[link removed] [[link removed]]Dear John,
What does it mean to create a more sustainable future – and how can we support each other to better understand the world’s most pressing issues and arrive at locally sustainable solutions?
These are some of the questions that underpin our Lunch & Learn February lineup focused on education, collaboration, and community action. We’ll begin the month learning about resources from the Smithsonian Science Education Center that support young people to understand and act on pressing issues like environmental justice, and do a deep dive into climate education in Maine mid-month, when we explore LD 1902 – legislation that supports climate and nature-based education in Maine schools – which is a priority of the Environmental Priorities Coalition (EPC) [[link removed]] .
Community engagement takes center stage in two Lunch & Learns this month. We’ll explore the robust stakeholder process involved with the Maine’s Department of Transportation's proposed plans to develop the port of Searsport for offshore wind, and hear from a remarkable community coalition working toward more just and sustainable waste management practices through LD 1639, another EPC priority bill that would close the out-of-state waste loophole.
We hope to see you this month!
--Will
[link removed] [[link removed]]Friday, February 4, 12-1 PM: Learning to Act on Environmental Justice | How Smithsonian Science for Global Goals Cultivates Sustainability Mindsets
How can young people be active participants in creating a more environmentally just future? Smithsonian Curriculum Developer Heidi Gibson will share a brand-new guide to help youth aged 8-17 explore this topic. Young people begin by reflecting on their own identities, their relationship with their environment, and the meaning of environmental justice. Drawing on the ideas of participatory action research, youth engage in authentic science and social science research about their own communities: identifying environmental justice issues, gathering and analyzing data, and proposing and implementing actions. This guide joins others in the Smithsonian Science for Global Goals series which supports young people in developing the skills, knowledge, and attitudes needed to create a more sustainable future.
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[link removed] [[link removed]]Friday, February 11, 12-1 PM: Understanding the Proposed Plans to Develop the Port of Searsport for Offshore Wind
In March of 2020, Governor Mills requested that MaineDOT conduct a feasibility assessment at the Port of Searsport to explore the marine infrastructure requirements necessary to construct floating offshore wind turbines. MaineDOT selected Moffatt & Nichol to do the work and within a year, two potential concepts emerged. Concurrently, the State had begun its pursuit of a lease area to develop a floating offshore wind turbine research array as well as a collaborative roadmap planning effort. The latter of which will provide a framework to guide the State of Maine in achieving its offshore wind energy goals. With the public release of the Moffatt & Nichol Searsport study last November, MaineDOT and the State need to continue work to explore the possibilities of bringing this industry to Maine while engaging in a robust stakeholder outreach effort to answer the important questions that will be raised throughout the process. Join Matthew Burns from the Maine Department of Transportation to learn more about the two potential concepts and how the public can engage with this process.
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[link removed] [[link removed]]Friday, February 18, 12-1 PM: Supporting Climate Education in Maine Schools
Learn about an exciting bill currently before the Maine Legislature that will give teachers the tools they need to effectively teach youth about our climate. LD 1902 will fund climate education professional development for teachers; partnerships between schools and community organizations; and will help the state meet educational goals outlined in Maine's Climate Action Plan. Join Javan Santos from The Climate Initiative to learn more.
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[link removed] [[link removed]]Friday, February 25, 12-1 PM: Waste Watchers | A Panel Discussion with Don’t Waste Maine
Landfill expansions, toxic leachate, and out of state waste -- oh my! Maine has become a dumping ground for the Northeast. A coalition of community members and tribal citizens adversely affected by the negative impacts of landfill, incinerator, and waste disposal activities have banded together to keep tabs on all trashy things, and advocate for responsible policies to deal with our waste. Join us for a panel discussion with Hillary Lister, Bill Lippincott, and Dawn Neptune Adams of Don't Waste ME along with NRCM's Sustainable Maine Program Director Sarah Nichols, facilitated by Dana Colihan, the Maine State Director at Community Action Works. Learn about the fight to close the out of state waste loophole and how you can support these efforts.
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