What’s the 2021 climate outlook for NYS? Let’s talk about it at our monthly meeting
Thursday, February 11, 7:30 pm
New York is starting a new legislative session with a veto-proof Democratic majority in both the state Senate and Assembly, and a budget deficit as big as Niagara Falls. What does it all mean for the Climate and Community Investment Act, offshore wind, fueling stations for electric vehicles, and alternatives to fossil-fueled home heating? Elizabeth (Betta) Broad of New Yorkers for Clean Power and Zack Dufresne of Sustainable Energy Advantage will share their insights about powering our way through the current crisis toward a climate-friendly future.
Advance registration is required to attend the meeting, which will take place over Zoom.
Clean Power Hour: Join tomorrow's renewable energy showcase
Wednesday, January 27, 7:30 pm
Join Reusable Solutions’ Clean Power Hour tomorrow at 7:30 pm to ask your questions to local businesses providing solar panels, renewable heating and cooling systems. Educate yourself on the best way to retrofit your home or supply clean energy to the grid. Plastic Free’s Ben Kogan (guitar in hand) is your host!
Note that this panel is hosted by Reusable Solutions and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office, not 350 Brooklyn. We do not necessarily recommend the businesses on the panel, that is for you the consumer to decide.
Sign up on EventBrite to be sent a Zoom link.
Climate Change in the Neighborhood webinar
Tuesday, February 2, 6:30 pm
Join First Unitarian Church, 350BK, and Heat/Cool Smart Brooklyn for a green retrofit webinar plus Q+A February 2, 6:30–7:30 pm.
Heat/Cool Smart Brooklyn is promoting green retrofits in Brooklyn homes & buildings to save energy, money, and the planet! Buildings with energy efficient envelopes and clean heating & cooling systems will keep you comfortable all year round, lower your energy costs, reduce your carbon footprint, and improve your neighborhood environment. We'll present the 2021 programs & incentives for clean heating and cooling projects in one- to four-family homes. Stop burning fossil fuels in your basement!
Register here for the webinar.
Teach-in: Stop the Gowanus fracked-gas power plant
Wednesday, February 3, 6:30 pm
Momentum for climate justice grows in the White House and Congress! Brooklyn people, let’s do our part by helping raise broader awareness about the attempted repowering of the Gowanus Peaker Plant. Join local officials and experts February 3 at 6:30 pm to share knowledge and strategies to protect 1) the planet and 2) the respiratory and heart health of New Yorkers in adjacent communities. The event is organized by 350Brooklyn’s Gowanus Repowering Campaign, NY Communities for Change, Food & Water Action, NY Youth Climate Leaders.
Go to the Facebook event page for a zoom link and more information.
NYC pension funds will sell $4 billion in fossil fuel assets
NYC’s climate community is celebrating a new milestone. On Monday, the boards of the city’s two largest pension funds, New York City Employees’ Retirement System and New York City Teachers’ Retirement System, voted to divest $4 billion worth of fossil fuel assets. A smaller fund, New York City Board of Education Retirement System, is expected to announce its own divestment plan shortly. This announcement comes three years after the city said it would move to get climate-killing fossil fuel companies out of city employees’ pension portfolios.
News from DC: Executive orders to cancel Keystone, accept Paris Agreement
Joe Biden was inaugurated as 46th President of the United States January 20. On day 1 in office, President Biden rescinded the permits for the Keystone XL pipeline project and announced the US will rejoin the Paris climate agreement, two major victories for the climate justice movement!
Get involved in one of our workgroups!
350Brooklyn is volunteer-powered. At the heart of these efforts are our campaigns and committees. Follow the links below for more information on how to join.
City Action Committee’s mission is to make Brooklyn and New York City leaders not only in climate policy but in the long-term actions and engagement needed to make those policies effective. Current campaigns include: The Renewable Rikers Act, Fighting Peaker Plants, Electric School Buses, Department of Sustainability and Climate Change.Use this google form to connect with City Action.
The Climate Idea Exchange works to deepen public understanding of the climate crisis, breaking it down into manageable topics and showing how to take action locally. We work both independently and in collaboration with Brooklyn Public Library, and we're developing a podcast series. email [email protected].
350BK Families organizes activities that bring children, youth, and their adults together for the climate. Current projects include pushing for the creation of 529 college savings plans that are free of fossil fuel investments. email [email protected].
Gowanus Neighborhood Coalition for Justice is a diverse coalition focused on equity, inclusion, justice, and economic and environmental sustainability. 350Brooklyn is part of this coalition, which is working to ensure that the rezoning of the Gowanus area honors the needs of all community members. email [email protected].
Legislation focuses on federal and New York State climate legislation. Current campaigns are NY Renews (to pass the Climate Community Investment Act), the Green New Deal, and stopping the repowering of the Gowanus power plant (with 350BK's City Action). email [email protected].
The Media Committee is 350Brooklyn's all-around in-house media team. This group writes press releases and promotional copy, creates graphics, keeps tabs on 350BK's social media presence, and runs the new 350BK blog. email [email protected].
Stop the Money Pipeline plans and participates in direct actions that pressure financial institutions to stop funding deforestation and fossil fuel industries. We are part of a national movement targeting New York-based corporations, including Chase Bank and BlackRock Investment Management. email [email protected].
Plastic Free works to eliminate plastic pollution and reduce reliance on single-use plastic products. We meet biweekly via Zoom, and work on a variety of projects including legislative lobbying efforts, campaigns promoting going plastic free, and neighborhood efforts to reduce waste. email [email protected].
No time but able to donate? While we are an affiliate of 350.org, we are programmatically independent and our financial support comes solely from our members. Can you offer financial support, at any level? Donate here.
