Your weekly resource to learn what the environmental movement is saying about the news of the day and the political fight of our generation. Be sure to follow LCV on Facebook and Twitter.

QUOTES OF THE WEEK:

“Climate change has affected my parents’ home in Somalia because of droughts and food shortages there; this work I’m doing relates to them as well. Something that gives me a lot of hope is seeing so many different people fighting for this common issue and realizing that I am not alone.”

— 15 year old climate activist Juwaria Jama in an interview with Vice.

“Greta Thunberg is right: It’s time to haul ass on climate change”

— Vox’s David Roberts with a very accurate headline

“The IPCC Special Report on the Ocean and Cryosphere paints a gloomy picture of the impacts of climate change on the ocean …but … ocean-based activities have significant potential to help us actually reach the 1.5-degree Celsius target by 2050 – much greater potential than anyone realized.”

 — Jane Lubchenco, marine ecologist and former Administrator of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, in a new paper

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LCV IN THE NEWS:

The Hill: LCV President – We are facing a conservation crisis – it’s time to fully fund the Land and Water Conservation Fund

E&E News: Greens blast ‘anti-electric bus’ provision in NDAA

Iowa Starting Line: IA-SEN: League of Conservation Voters Action Fund Backs Greenfield

E&E News: Profile of a climate voter under Trump: Young and female

OUTSIDE THE BELTWAY:

LCV’s affiliates are hard at work protecting the environment and fighting climate change in the states. Here’s what people are reading across the country:

Politico (NY): NYLCV releases policy agenda

Orange County Breeze (CA): AB 65 to invest millions in green infrastructure along California’s coast

Maryland Matters (MD): Md. Environmental Scorecard Finds a Lot to Like

Insider NJ (NJ): Leading Political Environmental Group Endorses in New Jersey General Assembly Elections

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30 BY 30: In order to confront the conservation crisis that could lead to the extinction of approximately 1 million species, scientists are recommending that countries commit to preserving 30 percent of their lands and oceans by 2030. In the United States, the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) is one of our best tools to protect wildlife habitat and help give all communities better access to the outdoors. In an op-ed published this week, LCV President Gene Karpinski called on Congress to act now and provide full, permanent and dedicated funding for the LWCF. 

GETTING A SEAT AT THE TABLE: LCV Chispa Nevada Organizer, Victor Rivera, shared why he’s committed to making sure communities like his get counted in next year’s census. As an organizer in predominantly Latinx and low income communities, Victor has experienced the ways in which they bear the brunt of pollution and climate change impacts but lack the resources to fight back. Next year, Chispa Nevada and its partners across the Conservation Voter Movement will be ramping up efforts to make sure our communities get counted in the census so we can combat gerrymandering and ensure that every community has the resources and representation they deserve.

WHO RUN THE WORLD: All over the world, young women are stepping up to lead the fight for climate action. According to research conducted by University of Maryland sociology professor Dana Fisher, organizers for the U.S. component of last month’s global youth climate strike were more than twice as likely to be female and a majority of protesters at the Washington D.C. climate strike were women and girls. Read more about how young women have become the face of climate action, including how LCV volunteer Madison Britting is taking action, here.

THIS IS WHAT A CLIMATE CHAMPION LOOKS LIKE: U.S. Senator from Michigan Debbie Stabenow released ‘The Climate Crisis and Michigan’ while home in the Great Lakes State this week. The new report details the impacts of the climate crisis on Michigan and lays out the ways that Michigan can move to a clean energy economy and address the challenges of the crisis.

THE SENATOR’S TAKE: Senator Stabenow said, “Science is clear. The climate crisis is already impacting Michigan’s public health, our Great Lakes, agriculture and our economy. While there is no silver bullet to address this crisis, Michigan is poised to lead the way in finding solutions. Our state’s investments in renewable energy, energy efficiency and new vehicle technologies are already creating good-paying jobs, lowering the cost of energy and reducing the impact of the climate crisis.”

SAVE OUR BEACHES: Former LCV Intern Marissa Uri shared her personal story with us about growing up in North Carolina and spending summers at Wrightsville Beach. She describes how climate change is bringing rising sea levels, extreme weather events and flooding to her beloved childhood getaway. She urges everyone to do their part to help solve the climate crisis. You can read more about Marissa’s story here.

HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE STATES: 

PA JOINS REGIONAL GREENHOUSE GAS INITIATIVE (PA): Governor Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania announced that the state will join the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI). States participating in RGGI agree to enforce rules requiring companies to buy credits through an auction for each ton of carbon dioxide emitted. The cost of the credit is designed to make companies reduce their CO2  emissions and eventually stop producing overall. Greenhouse gases are one of the biggest contributors to global warming and Pennsylvania’s participation in RGGI would catapult them to the front of states leading on climate action. 

CVM TAKE: Conservation Voters Pennsylvania Executive Director Josh McNeil had this to say: “For centuries, Pennsylvania has been among the world’s worst carbon polluters, but today Governor Wolf took a vital step towards a better future. Joining the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative will make our Commonwealth cleaner and more prosperous, while offering hope to our kids and grandkids. There is still tremendous work to do to implement this plan and miles to go to stave off climate change, but when future generations look back and judge our actions and inaction, today will be a day we can all be proud of.”

MARYLAND INVESTS IN HEALTHY KIDS (MD): The Maryland Department of the Environment announced it has allocated nearly $2.5 million from its Volkswagen settlement fund for electric school bus pilot projects in Frederick, Howard, Montgomery and Prince George’s Counties. Chispa, an organizing program of the League of Conservation Voters, launched its Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign in 2015 to push state governments to use Volkswagen settlement funds to purchase zero-emission electric school buses. One of its state partners, Chispa Maryland, was instrumental in securing Maryland’s funding for clean school buses. 

CVM TAKE 1: “We applaud Maryland for putting the health of children first and beginning this transition to a clean ride for kids,” said Chispa National Director Fernando Cazares. “Diesel school buses not only pollute our air and harm children’s lungs, but they also contribute to the greenhouse gas emissions worsening the effects of climate change. This is the latest demonstration that zero-emission electric school buses are the best, cleanest bet for our children and our environment. We look forward to working with school districts across the country as they invest in the futures of our nation’s children.”

CVM TAKE 2: “Chispa Maryland celebrates this critical milestone in cleaning up our school fleets. We will continue working with Governor Hogan, MDE, and local school districts to phase out dirty diesel school buses in Maryland to protect the health of children and advance our Clean Buses for Healthy Niños campaign,” said Ramón Palencia-Calvo, Deputy Executive Director of the Maryland League of Conservation Voters (Maryland LCV) and Director of Chispa Maryland, a community organizing program of Maryland LCV. 

COMING UP: 

October 15: Fourth Democractic Debate in Columbus, Ohio

October 18: Clean Water Act Anniversary

October 23: House hearing on Pebble Mine