Our Billings CCL volunteer meeting is the 2nd Weds of each month. The next meeting will be on Weds August 14 at 6pm at the Billings Public Library 2nd floor conference room. Newcomers and visitors are welcome!
For more information about the Citizens’ Climate Lobby check out this short video or go to the national Citizens’ Climate Lobby main website at https://citizensclimatelobby.org/.
To join the movement go to https://citizensclimatelobby.org/join-citizens-climate-lobby/.
Citizens’ Climate Lobby was asked to submit written testimony at the May 15 hearing of the House Ways and Means Committee on the Economic and Health Consequences of Climate Change. It is a valuable summary of key points from the current climate science reports including IPCC 1.5C report and the U.S. 4th National Climate Assessment.
The Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (H.R. 763) will drive down America’s carbon emissions by 40% in the first 12 years.
Go to energyinnovationact.org to learn more and send a message to your Members of Congress to support or co-sponsor the bill. It’s supported by economists and scientists as simple, comprehensive, and effective.
This policy puts a fee on fossil fuels like coal, oil, and gas. It starts low, and grows over time. This will drive down carbon pollution because energy companies, leading industries, and American consumers will move toward cleaner, cheaper options.
On January 23, 2019, the bipartisan “Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend” was re-introduced into the US House of Representatives. Two days later the US Conference of Catholic Bishops issued a Press Release.
The Chair of their Committee on Domestic Justice and Human Development “welcomed the legislation as an important step forward in addressing climate change.” They found it encouraging that the legislation, which is expected to result in significant reductions in carbon emissions, would not burden the poor and vulnerable populations. They call for further analysis to fully understand its effect on the financial burdens of families and communities, since climate change can only ever be fully addressed with “an eye to the least of these.”
Dr. Cathy Whitlock, the Lead Author of the 2017 Montana Climate Assessment, will present the findings on May 24 at the Billings Public Library at 7pm.
The report is a product of the Montana University System’s Montana Institute on Ecosystems. The assessment describes past and future climate trends that affect three sectors of Montana’s economy: agriculture, water, and forestry.
The program will start at 6:30 with refreshments, and introductions by the three local community action groups who are co-sponsors: the League of Women Voters of Billings, Billings Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the Better Billings Sustainability Committee of Yellowstone Valley Citizens Council.
This event is free and open to the public.
Hal Benton reported in The Seattle Times on May 9, 2018, that state regulators had “stepped up their climate activism” by asking power utilities in the Washington to assign or increase a carbon price “for planning purposes” on their fossil fuel sources of electricity.
This will apply to the electricity produced with coal from Montana and Wyoming. Benton says it specifically threatens the economic viability of the Colstrip Generating Plant.
Interesting, that Puget Sound Energy already assigns a carbon price in their accounting records, but Pacific Corp, the parent company of Pacific Power, did not intend to until 2026. These two utilities, and Avista Corp, supply electricity to 1.47 million customers in Washington.
This article was summarized in IEEFA.
Join hundreds of Billings kids and their adults at ZooMT on April 21, from 10-4pm for a celebration of science.
Citizens Climate Education of Billings will be promoting Healthy Oceans. Hear from scuba divers from Billings who have visited the coral reefs and are passionate about protecting their beauty and the lives of all the organisms who live in and with them.
Learn about the inhabitants of coral reefs; assemble your own sea butterfly; see a demonstration of ocean acidity; and more.
Photo from the Rally for Science, ZooMT, April 2017. “The Universe Story”
