Tag: environment

Trump is stealing from central Pennsylvanians. Where’s Rep. Glenn Thompson?

February 22, 2025

The Trump administration has sought to freeze funding for central Pennsylvania businesses and governments. This freeze will harm rural and urban economic development, impact clean energy, transportation, environmental remediation, resilience, and other infrastructure. These attacks will negatively impact our region’s goals in economic development, including–but not limited to–climate-related investments. Grist has developed a tool to … More Trump is stealing from central Pennsylvanians. Where’s Rep. Glenn Thompson?

Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

February 7, 2025

The Trump administration’s attacks on climate, on science, education, and on human health was completely predictable. Its roots are in the confluence and cooperation of big religion and big oil. These two factions in American life have been in a tacit alliance that goes back decades. As I’ve written in previous posts, it became clear … More Why I am not surprised by Trump’s attacks on science, climate, education, & human health.

As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

January 21, 2025

Yesterday was Martin Luther King, Jr. Day for 2025 and Inauguration Day for Donald Trump for the second time. I accept these facts, their juxtaposition and paradox. All I know is that I am in control of myself, that I am called to something greater than myself, and that the climate action and ecological citizenship … More As Gandalf said, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”

“Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.”

January 19, 2025

My amazing colleague, Erica Smithwick answers the question, “Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.” 2024 is officially the hottest year on record, the tenth of the ten hottest ever-recorded years. Snowpack is reduced, droughts are longer and deeper, and everything on the ground is drier and therefore … More “Is climate change to blame” for the California fires? “The answer, simply, is yes.”

A student faces the fires. We’re lucky he understands what drives them & is ready to do something about it.

January 13, 2025

Over the last few days, I’ve been texting with a former student, Joe Thompson, from the Local Climate Action Program who lives in Orange, CA. The Palisades fire has been raging around him, so he’s been assisting his community by taking food the local shelter for it to go to Los Angeles. With the Santa … More A student faces the fires. We’re lucky he understands what drives them & is ready to do something about it.

7.7.77: A prescient note on climate change to Jimmy Carter

January 1, 2025

The day before my first birthday–July 7, 1977–a climate memo was prepared for Pres. Jimmy Carter. It was titled “Release of Fossil CO2 and the Possibility of a Catastrophic Climate Change.” It recognized the pending impact from warming caused by the amplification of the greenhouse effect from exponential fossil fuel combustion. Carter saw it. I … More 7.7.77: A prescient note on climate change to Jimmy Carter

State and local governments will persist in climate action because it works.

December 21, 2024

State and local governments will persist in climate action. That’s the conclusion of a recent piece in Grist. We have virtual certainty the incoming Trump administration will withdraw from the Paris Agreement, leading to widespread worry about other nations’ commitments to reduce emissions and achieve the 1.5° or 2° C temperature goals. But there are lots of … More State and local governments will persist in climate action because it works.

Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

December 19, 2024

In the last week, we’ve had more wins for the power purchase agreement. Last Tuesday, the Centre County Commissioners voted 3-0 to enter. On Monday, the State College Borough voted 6-1 to join. Tonight, Last night, Patton Township’s Board voted 5-0. They join the State College Area School District and Harris Township. All told, there are about … More Some lessons from the PPA: Openness. Honesty. Skepticism. Trust. Consistency.

Climate change is…an invitation to practice acceptance. 

December 11, 2024

This entry continues the “Climate change is…” series. Last year, I met the photographer, film maker, and author James Balog. After a talk that included pieces of The Human Element, Chasing Ice, and other parts of his expansive catalog, he was asked a question about what lesson has been really important. His answer: “Acceptance.” We cannot … More Climate change is…an invitation to practice acceptance.