almost entirely driven by human action. This Washington Post article has the details.
New Transportation Advocacy Coalition Launches
A new coalition of organizations, businesses, and institutions has formed “Transportation for Vermonters,” or T4VT for short, with a “focus on advancing transportation programs and investments that go beyond getting from point A to point B.” Kate McCarthy, sustainable communities program director at VT Natural Resources Council, is the T4VT coalition coordinator. Read more about it in this Bennington Banner article.
VTIPL helps people of faith and spirit to better understand the climate crisis
and to take action to care for Earth.
Vermont Interfaith Power and Light
P.O. Box 209, Richmond, VT 05477
info@vtipl.org 802-434-3397 www.vtipl.org
