Co₂nsequences: ECCC November Newsletter
Dana --
Message from the Chair
November has been a month of hope, success, and disappointment, both with the U.S. midterms and the results of COP27. It is also the month of thanksgiving, so we give thanks to all of you and the progress we have made.
In the U.S. midterms, Democrats have retained and may even grow the majority in the Senate next month with the Georgia run-off. Democrats have also defied historical trends by only narrowly losing the house, but there will be consequences. Republican leadership has already signaled the elimination of the climate crisis committee. U.S. support of the Loss and Damage Fund at COP27 and the adaption of language to phase down fossil fuels will certainly be political dynamite, as well, for the Biden administration in the hands of a Republican House.
Regionally, there are points of light. Republicans in historically conservative states that once resisted the clean-energy movement are now competing for these factories. Voters across New York state approved a $4.2 billion environmental bond measure in the midterms to bolster climate mitigation and land preservation projects. And a number of states have newly elected trifecta Democratic leadership ready to support environmental justice initiatives and forge our transition to a zero carbon economy.
On a global level, negotiations at COP27 in Egypt ended with a historic deal that resets the relationship between rich and poor countries by establishing a fund for “loss and damage”. U.S. and EU negotiators stepped up heroically in a last-minute, overtime deal. Nonetheless, on measures to phase down oil and gas and increase funding for adaptation, COP27 delivered little progress. The world's path leads to upwards of 1.5C warming, a critical threshold for avoiding catastrophic climate disruptions. Sam Goodman, reporting from Egypt, has graciously submitted an overview in this month’s featured article, ‘COP27: 1.5 is Dead, and the Fund is Alive’.
The UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres concluded the conference with, ”Our planet is still in the emergency room. We need to drastically reduce emissions now – and this is an issue this COP did not address. A fund for loss and damage is essential – but it’s not an answer if the climate crisis washes a small island state off the map – or turns an entire African country to desert.” Democrats and the Biden administration have made a small step forward in this mission, but we must join hands to save this planet together.
Dana Freling - Chair, Environment & Climate Crisis Council
Georgia is on our minds! If you are a Georgia voter, make sure your run-off ballot gets in by Dec. 5th!
📬 If you haven’t sent it yet, the courier is your only option.
🆘 If you have problems or questions related to ballots or voter protection issues, we offer several avenues of support. You can check state requirements at votefromabroad.org under ‘your state rules. For individual advice, contact [email protected] or [email protected]
COP27: 1.5 is Dead, and the Fund is Alive by Sam Goodman - A Kentucky voter living in Costa Rica.
The EV Battery Boom Is Here, With Manufacturers Investing Billions in Midwest Factories
How people with disabilities fought for formal recognition at COP27
Greenhouse Gas Bulletin: "We have again broken new records" - Climate | WMO |United Nations
In Georgia, Warnock’s Climate Activism Contrasts Sharply with Walker’s Deep Skepticism
Inside the COP27 fight to get wealthy nations to pay climate reparations
Report offers a road map to restore the rule of law in the Brazilian Amazon
Climate Café - The Arts & Climate Activism on 20 December at 12:30 pm ET/6:30 pm CET
🌍 Watch our November Climate Café - COP27 Round up: Live from Sharm El Sheik with Sam Goodman
🌍 Coming soon - Watch our YOUTH v GOV Voices Webinar
🌍 Watch our October Climate Café – Climate Change and Environment Justice: Doing Right by Africa
🌍 Watch our September Climate Cafe on the Inflation Reduction Act
🌍 Read the ECCC Statement on the Inflation Reduction Act
🌏 Watch our August Climate Café on Climate and Disabilities
🌍 Watch our July Climate Café on Queer Ecology
🌍 Did you miss our Co₂nsequences: Global Climate Rally in April? You can watch it here. We had a lot of great speakers and performers.
🌍 Want to make your lifestyle greener? Boost your knowledge. Check out our Earth Care Toolkit.
A meaningful way to get out our message is through social media. We need your help extending our essential message by following, liking, and subscribing to our newly established social media accounts: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube. We can’t beat the algorithms without your help.