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Environmental Issues

Climate Change Forum – Feb 26

There’s No Time to Waste – Addressing the Urgency of Climate Change

We invite you to attend a…

Climate Change Forum

Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2020
7pm – 9pm
Scandinavian Cultural Center
206 Waltham Street, West Newton, MA

The wildfires in Australia, and the flooding of Indonesia and Venice are examples of tragic climate events that have raised alarm bells across the globe.  Climate change is here in real time and will feed an increasing number of devastating, extreme weather events. Facing inaction on climate legislation at the federal level, state and local governments must pick up the slack.

Join us on Wednesday, February 26th, when the League of Women Voters of Newton (LWVN), together with the Leagues of Framingham, Needham, Wayland, Wellesley and Weston, will co-host a community conversation you won’t want to miss!  You’ll learn how Massachusetts can join other states and hundreds of cities across the country working to reduce carbon emissions – “Job One” if we are to avert the worst impacts of climate change.

Discussion topics will include:

  • The current state of climate change science and implications for society
  • The current status and importance of the regional transportation and climate initiative
  • The plan to help transition gas utilities to delivery of clean, safe, renewable energy and the importance of the FUTURE Act

To present this topic, we have assembled an outstanding panel that includes Craig Altemose , Co-Founder and Executive Director of Better Future Project;  Jordan Stutt, Carbon Programs Director of the Acadia Center; and Audrey Schulman, Co-founder and Executive Director of HEET (Home Energy Efficiency Team) and/or Zeyneb Magavi (Director, HEET).

State Senator Cynthia Creem, a sponsor of the FUTURE ACT, will be attending as well and providing remarks.

RSVPs to info@lwvnewton.org or on Facebook are appreciated!

10¢ Paper Bag Fee Approved

The City Council has unanimously approved an ordinance requiring Newton businesses to charge customers 10 cents for every paper bag the store provides at checkout. Larger stores, those over 3,500 square feet, will be required to implement the fee in six months. Smaller stores will have a year to prepare.  Read more →

Newton Citizens Climate Action Plan (from Annual Meeting)

In May, the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy, led by Dr. Halina Brown, published the Newton Citizens Climate Action Plan, a realistic plan to reduce greenhouse gases in Newton to zero by 2050.  Dr. Brown presented an overview of the plan at the League’s Annual Meeting on May 30, 2019.  Many thanks to the all members of the Newton Citizens Commission on Energy, and we hope to have a fuller discussion of the plan in the fall.

Click here to see Dr. Brown’s presentation:  NCCE Presentation–Annual Meeting

Click on the link or the image below to see the entire Newton Citizens Climate Action Plan:  http://www.newtonma.gov/civicax/filebank/documents/96838

FINAL-CCAP-May-6-1.0

LWVN Membership Supports Climate Emergency Resolution

At our recent Annual Meeting, members voted to support the resolution below, to be presented at the LWVMA Convention in Westford with other Leagues from around the state.

Climate Emergency Resolution

Unanimously approved by LWVMA Environmental Action and Advocacy Committee, May 22, 2019 for submission to the LWVMA Convention, June 7-8, 2019.

Whereas on October 8, 2018, the United Nations released a special report that projected that limiting warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius this century will require an unprecedented transformation of every sector of the global economy over the next 12 years; and

Whereas on November 23, 2018, the U.S. Fourth National Climate Assessment was issued, which detailed the massive threat that climate change poses to the American economy and underscored the need for emergency climate action at all levels of government; and Read more →

Housing, Transportation and Climate Change Speakers from Newton-Needham Regional Chamber

At a recent Newton-Needham Regional Chamber event, speakers addressed the topics of diverse and affordable housing, as well as transportation and climate change.  The latter speaker was Robin Chase, an American transportation entrepreneur. She is co-founder and former CEO of Zipcar as well as founder and former CEO of Buzzcar, a peer-to-peer car sharing service, acquired by Drivy.  Watch the comments here:

Newton-Needham Chamber:  Affordable Housing

Newton-Needham Chamber:  Transportation and Climate Change