"Corporations are the world"

My car needed servicing so I dropped it off at the dealer then a nice shuttle driver drove me where I wanted to go while I wait.

"Can drop me off at Trader Joe's?," I asked.

"Sure, are you going to the mall after? Should I pick you up there later?" he asked.

"No, I will be at the University of Vermont. Can you pick me up there?"

"Sure, but it will be a different driver. What are you doing over there?"

"Well, I am going to table for Citizens Climate Lobby." I didn't add that we were tabling because it was the press event for the release of the Vermont Climate Assessment report. I was trying to keep it simple.

"What's that? What do you do?" he asked.

So I started talking about the carbon fee and dividend. It was very quickly clear that I was talking with a climate change denier--a very pleasant denier, but a denier none the less.

"I just don't think we should tax corporations." He answered. "Oil and gas have done so much for us we can't punish them for that. I just hate taxing corporations. If we tax corporations they will get sick of us and they will go away. Just look at IBM. Corporations are the world!"

That seemed like a fear-based comment to me after thinking about it. Yes, corporations make a lot of stuff happen in our world, but that shouldn't mean that we can't demand they act ethically. Not causing destruction on a global scale is good ethics.

He made other comments such as: the science is debatable on climate change. He didn't believe that we are having more extreme weather, or that winters are getting milder. He said even if the climate is changing he didn't think it was because of fossil fuels. The Japan earthquake shifted the Earth on its axis. Doesn't that have anything to do with it? The scientist haven't taken that into consideration.

I acknowledged that yes oil and gas has done a lot for civilization, however we now know that using it is killing our planet. Since we know better so it's time to change the business model. I assured him that yes, the scientists have taken into consideration factors such as the natural wobbles of the earth's axis and even that earthquake event that shifted the earth.

I told him how the carbon fee and dividend would put money in his pocket. I told him how it would spur development and investment in fossil fuel alternatives. Maybe he can't afford an electric car now, but after a few years of a carbon tax he probably can because prices will come down.

We even ended up talking about how the climate was different when dinosaurs were on the earth but it was fine for them. I explained how yes, the death of the dinosaurs and the sequestration of their bodies and plant matter at the time allowed the carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere to decrease to a level that made the planet safe for humans. Dinosaurs turned into fossil fuels, and by unlocking that carbon dioxide from the earth we have thrown the atmosphere, that we humans have enjoyed so much, out of balance. Even if we keep burning fossil fuels some form of life will exist on earth, it just won't be humans.

Still, the only thing that seem to get through to him was the explanation that scientists have determined that the "safe" level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere is 350 ppm. We recently exceeded 400 ppm and are adding 2 ppm each year. He used to serve on an Air Resources Board in New York so that was something he could appreciate. A small win!

Despite feeling overwhelmed at his denial and unprepared on where to even start in responding to his denial during a 10 minute car ride, it was still a fine conversation.

"Why do you bother with those people?" my husband asked when I told him about it back at home.

Because it keeps me on my toes. And, we need to convert some of those people we are to win this climate fight.

My meeting with the Editor

I met with the Editor of my State's largest newspaper last Thursday. Our meeting lasted 15 to 20 minutes. I told him about Citizens Climate Lobby, our mission, and how we started a local chapter this past winter. I gave him an overview of our proposed carbon fee and dividend legislation.

He wanted to clarify that it was a federal level legislative proposal.  He also asked if we were doing anything on the state or local level since the paper likes to stay local in its focus. I told him we have discussed it briefly, but have not come up with a State plan so far. We are currently focusing on the national level just as CCL does. I mentioned that will be watching the bill that is being passed around for discussion that would allow states to create their own carbon taxes.

He asked what do we do since we already have a progressive group of representatives for Vermont who already acknowledge climate change and agree something should be done. I mentioned that even though they are already allies there still more we can do to nudge them in the right direction towards carbon fee and dividend. I also mentioned that Sanders-Boxer climate change bill, proposed in 2013, and how it is the closest bill any politician has proposed to our fee and dividend, we are very happy that it was introduced, but we feel it could be tweaked to be more effective and accepted by both sides of the aisle. 

I also mentioned that, if passed, the carbon fee and dividend would negate the need for the new EPA rules, which would be another selling point for conservatives. Love or hate conservatives--we need them on board for this. I will note that I am very happy that President Obama is using his Executive power to do something about CO2 emissions (though more action is severely needed!)
 
He asked why was it so important that it was 100% revenue neutral. I said that it is important because it returns money to households to pay for the pass-through costs, and it doesn't expand government so that makes it more appealing to conservatives. Also, under this plan 2/3 of all households would break even or receive more in their dividend checks than they would pay in higher prices due to the fee, thereby protecting the poor and middle class. 

I highlighted how CCL just commissioned the REMI* Report (which is officially being released today 6/9/14) that shows a carbon fee and dividend as we propose would actually add 2.2 million jobs to the economy over 10 years and reduce emissions by 33%, and 2.8 million jobs and 52% reductions after 20 years. The report found that making it 100% revenue neutral will also increase the real-income of American households even after accounting for inflation. In an era of a shrinking middle-class and record corporate profits, this is good news.

He asked me why was I involved with this group and there were so many other groups that I could be involved in. I answered that Citizens Climate Lobby brings in policy experts, economists, climate scientists and others to contribute to the discussion. They are also the only group with a clear proposal for how to fix the climate crisis, and have just commissioned the REMI study to show that it would actually work! We are fighting FOR something, not just against. The "personal empowerment" portion of the mission is also why it's such an attractive organization. It inspires hope. You don't just have to sit at home feeling scared about climate change. I wish I had thought to say it when I was at the meeting, but before joining CCL there's no way I would've ever considered scheduling a meeting with the editor to talk climate change! or co-sign a letter to the Senate Finance Committee and then forward it to all of my members of Congress as a co-signer. CCL gives you the expertise and the tools to make politicians listen.

He asked more about the makeup of our group. I said that we have a core group of 6-8 very active members, and more members who are interested in our work but less active at this at this time. I noted that we are a group of concerned citizens, purely volunteers, we meet at a member's house to work on this. We do not have membership fees or a budget. I personally do this because I am a stay-at-home mom concerned about her two little kids and what their futures will be in the time of global warming. I do this in my spare time after the kids are in bed.
 
I think he was impressed or maybe even moved. I asked if he would do an editorial endorsing our carbon fee and dividend proposal. That very day he had published an editorial he wrote in support of the new EPA rules.  The paper does so few editorials each month, and since they like to stay with a very local focus, he didn't know if he could do another one so soon on climate change. He said he would think about it. He also said he would pass on the press packet I gave to him to a reporter. Look for it in newspapers around the country this week!

*REMI is a well-respected economic modeling group that is hired by State and Federal governmental offices in the US and around the world to analyze the economic implications of new policies.

Making In-Roads

Between April 19th and May 2nd the Burlington Chapter of Vermont Citizens Climate Lobby tabled at public events/places 5 times. I'm proud to say that I had a direct role in organizing 4 of those opportunities, and was involved in all of them in some way.

April 19th and 25th we were on Church Street.

April 22nd we were at UVM's Earth Day Climate Convention

April 27th CCL was at the First United Methodist Church's Eco Fair.

May 2nd we were at a presentation of the  Climate Reality Project at Burlington's Contois Auditorium.

We established connections with other like-minded organizations including 350 Vermont. We collected over a dozen signatures of people interested in joining and talked to people about a carbon revenue fee and dividend to put a price on carbon.

I also received a handwritten letter from Congressman Peter Welch in response to a letter by the Boston Citizens Climate Lobby about carbon fee and dividend that I co-signed. In it he supported a carbon tax.

This Thursday, May 8th, at noon, Citizens Climate Lobby Burlington VT will be on VPR's Vermont Edition news hour along with reps from 350 Vermont and the Sierra Club to discuss the latest IPCC report on climate change and how communities and individuals can take action.


CCL Burlington is growing its influence, and this is just the beginning.

Hope and Inspiration

One of my main objectives of starting this blog was to talk about climate change. Unfortunately, but not surprisingly, my climate/environmental posts are less popular than my parenting posts.

I get it. I really do. Climate change is scary and makes a lot of people feel depressed and hopeless.

There is hope though. We already have everything we need to solve the "climate crisis." Climate change is a political problem, not a technological problem.

That's why it's so important to talk about climate change and create the political will for change. Politicians don't create political will, they merely respond to it. People create the will, then the politicians follow. With some hard work we can reclaim our democracy and make the politicians listen to us, not just big money.

That's why I'm so drawn to the Citizens' Climate Lobby. They have a real, nonpartisan solution that will transition our economy away from fossil fuels: Carbon Fee & Dividend. It is something positive to work FOR, not merely against, that will make a positive difference the world-over.

CCL empowers Americans to exercise their citizenship to its maximum extent and is making powerful progress with members of Congress. CCL has about 4,000 volunteers working in 46 states and international chapters in Bangladesh, Canada and Sweden. Combined, these volunteers have been publishing an average of 6 letters to the editor EACH DAY of 2014. In 2013 CCL members had 679 direct meetings with members of Congress, and got endorsements for the Carbon Fee and Dividend policy from 20 newspaper editorial boards. One CCL member in Sweden even convinced the World Bank to stop funding new coal powered plant projects.

There's a lot of work still to do, but CCL makes it concrete, manageable, hopeful, inspiring, and empowering.

You're not really an environmentalist? Or an activist? That's all the more reason why we need you to say something. Do it for your kids, your grandchildren, yourself.

So what next?

1. Start talking about climate change with people you know 
2. Listen to CCL's Introductory Call to learn more and feel all that positive energy and inspiration for yourself (see graphic below)
3. Join a Citizens Climate Lobby Chapter in your area (CCL Burlington for Vermonters)
4. Register as a supporter of Citizens Climate Lobby (just sign your name)

The solution at hand

It's official! Vermont now has its first chapter of the Citizens Climate Lobby! CCL – Burlington to be precise. 

CCL – Burlington is made of a small, but dedicated group of climate pragmatists.  We are always looking for more members. We had our group start up workshop yesterday. One of the big things we covered was CCL's proposed legislation: 

Revenue- neutral carbon fee and dividend. It is the fastest and most efficient solution to the climate crisis.

What is a carbon fee and dividend? Here are the five basic points:

1. A fee would be charged on all fossil fuels at the source of extraction such as mine, wellheads, and at the border for imports.

2. The fee would cost $15 per ton of CO2 emissions and increase by $10 every year. The fee is structured to meet emission reduction targets set forth by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to avoid catastrophic climate change.

3. Knowing that energy producers will pass on this fee to customers, the dividend portion of the program would return 100% of the fee revenue to American households to help them pay for increased fossil fuel based energy.

4. Economists have been studying the carbon fee and dividend and estimate that two thirds of households will break even or receive more in their dividend check than what their increased energy costs will be. This protects the low and middle classes. Wealthy households, which typically consume the most energy, will pay the highest fees and see less return.

5. A carbon fee and dividend will level the playing field for energy sources. The fee will send clear market signals to invest and innovate in clean, renewable energy.

These are just the basic points of the policy, you can find many more statistics and details at citizensclimatelobby.org

I will go into further detail in future posts.

Dear Editor

I wrote this letter to the editor in response to a recent Burlington Free Press article. Who knows if it will get published but even if it doesn't I wanted to share it here. 

*******************

The March 25th article "Climate Report Warns Warming Actually is Hurting Humans" provides the evidence to support what many people already suspect: climate change is not just a problem for polar bears. 

Climate change is already causing extreme weather including severe droughts, heat waves, and superstorms, and yes, even the "Arctic bombs" we have experienced this winter. These events are putting pressure on human systems like agriculture and public health. Vermont farmers have firsthand experienced dealing with more frequent floods, invasive pests, and intense rains (source).

We need to do more to adapt to extreme weather and we need to demand that our politicians find innovative ways to quickly reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A revenue-neutral carbon fee and dividend is a sound way to put a price on carbon dioxide, the most abundant man-made greenhouse gas, and help us transition away from fossil fuels to a clean, renewable energy economy. Our future depends on it.

*************

Climate change is such an important issue and it desperately needs to be addressed. We, as ordinary people, need to make some noise. Consider finding your own way to speak out.

Momentum

A while back I posted about creating a Dumbledore's Army, of sorts, to fight climate change--aka a Vermont branch of the Citizens Climate Lobby. 

 

I hadn't made much headway with the holiday season coming up. My big plan was (is) to do my climate presentations for the Climate Reality Project and tack on a piece about my wish to start a VT CCL in order to recruit members who are looking for the next step to more actively fight climate change. How does CCL do this? By talking to politicians and other people in power about the importance of the issue and advocating for a revenue-neutral carbon tax as the fastest, easiest solution to quickly reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Then a week ago I received an email from one of the official Citizens Climate Lobby people addressed to a local guy named Rick and cc'ed a bunch of other people (myself included), all of whom had expressed interest in starting a Vermont CCL. 

 

I immediately responded to all and said "Great! I've been wanting to do this! What is our first step?" Since then Rick and I have been getting organized. With him as the main leader of the "core group" of organizers for this "start up" (of which I seem to be second in command) I think we are really getting this going!

It's exciting, and will be a big learning curve to start our own chapter of a nonprofit climate advocacy group. I hope you will join me if you are a Vermonter, and if you are reading this from another state find a local CCL chapter to join. I will keep you posted on the Vermont chapter's progress!

A Dumbledore's Army, of sorts

My passion about climate change comes from a desire to protect my children's future. I have always been a green-minded person, but after my babies were born I would lay awake at night worrying about climate change and how it would negatively affect their future. Will their world as adults resemble the world I have known? What can I do now to help them have a safer future?

My first answer was to become a Climate Leader.  I attended The Climate Reality Project's Leadership Training in Chicago and it was empowering. Suddenly I felt like I had permission to go out and do what I already wanted to do: be a leader in the fight against climate change. By giving me access to Al Gore's slideshow and asking me to do a minimum of 10 community presentations over the course of a year I felt powerful, like suddenly I was a member of Dumbledore's Army, except it was a Climate Army. 

The Climate Reality Project aims to restart the grassroots conversation about the threat of climate change so we can win the conversation and get moving in the right direction despite the recalcitrance of our world leaders and the fossil fuel industry. The Climate Reality Project is strong on climate change science, challenging climate change deniers, and offers broad solutions (wind and solar).

Then I saw a quote from Jim Hansen, a top climatologist and former head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies who has now devoted his time to being an activist for the cause of global climate change. His recommendation is for concerned citizens to join the Citizens Climate Lobby.

Citizens Climate Lobby strives to help people to feel powerful on the issue of climate change, instead of fearful. Turns out, Marshall Saunders, the Founder of Citizens Climate Lobby, was also trained as a Climate Leader by the Climate Reality Project. He came to the same conclusion I did, and started a non-profit organization that is growing in size and influence to speak with community, state, national, and even international leaders about climate change and its solutions. Current Citizens Climate Lobby members have talked to leaders at the World Bank convincing them to stop funding new coal projects; talked to Mayor Bloomberg in NYC about climate legislation, and is even in contact with the Pope.

The Climate Reality Project gave me the power to start the conversation with the community, Citizens Climate Lobby will give me, and You, the power to talk with our leaders, at all levels, and win them over on this paramount issue.

So my next project, dear readers, is that while I am going out in the community to give my Climate Reality Project inspired climate talks, I am also going to recruit concerned citizens like me and you to start a Burlington VT Citizens Climate Lobby (VT doesn't yet have one). But I can't do it alone. Will you please join me? Please 'Like' this post, comment, or message me if you are interested in joining the Burlington VT Citizens Climate Lobby!