350 CHICAGO Newsletter

Your newsletter for all things climate-related.

Feb 4, 2020

Good morning!

This week, Australians call on their government to account for its inaction on climate; the EU debates the European Green Deal, which aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. In the United States, Trump’s support of the Trillion Tree Initiative belies a more complicated reality. Meanwhile, activists in Illinois demonstrate public support for the Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA).

Greta Thunberg addresses a crowd. SOURCE: Sara Silbiger/Getty Images

Social tipping points: When a trickle become a wave

Climate scientists have warned about environmental tipping points, where events like melting permafrost or the burning of the Amazon set off large-scale, disastrous feedback loops. But social tipping points exist, too, and may be key to combatting the climate crisis. Vox presents new research on how social tipping points work and how they could trigger systemic changes to address climate action. An infographic from Carbontracker shows how this is happening with the transition to renewable energy.

In a change that 350 leader Bill McKibben describes as “seismic,” financial giant BlackRock has begun redirecting its investments from fossil fuels. Meanwhile, Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds, which focus on sustainable investments, are growing in popularity. Could these be signs of a social feedback loops in progress?

Australians grapple with government inaction; Europe debates a Green Deal

In the wake of Australia’s catastrophic bushfires, Australians are sharply criticizing PM Scott Morrison and the government he leads for their climate denial and inaction. An open letter from the Australian Research Council (ARC) declares Australia “ground zero” in the impacts of climate change, calling on the government to show greater leadership in cutting carbon emissions.

Meanwhile, the European Union has released its Green Deal, a sweeping piece of legislation that aims for a carbon-neutral economy by 2050. The European Commission began public debate on the law on January 28 in hopes of passing it later this year.

Dems push for carbon neutrality; Trump touts a trillion trees

On January 28, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee revealed a detailed climate plan to get the US to net-zero greenhouse emissions by 2050. At 600 pages, the plan calls for changes to many sectors of the economy, from energy and transportation to building design and the industrial supply chain.

In the face of increasingly severe natural disasters, congressional Republicans have grown more willing to acknowledge climate change, although they lag behind on actual climate policy ideas. Even Donald Trump, notoriously hostile to climate action, voiced his support for the Trillion Tree Initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos. But while reforestation is vital to protecting the climate, it’s no substitute for cutting emissions, and poses its own logistical challenges.

The push for clean energy in Illinois

Renewable energy activists in Illinois presented 23,000 petitions of support for the Clean Energy Jobs Act to Governor Jay Pritzker’s offices in Springfield and Chicago. CEJA has the distinction of being the only energy bill in the General Assembly based on community-level feedback. Renewables have support from the top, too; the New York Times reports on Pritzker’s call for clean energy legislation in his State of the State address.

Upcoming 350 Chicago Meetings & Events

2/10 Monday – 6.00pm – 350 Monthly Education Committee Meeting
Interested in getting involved in the Education committee? Contact committee lead Melissa Brice for more details!

2/15 Saturday – 10.00am – 350 Monthly Outreach Committee Meeting
Lincoln Belmont Branch, Chicago Public Library
Interested in getting involved in the Outreach committee? Contact committee leads Alex McLeese or Christiane Rey for more details.

Action Items for 350 Chicago Supporters

1. Sign this petition to urge the state to divest its pension funds from fossil fuels.
2. Call your state representative and senator and encourage them to support the Clean Energy Jobs Act. (Find your state reps here.)
3. Follow 350 Chicago on Facebook and Twitter for more updates!