Dinner Social

We're on for the planned "social" at Waterloo Icehouse, 6:30 pm.
If you're east of Loop 1, travel west on Slaughter Lane, go past Loop 1, then shortly turn right on Escarpment.  It's in Escarpment Village.  512-810-0236

Next CLIMATE CHANGE HOPE class

Don't miss our Climate Change Hope classes!  Here's the next one (2nd of four):

CLIMATE CHANGE HOPE: Positive Solutions for the Way Forward

 SUNDAY, OCTOBER 15, 9:30-10:45 AM, FAITH PARLOR

The WildEarth Climate Action Team presents  the second class in our series, Climate Change Hope, which examine the top pathways to healing our earth, based on "Project Drawdown" and other sources. This class delves into forestry and agriculture as massive potential carbon sinks. A Woods Hole researcher says, "Forests are the only carbon capture and storage 'technology' we have in our grasp that is safe, proven, inexpensive, immediately available at scale, and capable of providing beneficial ripple effects."  Each class stands alone; there is no need to attend them all.  In November and December, the classes will be on the first Sundays.

Meeting Thurs. 9/14; New Class starts Sun. 9/17

New Class Begins!  

CLIMATE CHANGE HOPE: Positive Solutions for the Way Forward 

 SUNDAY, September 17^th , 9:30-10:15 a.m. 

      Join us on the third Sunday in September at Wildflower Church, 1314
 E. Oltorf St.,  for the kick-off of our new Climate Education series!   We will look at the most promising and effective pathways forward to a viable climate for planet Earth. The amount of greenhouse gases already emitted is beyond what earth can withstand without long-term damage to life support functions.  These classes will examine some of the top pathways to healing our earth, based on “Project Drawdown” (see here) and other sources, and will conclude with a class on positive climate change communication.  Expect videos or slides, handouts, and ample discussion time--discussion can continue after 10:15, outdoors or next door at Opal Divine's.  We meet in the Faith Parlor, across the open space from the Sanctuary.

Sept. 17 –Introduction and a look at managing refrigerants as a surprising top solution out of 100 solutions: simply changing the main chemical used in refrigerants. In later classes we will also look at whole categories of solutions; for example, the untapped potential of the living biosphere to absorb carbon.

Schedule of subsequent classes:

Sunday October 15 –Forestry and agriculture as massive potential carbon sinks.

Sunday November 5 –Food, and the well-being of women and girls, as powerfully connected to climate.

Sunday December 3 –Best communication practices about these hopeful scenarios.

POSTPONED: "Healing the Earth's Climate"

Weather update: 

 This event, at First Unitarian Universalist on Monday night (to which we were considering arranging a carpool for us South Austinites), has been postponed.   You can check First UU’s weekly announcements for yourself at this link.

 “Inspiring The Great Transition—Healing the Earth’s Climate.” 

A Special Presentation by Sailesh Rao, Phd., on Healing the Earth's Climate.
Distinguished speaker at 2015 Paris Climate Conferene and the European Union, and the UN Climate Change Conference, author and Co-Producer of Cowspiracy and What the Health
Sponsored by Central Texas Unitarian Universalists The Green Sanctuary and Social Action Council event featuring Dr. Sailesh Rao has been POSTPONED due the hurricane. We will announce the rescheduled date soon.

Movie and Lunch

    We're going to see An Inconvienent Sequel at 10:55 am Saturday Aug. 5 at the Hill Country Galleria .

     Advantages are:   easy parking , reclining seats, and nearby restaurants.  We plan to eat together afterward.

      We can also do a carpool, perhaps our usual carpool from the HEB at Slaughter and Manchaca, but LET ME KNOW who is interested. Or if someone knows where to park at the “Y at Oak Hill,” that’s possible; I just hardly know the intersection anymore. Or other suggestion. Call Susan at 512 810 0236.

       Here’s a Fandango listing; scroll down for An Inconvenient Sequel.

              https://www.fandango.com/cinemarkhillcountrygalleria_aaunj/theaterpage?mid=199310&date=8/5/2017

PUBLIC HEARING ON AUGUST 10, 6 PM -CARBON FREE AUSTIN BY 2030

Fight Climate Change – Support CARBON FREE AUSTIN BY 2030

On Thursday August 10^th, Austinites can have a powerful impact on climate change.  70% of carbon emissions are generated in cities. Barriers exist at other levels of government, but CITIES can choose to support a clean, just, and affordable energy future—dozens of American cities have already committed to carbon-free goals.  Save this date, and come and let our City Council know that we want strong energy justice and equity goals, great jobs, and an energy plan that  puts our utility on a path to be 100% carbon-free by 2030. 

 Thurs. AUGUST 10, 6 PM – RALLY AND PUBLIC HEARING at CITY HALL for a CARBON-FREE AUSTIN BY 2030. 

To ensure Austin is a leader on climate justice, we want Austin to adopt a plan that retires all our dirty fossil fuel plants, and expands renewable energy, local solar, energy efficiency and energy storage goals to put the utility on a path to be 100% carbon-free by 2030. The plan should also make local solar more accessible to low-income residents and renters to improve equity and provide much needed bill relief.

What you can do right now: 

Call your council member (512-974-2000) and Mayor Adler (512-978-2100), then send an email to the entire city council at http://www.austintexas.gov/email/all-council-members.

Visit the Facebook event page: People's Hearing for Carbon-Free Austin (please share and invite Facebook friends).  Hashtag: #CarbonFreeby2030. 

WEAR GREEN on August 10^th, come to the rally at 6:00, and then let's fill the City Hall Council chamber to let them know we want a carbon-free Austin by 2030. 

Here are some more points you can communicate to City Council. But don't get bogged down in details--tell your own story about why you want strong climate goals and a just and equitable transition to a clean energy future.

•   Austin should adopt the goal that Austin Energy will use only 100% carbon-free electricity by 2030.   Let’s set interim goals that are strong enough so that we will be on track to be carbon-free by 2030.  
• A goal of 75% renewables by 2027 would show commitment to a carbon-free by 2030 future.
• Retire all of our dirty coal and gas-burning fossil fuel plants. Retire the Decker Creek Gas Plant by 2020, and the Sand Hill gas plant no later than 2030.
• Increase our local solar, energy efficiency, storage,  and demand-response goals, and plan to support the introduction of electric vehicles and prepare to use them as a resource.

ENERGY JUSTICE AND EQUITY

•  Make local clean energy more accessible for low-income and working class people. 
•   Create a rooftop solar program that requires no upfront investment from customers, like San Antonio’s Solar Host program.
•  Implement a fractional billing program so that solar benefits will be more accessible to renters.  
•  Increase energy efficiency programs such as weatherization.  These programs have a high paypack. 
•  Calculate affordability limitations according to bill impact to recognize that when programs lower the amount of energy used, bills are lower and customers save. An energy burden analysis would factor in ability to pay by considering income data.