350 CHICAGO Newsletter
Your bi-weekly newsletter for all things climate-related
May 12, 2020
Good morning, 350 Chicago! We’ll be continuing our Elections Matter segment, along with a couple of new 350 Chicago announcements and divestment news. If you’re interested in contributing images or stories to the newsletter, let us know!
350 Chicago – Board of Directors 2020
350 Chicago is seeking interested individuals to help our organization grow by serving on the
board of directors. If you are passionate about climate change and helping Chicago transition to a green economy, review the role description and
apply by May 31st.
350 Chicago has teamed up with Hero Power!
Offset 100% of your home's electricity usage with renewable energy
at no extra cost vs. ComEd rates while also funding our group's environmental advocacy work. If you sign up using the below link, Hero Power will give you $25 off your first bill and donate $25 to 350 Chicago. Easy, fast and free to switch, there's never been a better time to make your home energy sustainable.
www.MyHeroPower.com/350
Renewable power sources such as wind have made gains as fossil fuel use has declined during the pandemic.
Source: CAROL M. HIGHSMITH/GPA PHOTO ARCHIVE/FLICKR
Elections matter: Politics & climate change
In general political news, Joe Biden has a podcast episode on climate change and a conservative group has published their alternative to the Green New Deal, which supports some legitimate clean energy efforts but also contains the usual Republican favorites: free-market principles, no re-joining the Paris Accord, no carbon tax, building more pipelines, and putting dollars into tech R&D, especially carbon capture sequestration (CCS) for fossil fuel plants.
Team Trump and the Dems push in opposite directions, as usual. A new Democratic bill would prevent stimulus dollars from going to fossil fuel companies, while several fossil fuel companies (including some with Trump connections) have already received at least $50 million from the first rounds. A number of major banks have recently expressed an unwillingness to finance risky Arctic drilling projects; Trump and the Senate GOP have said that these banks should be “looked into” for discriminatory practices. And the Trump administration is hoping to use any coronavirus stimulus bill to support their ongoing efforts at deregulation.
Perhaps most critical of all is what Mitch McConnell is trying to accomplish in the dark of the COVID night by pushing the confirmation of Justin Walker to the DC Circuit Court, which is the second most important court in the country (and perhaps the most important on climate issues). Before McConnell got him appointed to a lower Federal judge position last year, this candidate had never been a judge, had never tried a case in court, and received a rare “not qualified” rating from the American Bar Association. When asked whether climate change is linked to human activity, he claimed:
“The Canons of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges … prohibit me from expressing a view because there are climate cases pending in court.”
This position is absurd according to other law experts, who note that the DC Circuit Court
has already affirmed that human activity contributes to climate change.
On the subject of the 1.5°C Paris goal
At the beginning of 2020, we’re finding that the goal of a 1.5°C limit on global warming may be slipping out of reach. David Roberts of Vox writes about the sad truth about the 1.5° goal. A more detailed report, including the emissions gap report, can be found at the Carbon Brief. One of the infographics was featured by Greta Thunberg on her Instagram account and has gotten over 2 million views!
Want to better understand what a hotter world means? Carbon Brief utilized data from over 70 peer-reviewed scientist studies to provide an interactive diagram of what 1.5°C, 2°C, and 3.5°C worlds would look like.
On Divestment
On the subject of divestment, here are some higher education institutions making movements to divest from fossil fuels:
U of G votes in favor of divesting from fossil fuels - GuelphToday.com
Harvard endowment to target net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 - Pensions & Investments
Not mere divestment: Oxford University unveils sweeping net zero investment strategy - Business Green
Upcoming 350 Chicago Meetings & Events
***Important: Please note that all meetings will be held virtually for the foreseeable future due to the situation around COVID-19. Please contact committee leads for information regarding remote meeting arrangements.***
5/12 Tuesday - 6.00 - 7.30pm CST
350 Chicago Research Committee Monthly Meeting
Interested in getting involved in the Research committee? Contact committee lead
Alex McLeese for digital meeting details.
6/6 Saturday – 10.00 - 11.00am CST
350 Chicago - General Monthly Meeting (Virtual)
Adria Wilson of the
Beam Project (and a
CELI fellow) will be presenting on how to support early-stage clean energy startups at our next virtual monthly meeting. This is a great way to make positive connections with other environmental activists and get energized in the midst of a difficult time.
Zoom Meeting Details:
Meeting ID: 886 5499 9596
Password: 674020
(If you prefer telephone audio instead of computer audio, dial +1 312 626 6799)
350 Chicago Education Committee Meeting
Interested in getting involved in the Education committee? Contact committee lead
Melissa Brice for more details!
Resources For Members
Stuck at home but still eager to learn and get involved in the climate space? Check out these online webinars and resources below!
Check out the EU Energy Centre
Make the most of your time at home and level up your career by studying the EEC’s Accredited Online Courses in Renewable Energy and Technology flexibly on your computer, mobile phone or tablet with a 1-on-1 live tutorial with an assigned lecturer.
In adapting to the current circumstances, the EEC is giving all participants the opportunity to advance their knowledge safely through distance learning with a limited 25% funding. Upskill now and gain a competitive advantage in the months to come. You can study 3 accredited online courses and achieve the EEC’s Renewable Energy Expert Certificate.
E2 (Environmental Entrepreneurs) Newsletter & Webinars
Sign up
here to become a member of the E2 community and get on their mailing list, under the ‘Join Now’ panel on the bottom.
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