 350 CHICAGO Newsletter
Your bi-weekly newsletter for all things climate-related
March 3, 2020
Good morning!
This month, read about stories of climate change from across the globe, and how coal continues its steady decline just as divestment gains further traction.
Want to stay up to date on the latest climate news? Send us an email at [email protected] to sign up for the 350 Chicago newsletter (or unsubscribe)!
- The 350 Team
Mwikali Nzoka at her farm ravaged by locusts. Credit: Khadija Farah for NYT
State of the Globe
Since President Trump chose not to mention climate at all in his State of the Union campaign speech, we felt a need for our own state of the globe summary of important climate stories. Start with this absolute must-read article from 350.org founder Bill McKibben – and while you are at it, you can sign up for his brand new weekly newsletter here.
The dramatic pictures from Australia are over, but the damage is being assessed – and it is almost unbelievable. Now the dramatic pictures are from Africa, where bizarre weather patterns threaten millions with hunger. Record December rains following a prolonged dry spell have released hordes of desert locusts across eastern Africa, and a shift in rain patterns has thrown the Nigerian farming season out-of-whack. The UK has been hit with super-storms and biblical rains, resulting in massive flooding. And closer to home, shrinking snowpack melt threatens water shortages in the Colorado River supply system. But there is also hope that disasters like these can help shift political opinion in Australia, the UK and maybe even the US (though partisanship still reigns).
Coal struggles as divestment campaigns forge ahead
As more and more US financial institutions pull their money out of fossil fuels, the coal industry is struggling to hang onto investors. Executives cite a growing interest with environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors, three criteria used to measure an investment’s sustainability; needless to say, coal doesn’t get a very high rating by ESG standards.
This month, Georgetown University announced a plan to divest totally from fossil fuels, following almost ten years of pressure from GU Fossil Free (GUFF), a student advocacy group. Georgetown is one of the first private universities to make a divestment plan. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s pension fund board has begun to explore fossil fuel divestment as well.
Featured Blogpost
We will periodically feature a blogpost on the 350 Chicago website that deals with a specific topic of interest. Our first such blogpost, from 350 member Rowland Davis, is Divestment 2.0: Shifting Currents in the World of Finance and it can be found here. If you have any interest in writing a blogpost, just contact Rowland Davis, and the Research Committee will reach out to work with you.
Other links to check out
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Check out this interactive model: Who will lead the race to cut carbon?
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Which cities are leading and which cities are lagging on their climate commitments? Check out this model
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The number of A-list cities with robust climate action efforts has grown – check out the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) models around which cities are taking action, and what they’re doing
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How warming winters are affecting everything - Check out this story on NPR
Upcoming 350 Chicago Meetings & Events
3/4 Wednesday
Lobby Day in Springfield
While this is not a 350-sponsored event, we encourage our members to join various statewide environmental activist groups to pressure State Capitol officials into adopting the Clean Energy Jobs Act.
3/5 Thursday – 9.00am
Illinois Commerce Commission DAPL Hearing
160 N LaSalle St, Chicago, IL 60601The Evidentiary Hearing for Dakota Access/ETCO's request to nearly double the capacity of the Dakota Access Pipeline is confirmed to begin at 9 a.m. on Thursday, March 5th. Join 350 Chicago and other environmental organizations in protesting the expansion. At 7:30 a.m. a funeral procession for Mother Earth will begin on the Thompson Center sidewalk on LaSalle Street, followed by a press conference in front of the State of Illinois building. Doors open to the hearing open at 8:30 a.m. Greeters will be inside to handing out signs and shirts. The hearing begins at 9 a.m. Folks are welcome to stay as long as they can.
3/7 Saturday – 10.00am
350 Chicago General Monthly Meeting
About Face Theater – 5252 N Broadway Ave, Chicago
Join our 350 Chicago Chapter for a presentation by the Illinois Environmental Council over Lobby Day, project initiatives, and for more info about other upcoming 350 events!
3/11 Wednesday – 6.30pm
350 Chicago Meet Up at One Earth Film Festival
Loyola University Chicago, Damen Student Center Cinema, 6511 N. Sheridan Rd., ChicagoMeet up with 350 Chicago members to view one of the films of this year's One Earth Film Festival! This event is free, but registration is required. Doors open 30 minutes before start time. Arrive early to avoid lines and get best seats. ADA compliant accessible venue. Teens and young adults encouraged to attend. Refreshments available.
THE FILM: 2040: The Regeneration, Damon Gameau
Motivated by concerns about the planet that his 4-year-old daughter would inherit, award-winning director Damon Gameau embarked on a global journey to meet innovators and change-makers in the areas of economics, technology, civil society, agriculture, education and sustainability.
3/17 Tuesday – 6.00pm
350 Monthly Research Committee Meeting
Lincoln Belmont Branch Chicago Public Library - 1659 W. Melrose Street, Chicago
Interested in getting involved in the Research committee? Contact committee leads Alex McLeese, Rowland Davis, or Larry Coble for more details!
3/21 Saturday – 10.00am
Please join us for an evening discussing the work of Naomi Klein, author of On Fire, The (Burning) Case for a Green New Deal. To prepare for the discussion attendees are encouraged to:
We hope you will join us for this interesting discussion; and we welcome suggestions for future discussion group topics, articles, movies, books, etc.
350 Chicago Education Committee Meeting
Interested in getting involved in the Education committee? Contact committee lead Melissa Brice for more details!
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