Zoom in for Tonight's Member Meeting focusing on Compost
June Monthly Meeting TUESDAY, JUNE 14 AT 7:30 PM EDT
Mandatory residential composting would create a citywide curbside organics collection program for residential buildings. Learn about the recently proposed city legislation, how to participate in getting it enacted, and current initiatives in composting that you can participate in today. You must pre-register using this link. PLEASE NOTE: We have changed our monthly meeting to the second Tuesday of the month rather than the second Thursday.
Testify for Mandatory Residential Composting
Wednesday, June 15, noon
The Committee on Sanitation and Solid Waste Management is hosting a virtual hearing on June 15 starting at noon on proposed composting legislation. This is your opportunity to have your voice heard. Sign up to testify on June 15 or submit your written testimony by noon on June 18.
City Action needs a volunteer compost lead
HELP WANTED: A Compost Champ (1-2 hours / week)
City Action is seeking a volunteer compost lead who will help keep track of all things compost throughout the city so that we can keep that methane out of landfills. You don't have to have a degree in Solid Waste Management - you just have to be obsessed with compost. Please contact Georgi at [email protected].
Help Shape New York's Future! Submit Comments to the Climate Action Council
Using NY Renews' Easy Comment Prompts
Our 350Brooklyn Comment Page for the Climate Action Council's Draft Scoping Plan is still open. But NY Renews has also crafted a slew of comments. You can open any of their comments and add your thoughts. Or just send them as is. The CAC has extended the comment period to July 1, so click away!
Come Table with 350Brooklyn City Action Committee!
Throughout the summer, members of 350Brooklyn’s City Action Committee will host tabling at Grand Army Plaza talking to others about ways to fight the climate crisis. During these tabling sessions, we guide citizens towards concrete calls to action (i.e. emailing legislators, signing up to give testimony) and engage them in a climate change trivia game to educate on topics such as the sources of emissions, renewable energy, and asthma awareness. We also listen to learn about the issues they themselves are passionate about.
We would love to have even more volunteers going forward - we provide everything you need to participate, including backgrounder materials - just show up! Sign Up Here! For any questions contact: [email protected]
The 2022 New York State Legislative Session: Report
On June 3, the NYS Legislature wrapped up its 2022 session and went home. While a handful of significant climate bills did pass, overall it was another year of disappointment for climate activists. Our primary request as members of NY Renews was for $15 billion in the budget, but we made no headway on that issue. 350Brooklyn worked actively all spring to get ten other good bills passed. In the end, only two of those made it through, the Cumulative Impacts on Environmental Justice Communities Act and the Cryptocurrency Moratorium Act. Now those two bills go to Governor Hochul's desk for her signature. She is under pressure not to sign the Cryptocurrency Moratorium, so we will be working this summer to persuade her that this bill reflects the will of New Yorkers. Interested in helping? Let us know at [email protected]!
Join The Power Hour Team, Phone Bank for Climate Justice
Join us on Mondays - and sometimes Wednesdays - from 12-1 for Power Hour where we call, tweet, and email our legislators and fossil fuel enablers to push for specific climate bills and actions.
As an example of what we do, yesterday, Monday June 13th, we worked with Friends of Fort Greene Park to save trees that are at risk of being removed to make way for a concrete plaza that community groups oppose. Sign the petition to stop the paved plaza redesign that removes more than 58 mature trees. We also wrote comments using this easy tool (make yours today!) on the Climate Action Council draft scoping plan, and we called on our state representatives to support a strong Extended Producer Responsibility bill.
There will be no Wednesday Power Hour on June 15, because we are asking people to support universal curbside composting by SIGNING UP to testify at the public hearing or submitting written comments, instead.
Can't make it for Power Hour? Sign up on the Power Hour mailing list.
Quick Actions: Juliana v. United States
Call on the US Justice Department to end its opposition to the landmark youth-led constitutional climate lawsuit Juliana v. United States, which is proceeding to trial. 350Brooklyn is an original sponsor of this petition in support of the youth plaintiffs who charge that children have a right to a safe climate today and in the future. Sign the petition.
New Climate Check podcast: The Billion Oyster Project
Learn about the Billion Oyster Project’s mission to restore the New York estuary’s reefs on the new episode of “Climate Check: Stories and Solutions” podcast series, which features an interview with the group's executive director, Pete Malinowski. Pete comes from an oyster farming family and founded the New York Harbor School’s Aquaculture and Oyster Restoration Program. Find it here.
July Monthly Meeting: A Conversation with Bill McKibben
Tuesday, July 12th at 7:30 pm
Bill McKibben has been writing, speaking, and organizing around the climate crisis for thirty years. Among other things, he was one of the founders of 350.org. With a deep understanding of both global warming and the solutions to it, he is sure to offer us perceptive observations on our current climate work. Sign up here for the July meeting!
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 also 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, and the 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 via Zoom to 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.
