A MESSAGE FROM OUR REGIONAL DIRECTOR
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Greetings,
We are pleased to present our ninth edition (February 2021) of the CXC-Maryland Climate Rally e-newsletter. This new electronic newsletter is not only a way for us to keep stakeholders engaged by bringing environmental/climate news, information, related stories from Maryland and around the country to you in a more timely manner, it also gives us an opportunity to “go green.”
Welcome to Black History Month.
The 2021 Black History Month's theme is "The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity."
In hopes to raise awareness of African American's contributions to civilization, Carter G. Woodson established “Negro History Week” to be celebrated during a week in February 1926, that encompassed the birthdays of both Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass. “Negro History Week” was widely celebrated throughout the country for many years. During the height of the civil rights movement in 1976, President Gerald Ford expanded on “Negro History Week” by officially designating February as “Black History Month.” The federally celebrated holiday continues to recognize and celebrate the contributions African American have made in this country. It is also a time for all Americans to reflect on the continued struggle for racial justice.
This edition of the Maryland Climate Rally is dedicated to “Black History Month” and the nexus between African American history and the climate movement. There are several articles under “What’s Happening Now” you might find interesting.
The CCEA Virtual Lobby Day was held on January 25, where more than 135 constituents had an opportunity to talk to their district representatives and hear their position on this very important legislation. This month’s feature article provides highlights from the CCEA lobby day.
I hope you find this edition of the Maryland Climate Rally informative. Thank you for taking the time to read and give us your thoughts! If you haven’t already done so, please sign up to receive the Maryland Climate Rally e-Newsletter (complete form here).
Warm regards,
Wandra Ashley-Williams
Maryland Regional Director
Climate XChange
Wandra@Climate-XChange.org
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- The Climate Crisis and Education Act Senate hearing is scheduled in the Budget and Taxation Committee on Tuesday 2/2 at 1:00 p.m.
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What the Climate Movement Can Learn From Studying Black History: “Climate denial, like racism, is a plutocratic farce, a way to hoodwink Americans into handing over their retirement to ExxonMobil. Rather than treat climate denial as a matter of science, advocates should treat it as a matter of justice, acknowledging, as Dr. King did, how ideologies of ignorance buttress the interests of the wealthy elite.” READ MORE
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The Environmental Justice Movement Is Rooted In Black History: The modern Environmental Justice Movement would not be what it is today if it were not for the African Americans who helped to shape it. Here are 5 critical ways African American leaders have advanced Environmental Justice. READ MORE
- Climate Justice and Black History Month: “History also shows us that black environmental activists, such as John Francis and Majora Walker, have created platforms to share their environmental activism, and that helped to pave the way to more environmental awareness. But even when environmental injustices don’t have a personal impact, it is still important to advocate for those whose lives are directly altered by the results of global warming.” READ MORE
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Taking Nature Black Conference: Taking Nature Back is an event, an opportunity, a time to pause for the cause. It's a regional and national environmental lovefest. And it’s a Black healing, welcoming, organizing, celebrating, networking space. Our theme is Call and Response: Elevating our Stories, Naturally! This year we're elevating our stories chautauqua-style, so be on the lookout for speakers, creators, innovators, scientists, educators, musicians, artists, and entertainers telling their stories about everything from climate change to environmental justice and environmental joy in creative ways. REGISTER
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Administration off to a good start on climate commitments: Through a suite of executive orders, President Biden began the process of reversing Trump’s anti-environmental legacy — which, in some cases, can be overturned with the stroke of a pen since many actions from Trump were issued through executive orders and not written into law. Here is a look at the orders signed thus far. READ MORE
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Study | World is at its hottest for at least 12,000 years: The planet is officially hotter now than it has been for the last 12,000 years – which is the time period that encapsulates the entire development of human civilization. READ MORE
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FEATURED ARTICLE
THE CLIMATE CRISIS AND EDUCATION ACT CAN MAKE MARYLAND A NATIONAL LEADER ON CLIMATE | By: Wandra Ashley-Williams
The Climate Crisis and Education Act (CCEA), introduced in Maryland this session, incentivizes the reduction of carbon pollution emissions, and its passage would put Maryland on a commonsense, practical pathway toward a sustainable, vibrant economy. This week, dozens gathered virtually to speak with legislators and show their support for the bill and the urgency for lawmakers to pass it.
The new federal administration under President Joe Biden certainly signals a return to science-based policymaking that is a much needed break from the climate denial we have been dealing with for four years. However, states must continue to push forward policies at the local level that can get us the emissions reductions and economic vitality we so desperately need; this bill is a critical step for the future of Maryland. The bill protects those who have been most burdened by the impacts of pollution by ensuring communities can come out ahead. Critically, local-level initiatives and policy making will be needed to tackle the ongoing economic recovery efforts in a way that incorporates climate and environmental justice priorities.
CCEA would make Maryland a national leader in climate legislation that will both tackle the urgent need to reduce carbon pollution emissions, while at the same time raising much-needed revenue to fund education and green infrastructure. Most importantly, the bill includes progressive provisions that would ensure consumers and low-income residents are not disproportionately impacted by the policy. Intersectional solutions that can protect communities from climate impacts while ensuring they benefit from the very solutions achieving that, is central to the way we move forward on climate.
The bill sets a new statewide greenhouse gas-emission reduction goal of 60% by 2030 and net-zero by 2045. It also generates billions of dollars for investment in clean energy infrastructure and education, while providing protective benefits to Maryland’s trade-exposed small businesses and its most economically vulnerable populations.
Some of the main provisions and benefits of CCEA [HB0033/SB0076] are:
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The establishment of three separate funds for green infrastructure, household and employer benefits, and education in the state
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Gradually increasing the price of carbon pollution offers energy companies business and regulatory certainty for future planning; while including a no-pass through provision that protects consumers
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Incentivizes renewable energy, which tends to be locally produced, which creates jobs nearby, economic vitality, and huge investments in public goods.
The lobby day opened with a series of brilliant speakers who shared their support for the bill and their reasons for being deeply engaged in the issue of climate and environmental justice. Here are some of the highlights:
“This bill presents a big opportunity: it addresses risk of harm to low-income folks [...] but also presents Maryland the chance to embrace the green economy of the future and transition away from fossil fuel jobs and towards renewable jobs, while also investing in our children’s education.” – John King Jr., 10th US Secretary of Education under President Barack Obama
“The good news is that we are not yet at a point of no return on runaway carbon emissions; if we act now, we are still able to turn this around, but we have to stop burning fossil fuels as fast as possible – and this bill will help do that.” – Mike Tidwell, Director CCAN
“When I first read the bill, I thought it was brilliant. It’s extremely important — and has been articulated before — to connect with the grassroots communities and to always make the connections of where Black and Brown communities meet at the intersection of the negative aspects of environmental injustice.” – Willie Flowers, President Maryland State Conference NAACP
“The intent and purpose of this legislation is to really move forward on reducing our carbon footprint. There are lots of really nice initiatives out there, many theoretical, but they lack the components to actually make change. The reason I’m so committed to this legislation is that I believe it does make that change in a very thoughtful, practical, and realistic way.” – Senate Bill Co-Sponsor, Senator Ben Kramer
“The biggest tenant of the bill is to not harm communities that are already disproportionately impacted — the rebate system makes sure that low-income residents come out ahead — this is non negotiable.” – House Bill Co-Sponsor, Delegate David Fraser-Hidalgo
Maryland students who are engaged climate advocates in the state have been involved in the coalition and lending their support for this bill. Just like across the country and the world, young voices are incredibly important and powerful on this issue, and illuminate the need to act urgently and swiftly. Here are some of the highlights from the student rally that took place during the lobby day:
“Maryland needs to be a leader on climate change, which is why we need this bill. As someone who has gone through the Maryland public school system K-12, I’m so happy to see a bill that addressed my concern for the environment while simultaneously helping our schools.” – Julia Ledoux Hananel, Freshman at the University of Maryland
“Spreading knowledge through education will really help the next generation combat this crisis in a way that we’re just starting to do now. This bill introduces an equitable solution to environmental injustice with the necessary market-based mechanisms to generate revenue to improve the quality of life and education for millions of Maryland families to come.” – Anjali Gulati, student at Morgan State University
“This bill has a lot of potential for at-risk communities. Aside from that, I admire the no-pass through provision, which punishes the culprits of climate change. Rather than punishing everyday people, we’re shifting responsibility to those who put us in this situation.” – Jessica Garbarczyk, high school senior
To learn more about the bill and the coalition hard at work to get it passed, go to climate-xchange.org/maryland.
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Hard Truths on the State of the Planet: “‘In other words,’ say 17 of the world’s leading ecologists in a stark new perspective on our place in life and time, ‘humanity is running an ecological Ponzi scheme in which society robs nature and future generations to pay for boosting incomes in the short term.’” READ MORE
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Biden’s Climate Cabinet Meets Diversity of the Climate Moment: Will they meet its ambition? Each member of the climate team has a unique background and skill set to push the United States to be more ambitious in its climate goals and create plans that increase the quality of life for all people and can prevent the worst effects of the climate crisis. READ MORE
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Democrats flip the Senate — illuminating a path forward on climate: Amid the chaos of the Capitol insurrection and the Georgia runoff elections, Democrats successfully regained control of the Senate. With a blue chamber, advocates set their sights on the renewed opportunity to pass bold climate policy at the federal level. READ MORE
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Survey Finds Majority of Voters Support Initiatives to Fight Climate Change: A new survey from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communications finds that a majority of voters – post November’s election – are supportive of bold climate policies and ramping up renewable energy. READ MORE
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Climate Deniers Shift Tactics to ‘Inactivism’: In an interview with Scientific American, climate scientist Michael Mann comments on the latest tactics deployed by climate deniers, saying, “The plutocrats who are tied to the fossil fuel industry are engaging in a new climate war—this time to prevent meaningful action.” READ MORE
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Supreme Court Case Could Limit Future Lawsuits Against Fossil Fuel Industry: The case – BP Oil v. Mayor and City Council of Baltimore – is attempting to gain retribution from BP for their role in driving global climate change and the impacts felt directly in Baltimore. READ MORE
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The Impact of Climate Change on Maryland: “Unfortunately, Maryland hasn’t been spared from the harmful repercussions of climate change and global warming. Rising sea levels could wreak havoc on the lives of such residents. Apart from flooding, these areas have also become more susceptible to extreme weather events, such as hurricanes and blizzards.” READ MORE
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Maryland Educator Wins Funding to Expand Climate Change Curriculum: Sandra Turner, a Maryland educator, was awarded $8,000 from the National Geographic Society COVID-19 Educator Fund to increase the scope of climate education. READ MORE
- Lawmakers Unveil an Ambitious Climate Action Plan for Maryland: Sen. Paul G. Pinsky and Del. Dana M. Stein unveiled the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2021, which they plan to introduce in the upcoming legislative session. Sen. Pinksy stated: “We’re a highly urbanized, suburbanized, educated state. We should be at the forefront [of climate change], and we don’t care how we get there.” READ MORE
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- WEBINAR | The Road to 100% Renewable Energy: The concept of 100% renewable energy is rising as a policy choice for reducing carbon pollution. In recent years, several cities and states have committed to 100% renewable energy or net-zero goals, and President Joe Biden has committed to carbon neutrality nationwide before 2050 in his most recent climate plan. February’s Deep Dive webinar looks at these policies under a microscope. REGISTER
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The Capitol Riot (as with most everything else) is also a climate story: As is almost everything else that happens on the planet today, the disgusting events on the Capitol are also an important climate story. We’ve compiled a reading list of salient pieces that explore and articulate the overlapping issues of this moment, as well as how these events are all tied together with the climate and ecological crises, white supremacy, and the systems that protect some, while deeming others disposable. READ MORE
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The Power of Labor in a Green Economy: Transformational societal change to save the climate is closer than ever with President-elect Joe Biden’s star-studded climate cabinet and with the Georgia runoffs tipping the Senate to a Democratic majority. However, we are going to continue to need a diverse, broad coalition of advocates across the country to make sure our climate policies increase all American’s quality of life. Labor unions critically need to be at the decision making table to ensure that no workers are left behind in the renewable energy transition. READ MORE
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The Ongoing Fight for the Forests and Freshwater of Hawai‘i: Hawaiʻi’s native organisms are sensitive to change, and many species have declined with the anthropogenic clearing of land for agriculture and introduction of plants and animals from other regions. These threats have led to the loss of endemic organisms and their habitats, and consequently a decline in freshwater quality and abundance. READ MORE
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A New Investigation About Who’s Getting Sick From Heat-Related Illness Should Be a Wakeup Call for America
“Zip codes do determine your health, and most of that is because of structural racism.” Mother Jones reports on analysis conducted by Columbia Journalism Investigations and the Center for Public Integrity. READ MORE
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Acknowledgements:
Author: Wandra Ashley-Williams
Senior Editor: Wandra Ashley-Williams
Layout & Editors: Christian Morris, Petra Smeltzer, Maria Virginia Olano
Graphic Design: Amanda Griffiths
Featured Image: Photo from CXC-MD's 2021 CCEA Lobby Night
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