350 CHICAGO

Your bi-weekly newsletter for all things climate-related

April 15 2021

Interested in writing for the newsletter or joining our meetings to drive change? Contact us at [email protected].

Solar Geoengineering: A Moral Hazard?

Sweden’s space agency had planned to launch a high-altitude balloon this summer that could one day be used to spray particulate matter into the atmosphere; theoretically, these particles would reflect sunlight away from the earth, slowing or reversing global warming. However, the agency has canceled the experiment after pushback from environmentalists and the indigenous Sami people.

The balloon launch would have been an early foray into solar geoengineering, a proposed set of drastic measures for reining in climate change. There has been limited research into solar geoengineering so far, though the National Academy of Sciences recently called for the US government to investigate it as a possibility. Proponents of geoengineering argue that in a time of runaway warming, all options should be on the table. However, critics warn that it could have serious and irreversible consequences, disrupting global weather patterns and causing crops to fail. Those who protested the Swedish experiment also warned that geoengineering could be a “moral hazard,” one that offers a quick fix while distracting from the crucial work of decarbonization.

Upcoming 350 Chicago Meetings & Events

Please contact committee leads or [email protected] for assistance with remote meeting arrangements.

Outreach Committee Meeting

Wednesday, April 21, 6:00pm CST

Interested in getting involved in coalition-building and other grassroots efforts? We will discuss outreach to ally organizations, grassroots tactics to promote the Clean Energy Jobs Act, and strategies for building support for our divestment campaign. We hope to see you soon!

Contact Alex McLeese for meeting access information and/or if you have any questions or would like to join us via Google Meetings.

Earth Day Trivia Night on Zoom

Thursday, April 22, 7:00 pm CST

350 Chicago is hosting Trivia Night!! Spend an exciting evening with friends and family guessing the answers to questions and winning prizes. Tickets are available for individuals and households, and the top-winning individual or teams will earn gifts from Patagonia.

You can buy an individual admission for $20 or a household admission for $40.

Here are the prizes you could win:

1st Place: Black Hole Duffel ($139 value)
2nd Place: Patagonia BackPack ($99 value)
3rd Place: Patagonia Hat ($35 value)

Join 350 Chicago for a lot of fun, some laughs,
and a short update about our chapter activities.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Facebook: Event Page

Buy tickets today:

Virtual Environment and CEJA Lobby Day

Monday, April 26

Illinois lawmakers are back to work, which means it’s time for Illinoisans to make their voices heard on the environmental issues that matter to them. From clean water and clean energy to equitable and sustainable land use, now’s your chance to put these issues front of mind for the representatives elected to serve you!

Register to join environmentalists from across the state in meeting with their legislators and lobbying for the IL Clean Energy Jobs Act (CEJA), lead-free water, and an equitable process for zoning throughout the state.

University of Chicago
Harris Finance Group Guest Speaker: Sylvia Panek

Friday, April 30, 2:00 pm CST

Join an hour of discussion and conversation about divestment in this joint event between 350 Chicago and the University of Chicago. Our very own Vice Chair Sylvia Panek will be speaking at the University of Chicago about her journey, divestment, and 350 Chicago's campaign for clean public funds. Message Frank Zhu for additional details and the invite.

VIRTUAL May Monthly Meeting - Democratize ComEd

Saturday, May 1, 10:00 am CST

#DemocratizeComEd is a campaign of the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America and its coalition partners. The purpose of this campaign is to achieve the municipalization of the Chicago utility assets of Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) and the creation of a democratically controlled, municipal utility. In light of the expiration of the thirty-year franchise agreement with the city, today is the opportune moment to seize control of our energy and democratically determine the future of our energy policy. More information on this campaign can be found here: https://demcomed.org/.

The presentation will focus on the core messages of the campaign and the reasons why the municipalization and democratization of our electric utility is the best path forward for the city. Chicagoans have an opportunity to end the status quo of ComEd and build a public utility that provides clean, affordable energy to everyone. This presentation will outline a vision for a democratically run utility, and our plan for achieving it.

In addition to the above, 350 Chicago will give a brief outline of our group work and ways to get plugged into campaigns we're currently running.

Editors’ Picks

A list of top picks from our editors...

"Chicago Awards $79.6M Residential Recycling Contract to LRS,
keeps City Service in 2 zones"
LRS will take over Blue Cart collection service from Waste Management across multiple areas of the city in June,
marking a key expansion for the locally based company.
Read article on Waste Dive

"As the Climate Crisis Grows, a Movement Gathers to
Make “Ecocide” an International Crime against the Environment"
International lawyers, environmentalists, and a growing
number of world leaders say “ecocide”
—widespread destruction of the environment—
would serve as a “moral red line” for the planet.
Read article on Inside Climate News

"Japan Will Release Fukushima’s
Radioactive Water into the Ocean"
The Fukushima nuclear power plant is about to run out of
capacity to store treated wastewater.
Read article on Vice News