Center for Neighborhood Technology

U.S. State of Climate Delivered to White House

The Presidential Climate Action Project (PCAP) delivered the State of the Climate paper to the White House this morning with a very impressive list of signatories. The list includes two Nobel Laureates, a number of the nation’s top climate scientists and policy experts, mayors, and business leaders. CNT’s President and member of the PCAP Steering Committee Scott Bernstein is one of the signatories.

PCAP is encouraging President George Bush to consider the assessment of climate change and policy as he prepares his State of the Union address on Monday, January 28, 2008. In releasing the report, PCAP “regret[s] to report that the state of the nation’s climate policy is poor, and the climate and the ecosystems that depend upon it are showing increasing signs of disruption. Global climate change now threatens not only the environment, but also our national security, our economic stability, and our public health and safety. We can longer discuss the State of the Union without addressing the state of the nation’s climate.”

CNT contributed to the Presidential Climate Action Plan that contains more than 300 proposals for new federal policies and programs to address climate change. Our research on transportation and climate found that reducing motorized trips is as important as cleaner cars: a 1% annual reduction in vehicle miles traveled (VMT) reduces roughly as much carbon as a 4% annual improvement in fuel efficiency. When we reduce our carbon by VMT reduction, it results in large cost of living savings for America’s families.

While the Presidential Climate Action Plan frames the agenda for the first 100 days of the next Administration, it is a resource that the current Administration could use to move the federal government into leadership domestically, and the United States into leadership internationally, on this urgent issue.

To read the final statement and add you name to the current signature list, go to the PCAP web site at http://www.climateactionproject.com/soc.php.

For information about the Presidential Climate Action Plan, read the full report here.

For more information on CNT’s Climate Program, visit www.cnt.org/climate.

How Should the Next President of the United States Address Climate Change?

CNT is pleased to announce the release of the Presidential Climate Action Plan (PCAP), a plan to help the next President of the United States take bold action on global warming within the first 100 days of the new administration. Developed by a broad group of leaders from around the nation, the PCAP is the most comprehensive and detailed plan for national climate action yet presented to the presidential candidates and the American people. It consists of more than 100 proposed policies and programs covering more than a dozen critical areas of endeavor. More broadly, PCAP identifies how the 44th President and the Congress can help America find its path to a 21st Century economy that achieves three critical objectives: security, opportunity and stewardship.

CNT was part of the group of experts that developed the plan over the past year. CNT’s research and expertise in transportation, land use, and climate change forms the basis for much of the plan’s transportation agenda. In addition, CNT President Scott Bernstein serves on the Steering Committee of the Presidential Climate Action Project, bringing CNT’s deep understanding of sustainable, measurable, place-based solutions with net economic benefits to this monumental project. We look forward to working with leaders and residents around the country in collaboration with the Presidential Climate Action Project to gain widespread support for this plan in coming months and to put this plan into action.

For more information about the plan read the full report here.

Or visit the Presidential Climate Action Project’s website for more information.

The project team is inviting public input on PCAP at www.helium.com and will consider suggestions as it finalizes the plan. You can also send comments and ideas for climate leadership to feedback@climateactionproject.com.

For more information on CNT’s Climate Program, visit www.cnt.org/climate.

The Chicago Region Needs Senate Bill 572

The November 4th deadline for when 39 bus routes will be completely eliminated while fares climb to $3 is a mere 2 weeks away, and with no plans to make a move before this first wave of devastating cuts, the Illinois General Assembly continues to wallow in dispute over funding schemes.

Unfortunately, it appears as if the Illinois Legislature will allow this first ‘doomsday’ to come to fruition, as there are no plans to convene before November 4th. It’s unacceptable that the legislators will allow the region to suffer from transit service cuts now and even more in January. We need to push them to support the most comprehensive plan that will prevent further devastation to the transit system and regional congestion and air pollutions increases.

What the transit system needs is a comprehensive funding and reform package, not a temporary band-aid promise of funds from unbuilt casinos. Senate Bill 572 provides long-term funding for both the operating and capital expenses of the region’s transit system. It also reforms the Regional Transit Authority to keep transit officials more accountable and reduce inefficiencies across the system.

The proposed capital bill that the Governor and Senate President are supporting does not address the specific and immediate needs of the RTA.

What can you do?

(Image: Roll Call of SB 572 from September 12 session, courtesy of juliehamos.org)

1. Download a map of your area and learn the average household transportation cost.

2. Find out who represents you.

3. Look at the list of service cuts and fare increases.

4. Contact your legislators by phone, email or mail and tell them to support Senate Bill 572.

For more information on the transit crisis in the Chicagoland region, read more about what has been going on in CNT’s latest update.

Walk it Out this Month

Did you know that October is International Walk to School Month? Walking to school is a great way to improve the health of school-children, take care of the environment, and also raise community awareness of pedestrian safety all at the same time. Walking to school is an important part of community sustainability, as it promotes neighborhood involvement, health, care for the environment, and walkability. International Walk to School month is a movement world-wide to promote walking to school. Every year millions of students participate in all 50 states and countries around the world.

By the way, walking isn’t just beneficial for the young ones. Try walking to work, or even hauling it a few bus stops further from your home. Instead of hopping in your car for that trip to the post office, consider ‘hoofing’ it. Maybe even join your children on their walk to school.

CNT is a member of the regional Safe Routes to School task force that coordinates Walk to School Month/Day for Northeastern Illinois. CNT promotes walking by advocating for greater walkability and advising local decision-makers on pedestrian issues. Currently CNT is in the process of publishing a pamphlet that will explain pedestrian-related traffic laws targeted at drivers all over the state.

For more information on International Walk to School month and day, visit http://www.walktoschool.org/about/index.cfm.

Bridging the Gap Between Chicago and Nairobi

Last Saturday afternoon, at an intimate gathering at the Al Raby School for Community and Environment, Dr. Wangari Maathai presided over the dedication of a native garden planted in her name. Students, teachers and community members listened as Dr. Maathai spoke of the essential role gardens like the Wangari Maathai Natural Garden play in promoting urban renewal, social and environmental activism and raising awareness—from the Al Raby School on Chicago’s West Side to the Green Belt Movement in Nairobi, Kenya.

At the dedication, Al Raby students spoke about their experiences planting the native garden at the entrance of their school. Back in May, with the help of CNT and other community members, the concrete was removed and students helped to install a garden that will serve as an interactive learning site not only for students but for the East Garfield Park community.

The students also reflected on the important lessons they learned from leveling and turning soil, planting seeds and laying mulch, to now maintaining and monitoring the garden—one of the most valuable being the teamwork it required. One student reflected on her initial surprise to find she would not just be observing the garden, but helping to create it from scratch. Later, Dr. Maathai responded by pointing out that to invoke progress you often must “get down on the ground” and plant a garden yourself.

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Eco-Friendly Landlords Make ‘Going Green’ More Than a Habit

You’ve gotten rid of your car, shop the local farmer’s market with your cloth bag, and purchased green tags to offset your vacation. And still not quite satisfied you are doing all you can to reduce your carbon footprint. Adapting your way of life is important so you want to feel like you’ve made strides that impact both the environment and your wallet.

You literally do not need to leave home to make the biggest impact because your home is one of the best possible sources to green in reducing your greenhouse gas emissions output. Residential buildings use enormous amounts of energy that come from carbon-emitting sources. And since Illinois only gets about 3% of its energy from non-polluting sources, in addition to demanding clean energy sources, we should also take steps to reduce our overall demand, no matter what the source.

So you buy CFL lightbulbs, Energy Star appliances, and planted native plants in your garden for shade. Now what? How about painting your roof a light, reflective color so your building reflects heat in the summer, lowering your air conditioning bill? Or adding insulation to help seal the walls and reduce the amount it takes to heat and cool indoors? Though these may not be the most “sexy”, cutting-edge green building practices, they are the hard-hitting steps to reducing your building’s energy consumption. Focusing on the building ’seal’ will save you money by reducing your energy consumption, while also reducing your dependence on polluting energy sources.

You can do all these initiatives on your own, or you can move to a building that does it already! The recent issue of Time Out Chicago featured eco-minded landlords and real estate properties. Check out the profile of CNT CEO, Kathy Tholin, and what she is doing to keep her building (and rent) sustainable.

Photo courtesy of Time Out Chicago: CNT CEO Kathy Tholin sitting atop her building’s solar panels

Chicago Steps it Up - Will You?

Kicking off a busy week of Earth Month related activities, hundreds of
people gathered at Daley Plaza last Saturday to tell Congress to “step up” their climate change agendas and reduce 80% of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. For this National Day of Climate Action, people gathered in all 50 states in more than 1400 places around the country.

Hog Butcher for the World;
Tool Maker, Stacker of Wheat;
Player with Railroads and the Nation’s Freight Handler;
Stormy, husky, brawling
City of the Big Shoulders.

In 1916 Carl Sandburg described Chicago’s reputation as gritty and industrial. The city has come a long way from its industrial-powered roots and today is one of the leaders in developing tools to mitigate the greenhouse gas emissions it has become so known for producing.

CNT’s Peter Haas spoke at the rally of plans underway for measuring Chicago’s impact on climate change—an area where there is an opportunity to raise awareness to the fact that economic prosperity shouldn’t come at the cost of the long-term health of future generations and the planet.

Drive less. Demand green energy. Plant native vegetation. These are just some of the ways we can “step it up” and lower our own carbon footprint. I-GO sponsored the event and was on hand signing up new members who wanted to start right away.

Peter ended with a vision for a new Chicago: “We may no longer butcher hogs, or stack wheat, but we still are the freight handlers of this nation, and we still have big shoulders and can build the tools to address the biggest issue of our time – climate change.”

You can read Peter’s full speech here.

Climate Change Activities Heating Up

By 2030, Chicago could be up to four degrees Fahrenheit warmer and basking (or baking) in double-digit temperature increases by the end of this century. Extreme heat abnormal to our region’s ecosystem would become more common and storms more severe and with greater impacts. Despite greater precipitation levels, the Midwest would actually be a drier climate and suffer drought due to the increased evaporation associated with warmer areas. The potential scenarios and subsequent dominoes falling would affect our lake levels, water quality, rivers, ecosystem, plant life, and energy use. The impact of these changes would be dramatic—affecting all aspects of Chicagoans quality of life.

But, the picture painted above doesn’t have to come to fruition. As part of his goal for a green Chicago, Mayor Daley is focusing attention on the effects of climate change. The City itself has already taken steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from municipal operations and adapt to changes in climate; and Chicago is now demonstrating even greater leadership by facilitating a more comprehensive plan to determine how the entire community can reduce its contribution to global warming. The City’s Department of Environment and the Global Philanthropy Partnership are collaborating on the Chicago Climate Task Force that brings together representatives from business, civil society, government, and labor, as well as a top researchers working in the field of climate change. The Task Force is charged with preparing an action plan for Chicago—a plan for all who produce, work, and live here.

To initiate the process, the Task Force will consider research that will use a variety of data sets to create a baseline calculation of Chicago’s existing emissions from multiple sources—from planes, trains, and automobiles to electricity, industry, and waste.

Here is where CNT comes in. . .

CNT is leading up the City’s mitigation research team. In addition, CNT President Scott Bernstein is a member of the Task Force. CNT will be focusing on documenting the current greenhouse gas footprint of Chicago, projecting future emissions under business as usual, and creating a menu of emission reduction opportunities. Because the City of Chicago is depending upon this research to guide its climate planning, CNT is in a unique position to help support wise decision making for the future of the region by providing robust, peer-reviewed information.

The Chicago climate change effort will identify cost-effective opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Chicago and then assign emissions values to the proposed emission reduction programs. The study will include a description of the necessary scale at which these changes would have to be implemented, as well as their economic impacts. CNT is encouraging all those with emission reduction ideas for Chicago to submit them for the research team’s consideration. At a recent meeting of the initiative, participants generated ideas such as banning the sale of incandescent light bulbs within the City, mandating energy efficient education in school curricula, and higher fees on automobile licensing. It appears the desire, creativity, and energy is being harnessed in the right direction—that could lead to cooler days ahead. If you have ideas for programs or policies that Chicago could pursue to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions please submit them to Matthew Cunningham at matthew@cnt.org.

Inconvenient or Convenient? Contest Highlights Solutions to Climate Change

Those film buffs among us who watched the Academy Awards show on February 25 saw An Inconvenient Truth win the Oscar for Best Documentary feature film. This film presents Vice President Al Gore’s crusade to affect global warming by debunking misconceptions and galvanizing ordinary citizens to act.

Now, Seventh Generation and TreeHugger are giving us an opportunity to learn how to act by offering up a collection of “inspired, pragmatic videos to get us out of this mess.”  As sponsors of Convenient Truths: a green video contest, they have created a user-generated video competition that offers compelling solutions to combat global warming. The contest is a chance for concerned citizens to share the ways in which we can all save our planet. According to the contest website (www.treehugger.com), Al Gore’s film highlighted the growing global warming threat and their video contest offers a way to curb the impact. While An Inconvenient Truth presented the dilemma, Seventh Generation and TreeHugger are asking entrants to show us all the potential ways of solving the problem. Filmmakers were encouraged to highlight components of everyday life and actions being taken to reduce individual carbon footprints.

A group of judges, including celebrity activists and high-profile personalities such as Arianna Huffington, Darryl Hannah, Ed Begley, Jr., and Perry Farrell (to name but a few), will be awarding prizes—one of which is an all-expenses-paid eco-tour for two to the Alaskan Wildlife Refuge (including air fare, travel gear, and carbon offsets). But before the judges announce the winners, we have the opportunity to whittle down the list of nearly 100 videos by channeling our “inner eco-critic” in rating the submissions.

So, where is a Chicago filmmaker to go when setting out to craft an entry? CNT, of course!!!

Robert Aguilar and Dorothee Royal-Hedinger came to our office and spoke with Anthony Star to get a definition of what global warming is. Anthony offers this simple definition: “Globally warming is the increase in the earth’s atmospheric temperature caused by human activities.”  In the completed piece, this definition is contrasted with answers provided by the average man- and woman-on-the-street. The video reveals a diversity of perspectives about what global warming is and the variety of arenas affected by it. Anthony also suggests that the single best thing people can do right now is “walk more.”

Check out the video at http://truths.treehugger.com/video/contest_entry_what_can_regular.php to see how Chicagoans are individually “doing their part.” Visit the site by March 14 to participate in the rating process.