Showing posts with label climate crisis. Show all posts
Showing posts with label climate crisis. Show all posts

Sunday, December 4, 2022

Industrial revolution not sustainable

Vala Afshar (@ValaAfshar) tweeted Sat, Dec 03, 2022:
"Something to think about:

The Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Let's scale that to 46 years.

We have been here for 4 hours. Our industrial revolution began one minute ago.

In that time, we have destroyed 50% of the world's forests. This is not sustainable."
Shared from Twitter  https://t.co/sqQKxvPl4H

Industrial revolution not sustainable
Industrial revolution not sustainable

Wednesday, November 30, 2022

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, December 1, 7:00 PM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node


Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom, this Thursday, December 1, 7:00-9:00 pm.  


Please see below for information about this meeting and an upcoming march and rally in Boston on December 10.


Here are the Zoom details.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923


As always, we welcome you to the meeting, whether you have participated in the past or not. Join our discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Learn about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. Help to plan for events in our Greater Franklin region. If you have items you would like to announce or add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net). 


350 Mass and other climate organizations in the Mass Power Forward coalition are deciding on campaigns and legislative priorities for 2023-2024. At our Thursday meeting we will discuss the status of these deliberations.


On a related matter, Massachusetts should see progress on climate and energy policy with the change in the Governor's office. One department that must change is the Department of Public Utilities (DPU): for the last four years, the three Baker-appointed DPU Commissioners have acted as if protecting the natural gas industry and slow-walking the transition to renewable energy is their most important job. We are asking incoming Governor Maura Healey to establish DPU leadership that works FOR the ratepayers to reduce energy costs instead of those who have been in sync with the utilities working AGAINST ratepayers!

The Climate Courage Working Group of 350 MA is calling for a rally and march against the actions of the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU). The march will be SATURDAY, December 10 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in Dewey Square across from South Station in Boston. We encourage you to join us there. Information and registration here.

We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.

We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday. 

Thank you.

 

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)



Monday, November 28, 2022

Hear about green banking and more in this Making Sense of Climate episode with State Rep Jeff Roy - 11/15/22 (audio)

FM #887 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 887 in the series. 


This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. For this session we were joined by State Representative Jeffrey Roy. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Tuesday, November 15, 2022.  

In this episode we covered the following topics: 

  • Green banking, what is it?

  • Smart metering, better able to manage use by knowing what and when it is being used; rebate potential for off-peak use

  • Grimsby, England and video segment on 60 Minutes; Franklin Sheet Metal part of the developing ecosystem being built to support green energy

  • Building net zero stretch code opt in, pilot with 10 communities to gain lessons learned; Clean Heat Report due Nov 2022

  • How Will it be working on climate legislation with the new Governor

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 59 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted and Jeff  Audio file -> https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-887-making-sense-of-climate-19-11-15-22



--------------

  

Grimsby, England and 60 Minutes video segment

https://www.cbsnews.com/video/wind-energy-grimsby-england-60-minutes-video-2022-10-16/#x 

Elton John “Grimsby”  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7K3ddSNGbA 

Link to Channel 5 piece on MassSave -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/11/representative-roy-addresses-masssave.html 

See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 


--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Wednesday, November 23, 2022

World still ‘on brink of climate catastrophe’ after Cop27 deal | Cop27 | The Guardian

"The world still stands “on the brink of climate catastrophe” after the deal reached at the Cop27 UN climate summit on Sunday, and the biggest economies must make fresh commitments to cut greenhouse gas emissions, climate experts and campaigners have warned.

The agreement reached in Sharm el-Sheikh early on Sunday morning, after a marathon final negotiating session that ran 40 hours beyond its deadline, was hailed for providing poor countries for the first time with financial assistance known as loss and damage. A fund will be set up by rich governments for the rescue and rebuilding of vulnerable areas stricken by climate disaster, a key demand of developing nations for the last 30 years of climate talks.

But the outcome was widely judged a failure on efforts to cut carbon dioxide, after oil-producing countries and high emitters weakened and removed key commitments on greenhouse gases and phasing out fossil fuels.

Mary Robinson, chair of the Elders Group of former world leaders, ex-president of Ireland and twice a UN climate envoy, said: “The world remains on the brink of climate catastrophe. Progress made on [cutting emissions] has been too slow. We are on the cusp of a clean energy world, but only if G20 leaders live up to their responsibilities, keep their word and strengthen their will. The onus is on them.”

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/20/world-still-on-brink-of-climate-catastrophe-after-cop27-deal

More than 33 million people in Pakistan have been affected by this year’s floods, according to the country’s climate change minister. Photograph: Nadeem Khawar/EP
More than 33 million people in Pakistan have been affected by this year’s floods, according to the country’s climate change minister. Photograph: Nadeem Khawar/EP

Wednesday, November 16, 2022

Teens: are you passionate about fighting climate change?

Several faith communities are joining together to form an Interfaith / Inter-town (Franklin & No Attleboro) group of youth to learn, teach, lead and act to save our planet. 

You don’t have to be a member of any faith community to be involved, and you can live in any town.

The first meeting will be on Sunday, December 4th at 7 PM at St John’s to gauge interest and plan our actions. 

Pizza provided. Please spread the word and bring your friends.

St John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin


For more information:
Call 508-528-2387 Email Rector@StJohnsFranklinMA.org
Like us on Facebook  and Twitter
See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org 

Teens: are you passionate about fighting climate change?
Teens: are you passionate about fighting climate change?

Tuesday, November 8, 2022

A climate change report card for the world - not good

"Last year’s United Nations climate conference in Glasgow, Scotland, had the same optimistic energy as the first day of a new school year. The United States — a truant since the nation withdrew from the Paris agreement under President Donald Trump — was back at the table. The cool kids (Leonardo DiCaprio, Prince William, Greta Thunberg) brushed shoulders with the nerds (everyone else). A parade of presidents and prime ministers pledged renewed climate efforts with all the fervor of students promising their parents that this semester would be different.

But that back-to-school energy never lasts. Some of the splashiest COP26 pledges have been derailed by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and upheavals in the global economy. Catastrophic climate disasters hampered countries’ abilities to invest in renewable energy and resilient infrastructure, even as they exposed the urgency of preparing for a warmer world.

There are also some glimmers of hope on the horizon: The United States finally passed significant climate legislation to speed the transition away from fossil fuels. Global renewable energy investments are starting to outpace fossil fuel spending."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)

Monday, November 7, 2022

"the critical milepost of 2030 is already out of reach"

"Boston is so far behind on climate progress that cutting greenhouse emissions in half by the critical milepost of 2030 is already out of reach, a new assessment has found, and reaching the goal of net zero emissions by 2050 will require a decades-long, all-in effort.

The report blamed a decade or more of stalled action at the city, state, and federal levels, and said that dramatic changes must now begin.

In a year that saw the hottest three-week period in 151 years of Boston records and just ahead of what is expected to be a record-hot weekend, the report, dubbed the Inaugural Boston Climate Progress Report, was seen as a jolt of reality.

“It is a call to action,” said report author Joan Fitzgerald, a professor of public policy and urban affairs at Northeastern University. “But this city government can’t do this alone. ... Everyone has to be moving in lockstep to realize these goals.”
Continue reading the Boston Globe article (subscription maybe required) ->

CommonWealth Magazine coverage ->

Boston Foundation page releasing their report ->

Download the PDF version (there are other versions available) -> 

 
Boston’s Long Wharf as a king tide flooded parts of Boston’s waterfront, as well as other coastal areas of Massachusetts. DAVID L. RYAN
Boston’s Long Wharf as a king tide flooded parts of Boston’s waterfront, as well as other coastal areas of Massachusetts. DAVID L. RYAN

The Guardian: "‘It was like an apocalyptic movie’: 20 climate photographs that changed the world"

"For a week in July 2018, a giant 100m-tall iceberg loomed over a tiny village on the west coast of Greenland. Villagers were evacuated, and the world watched in suspense: if a chunk of the 10m-tonne iceberg had broken apart or “calved”, it would have caused a tsunami and obliterated the settlement of Innaarsuit. Eventually, it drifted away from the shore – but as glaciers melt, we can expect to see more masses of ice breaking off and floating dangerously close to land."
Continue reading the article and viewing the impactful photos: (subscription maybe required)  ->  https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/nov/05/20-climate-photographs-that-changed-the-world

They are the images that made us sit up and take notice
They are the images that made us sit up and take notice

   

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Share your feedback on the MA Climate Change Assessment by Nov 16

Live in Massachusetts? 
We need your feedback on #ClimateChange impacts in the state. 
Review the draft #MAClimateAssessment Report and share your feedback by November 16!

Link to report page -> https://t.co/pLQnkcx7Ip Report sections available in multiple languages

Executive summary -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-7/download

State Report -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/draft-available-in-english/download

Regional Summary -> https://www.mass.gov/doc/english-8/download

Shared from Twitter -> https://t.co/XndXVamRaa


What does it say for the Central Region (where Franklin is categorized)?

What does it say for the Central Region (where Franklin is categorized)?
What does it say for the Central Region (where Franklin is categorized)?



Share your feedback on the MA Climate Change Assessment by Nov 16
Share your feedback on the MA Climate Change Assessment by Nov 16

Wednesday, November 2, 2022

Ted & I talk microgrids and more in this 18th episode of Making Sense of Climate - 10/25/22 (audio)

FM #870 = This is the Franklin Matters radio show, number 870 in the series. 

This session of the radio show shares my conversation with Ted McIntyre, Franklin resident and climate activist. We recorded this via the Zoom conference bridge Tuesday, October 25, 2022.  

In this episode our conversation covered the following topics: 

  • Microgrids

  • South Carolina residential building auto based

  • DPU and municipal aggregation approval cycle

  • Building code, stretch code revisions pending

  • Offshore cable system

  • Mother Jones says ‘microgrids’ are good

This discussion continues our journey understanding the MA roadmap toward net zero and while it helps me “make sense of climate”, we hope it helps with your understanding as well. 

If you have climate questions or Franklin specific climate questions, send them in and we’ll try to answer them in a future session.  

The conversation runs about 40 minutes. Let’s listen to my conversation with Ted 

Audio file -> 
https://franklin-ma-matters.captivate.fm/episode/fm-870-making-sense-of-climate-18-10-25-22


--------------


microgrid - Merriam Webster added the word in September

https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/10/merriam-webster-we-added-370-new-words.html   

teaser to come back to microgrids

 

South Carolina massive residential building underway in 'low country' outside of charleston. 

no mass transit, while 55 housing is being built, all are hostage to the automobiles

not sustainable for net zero, or for those 55+ who as they age are going to be standed out there

 

municipal aggregation, we have it, others can't get it

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/10/16/science/these-communities-want-lower-residents-electric-bills-carbon-emissions-heres-whats-stopping-them/

 

public ownership of utilities I don't think it the answer, we need to ensure appropriate board and oversight of the utilities doesn't create/continue the fossil fuel domination

https://www.repmikeconnolly.org/public_ownership_of_public_utilities

 

Hard to find a good contractor.--- this will be important as we go forward in MA>

https://www.vox.com/energy-and-environment/2022/10/8/23387530/home-electrification-heat-pumps-gas-furnace-contractors

 

offshore cable system, rather than extending electric grid above ground

https://www.wbur.org/news/2022/10/18/offshore-wind-transmission-lines-grid

 

microgrids, Mother Jones article

https://www.motherjones.com/environment/2022/10/tool-surviving-extreme-weather-mircogrids-distributed-power-batteries/

 

Eversource/Framingham pilot construction updates https://www.eversource.com/content/ema-c/residential/about/transmission-distribution/projects/massachusetts-projects/geothermal-pilot-project


See the page that collects the “Making Sense of Climate” episodes -> https://www.franklinmatters.org/2022/02/making-sense-of-climate-collection.html 


--------------

We are now producing this in collaboration with Franklin.TV and Franklin Public Radio (wfpr.fm) or 102.9 on the Franklin area radio dial.  


This podcast is my public service effort for Franklin but we can't do it alone. We can always use your help.


How can you help?

  • If you can use the information that you find here, please tell your friends and neighbors

  • If you don't like something here, please let me know


Through this feedback loop we can continue to make improvements. I thank you for listening.


For additional information, please visit Franklinmatters.org/ or www.franklin.news/


If you have questions or comments you can reach me directly at shersteve @ gmail dot com


The music for the intro and exit was provided by Michael Clark and the group "East of Shirley". The piece is titled "Ernesto, manana"  c. Michael Clark & Tintype Tunes, 2008 and used with their permission.


I hope you enjoy!

------------------


You can also subscribe and listen to Franklin Matters audio on iTunes or your favorite podcast app; search in "podcasts" for "Franklin Matters"


Eversource/Framingham pilot construction update
Eversource/Framingham pilot construction update

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, November 3, 7:00 PM

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, November 3, 7:00 PM
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node



Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom,  this Thursday, November 3, 7:00-9:00 PM 


Here are the Zoom details.
Zoom link for the meeting, Thursday, November 3, 7:00-9:00 PM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88924607755?pwd=bHl1empTRVFxYzdZUmVBSGl1Q0p3Zz09
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

 

Twice-a-month, our Node, one of more than fifteen such 350 Mass groups throughout the state, holds its meetings. Our Node's participants come from Franklin and several towns north to Sharon and south to Attleboro. You are always welcome to attend, to learn about climate and energy, politics and science, to hear about opportunities for action, and to contribute to our goals in a way that works for you. 

   

Our meetings address ongoing challenges and actions related to energy and climate. Our typical agenda includes: discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Announcements about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. And plans for activities in our Greater Franklin region. Our tone and manner are collegial and neighborly. We hope to meet you one of these Thursdays. Or you can reply to this message; we'll follow up.

 

If you have items you would like to announce or add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net). 

 

We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.

 

We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday. 

Thank you.

 

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

339-203-5017   


Wednesday, October 26, 2022

The Guardian: "Virtually all children on Earth will face more frequent heatwaves by 2050"

"The climate crisis is also a children’s rights crisis: one in four children globally are already affected by the climate emergency and by 2050 virtually every child in every region will face more frequent heatwaves, according to a new Unicef report.

For hundreds of millions of children, heatwaves will also last longer and be more extreme, increasing the threat of death, disease, hunger and forced migration.

The findings come less than a fortnight before the Cop27 UN climate talks get underway in Egypt, and after a catastrophic year of extreme weather events – heatwaves, storms, floods, fires and droughts – have demonstrated the speed and magnitude of the climate breakdown facing the planet.

According to Unicef, 559 million children currently endure at least four to five dangerous heatwaves annually, but the number will quadruple to 2 billion by 2050 – even if global heating is curtailed to 1.7 degrees, currently the best-case scenario on the table."

Continue reading The Guardian article online (subscription may be required)
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2022/oct/25/global-heatwaves-2050-unicef-report

   
A Palestinian mother showers her child during a heatwave in the southern Gaza Strip in August 2022. Photograph: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock
A Palestinian mother showers her child during a heatwave in the southern Gaza Strip in August 2022. Photograph: Majdi Fathi/NurPhoto/REX/Shutterstock

Thursday, October 20, 2022

The Guardian: "Sound is fundamental in the ocean and Arctic animals"

"An expedition of scientists and an artist is deploying underwater microphones in the ocean off Greenland to record and preserve the soundscape of melting icebergs.

The hydrophones will record sounds every hour for two years before being collected, harvested for data and the recordings turned into an acoustic composition.

The instruments are being lowered to different levels and temperatures to record earthquakes, landslides, wildlife, pollution and meltwater, creating an archive of the “ocean’s memory”."
Continue reading The Guardian article online (subscription may be required)
An iceberg off eastern Greenland. Hydrophones are being lowered to different levels and temperatures to record earthquakes, landslides, wildlife, pollution and meltwater, creating an archive of the ‘ocean’s memory’. Photograph: Felipe Dana/AP
An iceberg off eastern Greenland. Hydrophones are being lowered to different levels and temperatures to record earthquakes, landslides, wildlife, pollution and meltwater, creating an archive of the ‘ocean’s memory’. Photograph: Felipe Dana/AP

Wednesday, October 19, 2022

Do you know any teens who are passionate about fighting climate change?

Several faith communities are joining together to form an Interfaith / Inter-town (Franklin & No Attleboro) group of youth to learn, teach, lead and act to save our planet. You don’t have to be a member of any faith community to be involved.

The first meeting will be on Sunday, December 4th at 7pm at St John’s to gauge interest and plan our actions. Pizza provided. Please spread the word and bring your friends.

St John’s Episcopal Church, 237 Pleasant Street, Franklin

For more information:
Call 508-528-2387 Email Rector@StJohnsFranklinMA.org
Like us on Facebook  and Twitter
See our website at www.stjohnsfranklinma.org     

Do you know any teens who are passionate about fighting climate change?
Do you know any teens who are passionate about fighting climate change?

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, October 20, 7:00 PM

Our next 350 Mass Greater Franklin Node meeting will be on Zoom, this Thursday, October 20, 7:00-9:00 PM. 

Zoom link for the meeting, Thursday, October 20, 7:00-9:00 PM.
Meeting ID: 889 2460 7755
Passcode: 350ma
Dial-in +1 646 876 9923

Twice-a-month, our Node, one of more than fifteen such 350 Mass groups throughout the state, holds its meetings. Our Node's participants come from Franklin and several towns north to Sharon and south to Attleboro. You are always welcome to attend, to learn about climate and energy, politics and science, to hear about opportunities for action, and to contribute to our goals in a way that works for you. 

All of 350 Mass is now engaging in a review of our most recent two-year multi-faceted campaign meant to address the three main sources of greenhouse gas emission in Massachusetts: Energy, Transportation, and Housing. Projects included the regional Fix the Grid coalition's fight against ISO-NE (Energy), Fair Share for Massachusetts and electric vehicle legislation (Transportation), and bills to promote and enable Housing Retrofits (Housing). We now reflect on all that we have accomplished and the lessons we learned: where our advocacy has succeeded, the challenges we know and expect, and keys to growing our effectiveness. We'll consider all this from our Node's perspective. 

The remainder of the meeting will follow our typical agenda: discussion of climate and energy developments locally, across the state, and nationally. Announcements about planned advocacy and protest actions organized by 350 Mass and other groups. And plans for activities in our Greater Franklin region. Our tone and manner are collegial and neighborly. We hope to meet you one of these Thursdays. Or you can reply to this message; we'll follow up.

If you have items you would like to announce or add to the agenda, please reply to our Node Co-coordinators, Carolyn Barthel (carolyncbarthel@gmail.com) and Ralph Halpern (ralph.halpern@comcast.net).  

We hope you receive 350 Mass' Climate Weekly email. It's a good way to keep up with key issues and actions on their behalf. You can sign up here.

We will send a reminder about the Node's meeting on Thursday. 

Thank you.
 

Node Co-coordinators,
Carolyn Barthel
Ralph Halpern

Ralph Halpern
ralph.halpern@comcast.net
781-784-3839 (h)

350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, October 20, 7:00 PM
350 Mass Greater Franklin Node, Virtual Meeting, Thursday, October 20, 7:00 PM