During the final days of the Conference of the Parties (COP) 27th meeting of world leaders and parties to continue to plan toward the goal of 1.5 degrees C average global temperature rise, a fund of $2B was pledged. Dozens of countries are currently ravaged by floods, droughts, and heat extremes. Most of them need assistance from the big polluters such as the U.S.
Read the World Resources Institute article about the fund and what the COP 27 accomplished.
Emergence Magazine – The Inward Migration in Apocalyptic Times by Alexis Wright
So much is happening in all sectors of the energy market that I decided to share this issue of the Weekly Jolt from the U.S. Office of Energy.
If you live in the U.S. here is a handy calculator to see how you can benefit from the Inflation Reduction Act’s climate policies and funding, Rewiring America.
If you know of a high school student or graduate who is not planning on college, tell them to study to become an industry certified electrician. It is estimated that the US will need hundreds of thousands of electricians during the massive energy transition that is already in swing!
Contact members of the U.S. Bicameral Caucus to learn what is being done to support the energy transition in your state.
This is a printable article from the National Council of Nonprofits with links and references for nonprofit administrators to begin to plan on how or whether the Inflation Reduction Act can help you reduce your costs for installing clean and cheaper energy, and other green upgrades. You’ll be amazed.
And below is another article on the Maryland Nonprofit Site retrieved 11-15-22
Ezra Klein Podcast and New York Times article today, November 15.
A down to earth discussion of what has to happen literally in less than 8 years to meet the 2030 goals set by the U.S. at the Glasgow COP. This is the minimum reduction in contributions to atmospheric warming to level warming to 1.5 degrees Centigrade. Right now we are moving to overshoot that by as much as a degree by 2100 — a world no one wants to live in.
This needs to be city by city, local people deciding how it will look, who invests in it (think about a church having a chance to invest in the energy production of their township). Lots of decisions need to be made and local groups will need to step up and help save money for people while making the climate safer for everyone. This is why I am devoting my blog posts to helping you learn about the IRA and where to find information. We have a world to change.
RELATED TODAY: Halifax, VA City Council is getting ready to vote on whether to approve a 5 Megawatt Solar Installation. The city population is about 1400. Here is an example of energy transition by local decision makers. In the News & Record, November 14. Its the tip of the wave …
For more about the IRA see this previous post which I continue to update with resources.
Limit money in politics through a constitutional amendment
By Luke Lorenz Guest Columnist
“Friday is Veterans Day, a national recognition of the extraordinary men and women who kept the watch so that we may live in safety. We thank them for defending our homeland, guarding our shores, and protecting our homes and families. All of this they do, but at the core of their mission is defense of something far more fundamental and profound than physical territory. They swear to defend the U.S. Constitution, which enshrines the highest aspirations of humankind.
As a veteran who served in the U.S. Army, this mission remains close to my heart, as it does for many of my fellow servicemembers. We served, fought, bled and some died in defense of our American democratic traditions that embrace political equality and the right of “one person, one vote.” Yet we see these traditions being increasingly eroded by wealthy donors and deep-pocketed special interest groups that pay for unchecked and unjust political influence.
Each election cycle sets new records for the amount of money influencing our elections, with less and less of that money coming from average citizens. This has profound implications for local, state and national governance. Without equitable influence over our elections and elected officials, the needs of average Americans are drowned out by the demands of wealthy donors. We feel this incongruity in the form of energy monopolies, excessive medical and prescription drug prices, growing income inequality between the wealthy and the middle class, and diminished access to good schools and higher education.
The excessive influence of wealthy individual donors, corporations and single-issue groups contributes to our polarization and political dysfunction. These extreme voices do not represent the views of the vast majority of the American people. However, because we have only two major parties to choose from, we are dragged along as these unrestrained big-money donors pull the parties toward their extreme views and radical policy positions.
This veteran feels that it is time to chart a bold new course for American democracy in the 21st century, and most Americans seem to agree. That new course is set forth in a proposed constitutional amendment, the “For Our Freedom Amendment.” This legislation, supported by American Promise, a non-partisan good governance group, would allow Congress and the states to regain their right to regulate campaign financing and independent expenditures. It protects free speech while also ensuring that states, such as Virginia, have the sovereignty to decide how much special influence they will allow from big money donors.
Does a constitutional amendment sound too ambitious? Better tell that to the suffragettes who faced the same obstacle in securing voting rights for women. Or the Civil Rights advocates who enacted the 15th Amendment. Or the concerned citizens who changed the Constitution to allow individuals to elect their own senators rather than have them chosen by state legislatures (17th Amendment).
We have rectified all manner of injustice through numerous constitutional amendments over the generations. The only question is whether or not our current elected representatives will rise to the challenge. As a veteran who was willing to place his life on the line for our remarkable system of self-governance and individual liberty, I ask our federal legislators to enact the For Our Freedom Amendment and make it the 28th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.”
` Luke Lorenz of Herndon is the director of legislative affairs for a military-focused nonprofit organization and a volunteer for Money Out Virginia. He served as a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army with missions in EUCOM and CENTCOM. He is a graduate of the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and the George Washington University Graduate School of Political Management.
This article appeared on 11-10-22 in the Virginia Pilot Opinion section.
The Guardian’s Take at the Outset A year of political crises pushed the climate progress of the agenda.
Washington Post: What is COP 27 article by Ellen Francis and Adela Suliman gives you links to follow critical planning.
“None of the 2030 targets are on track to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius, a report from the World Resources Institute’s (WRI) Systems Change Lab reports.”
See the latest report on funding climate change mitigation from Climate Works:
Update 11-02-22: Find out how Netflix, Google, and Linked In are not contributing to real climate action on Reveal: Google, Netflix, LinkedIn Refuse to Sign Ad to ‘Act Now’ on Climate Change (revealnews.org)
Susan Feathers 