A lot of my Hopium about turning the tide on the climate crisis has felt like Copium lately, so these winning examples by activists are really inspiring. A much appreciated post to read in the beginning of 2024.
Here's my addition: in 2023, advocates from the Renewable Heat Now coalition in NY pushed the legislature to pass a ban on fossil fuels in new buildings starting in 2025. We were up against the gas industry propaganda, which included gas utilities improperly using ratepayer funds to try to scare their customers into opposing the law. You'd think it would be easy to pass climate bills in a state with a democratic party trifecta, but we needed to persistently pressure state lawmakers at every step.
Following that success, we're working on changing our state's public utility law to enable neighborhood-scale decarbonization. Working hard to get it done in 2024 with the NY HEAT Act (Home Energy Affordable Transition)!
Thank you HEATED, what a smart way to start the year! Let's share successes. Here's my addition:
Carbon Fee and Dividend with Border Carbon Adjustments is the most powerful and equitable way to reduce climate pollution according to economists, but only a small percent of climate activists understand its power, co-benefits, and global reach. My good news story of 2023 is about a student-led, collective action movement based on a sign, "Most Effective Climate Policy", that sprung up at Williams and Mary College to fix that, and it's spreading rapidly. Here's an inspiring 3-minute video of the creator of the movement telling her story: https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFBrPPr5IQk?start=806&end=1006&autoplay=1&rel=0.
The movement is now starting or active at a dozen schools. If you know a student who might be interested in doing this at their school, send them to https://cfdmovement.com.
I love reading about the wins--for me it’s more than just a feel-good exercise; spending time celebrating victories is how we find energy to make more!
This made my day and it's why I like your newsletter so much. Keep on giving me the bad and good news...hopefully there will be more good than bad at some point!
Thanks for sharing a bit of optimism here because I am a big believer that optimism will only further influence positive changes towards climate solutions!
That's also why I wrote a book called "Make Your Own Glass Half Full" coming out later this year! It's not just another self-help book promising quick fixes or empty affirmations. It's a profound exploration of the interplay between personal optimism and autonomy and how these twin pillars can elevate your life and the world to new heights.
Thank you for the superb issue. You're always-well written material shows many ways to transition toward more solar panels, windmills and batteries. Kudos.
My gosh, I needed to read this right now; thank you for putting it together. After just reading the Floodlight investigation on energy utilities infiltrating Black civil rights groups and corrupting leaders to push against solar, I was feeling deflated.
Some very cool wins so thank you for putting this together Arielle!
I did want to mention the win in Brazil in which the Supreme Court there ruled in favor Indigenous land rights. Not directly related to climate but still important I think.
Thanks for info on how the locals helped promote Vineyard Wind, and the link to the influence map the folks at Brown put together on the millions poured into opposition. I can't believe I've never seen that, but we've all heard and felt the results.
The locals on Martha's Vineyard also have a "Wind Festival," now with the windfarm as a major sponsor. Gotta keep wind and solar fun, even as they also need to be "industrial." The folks at Octopus Energy do a nice job of that.
There are now a growing number of articles and videos like this that show how futile NetZero and our approach to climate change is in the west, while the rest get stronger by avoiding the blunder.
THE BIG EV LIE. Why They Won't Save the Planet & All About Dirty Electricity | TheCarGuys.tv (youtube.com)
A lot of my Hopium about turning the tide on the climate crisis has felt like Copium lately, so these winning examples by activists are really inspiring. A much appreciated post to read in the beginning of 2024.
Nice!!
Here's my addition: in 2023, advocates from the Renewable Heat Now coalition in NY pushed the legislature to pass a ban on fossil fuels in new buildings starting in 2025. We were up against the gas industry propaganda, which included gas utilities improperly using ratepayer funds to try to scare their customers into opposing the law. You'd think it would be easy to pass climate bills in a state with a democratic party trifecta, but we needed to persistently pressure state lawmakers at every step.
Check it out:
https://renewableheatnow.org/new-yorkers-poised-to-overcome-fossil-fuel-industry-to-win-first-in-the-nation-all-electric-new-buildings-law/
Following that success, we're working on changing our state's public utility law to enable neighborhood-scale decarbonization. Working hard to get it done in 2024 with the NY HEAT Act (Home Energy Affordable Transition)!
Great stuff - gives me hope-thank you.
Thank you HEATED, what a smart way to start the year! Let's share successes. Here's my addition:
Carbon Fee and Dividend with Border Carbon Adjustments is the most powerful and equitable way to reduce climate pollution according to economists, but only a small percent of climate activists understand its power, co-benefits, and global reach. My good news story of 2023 is about a student-led, collective action movement based on a sign, "Most Effective Climate Policy", that sprung up at Williams and Mary College to fix that, and it's spreading rapidly. Here's an inspiring 3-minute video of the creator of the movement telling her story: https://www.youtube.com/embed/FFBrPPr5IQk?start=806&end=1006&autoplay=1&rel=0.
The movement is now starting or active at a dozen schools. If you know a student who might be interested in doing this at their school, send them to https://cfdmovement.com.
And for the policy wonks, here are some details about the policy: https://bit.ly/cfdresources.
I love reading about the wins--for me it’s more than just a feel-good exercise; spending time celebrating victories is how we find energy to make more!
This made my day and it's why I like your newsletter so much. Keep on giving me the bad and good news...hopefully there will be more good than bad at some point!
Thanks for sharing a bit of optimism here because I am a big believer that optimism will only further influence positive changes towards climate solutions!
That's also why I wrote a book called "Make Your Own Glass Half Full" coming out later this year! It's not just another self-help book promising quick fixes or empty affirmations. It's a profound exploration of the interplay between personal optimism and autonomy and how these twin pillars can elevate your life and the world to new heights.
Thank you for the superb issue. You're always-well written material shows many ways to transition toward more solar panels, windmills and batteries. Kudos.
Great email! Thank you for such good news, and hopefully more to come 🤓
My gosh, I needed to read this right now; thank you for putting it together. After just reading the Floodlight investigation on energy utilities infiltrating Black civil rights groups and corrupting leaders to push against solar, I was feeling deflated.
Some very cool wins so thank you for putting this together Arielle!
I did want to mention the win in Brazil in which the Supreme Court there ruled in favor Indigenous land rights. Not directly related to climate but still important I think.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/sep/21/brazil-supreme-court-indigenous-land-rights-win
Thanks for info on how the locals helped promote Vineyard Wind, and the link to the influence map the folks at Brown put together on the millions poured into opposition. I can't believe I've never seen that, but we've all heard and felt the results.
The locals on Martha's Vineyard also have a "Wind Festival," now with the windfarm as a major sponsor. Gotta keep wind and solar fun, even as they also need to be "industrial." The folks at Octopus Energy do a nice job of that.
So appreciate these highlights - they help keep me going! (And a big shoutout to Montana's youth!!!)
There are now a growing number of articles and videos like this that show how futile NetZero and our approach to climate change is in the west, while the rest get stronger by avoiding the blunder.
THE BIG EV LIE. Why They Won't Save the Planet & All About Dirty Electricity | TheCarGuys.tv (youtube.com)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sytWLB4-W-M
Shame...