House/Senate Legislative Climate Caucus Announces Climate Week Activities In PA Oct. 1-7; PA Climate Convergence Oct. 1-2

On September 29, the House/Senate Legislative Climate Caucus announced a schedule of events for Climate Week in Pennsylvania - October 1-7.

            The Better Path Coalition and its partners from across Pennsylvania will also be converging on Harrisburg to change the conversation on climate change at the PA Climate Convergence on October 1-2.

Climate Caucus Events

Climate Caucus co-chairs state Rep. Danielle Friel Otten (D-Chester) and Sen. Carolyn Comitta (D-Chester), Minority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, shared their thoughts on the importance of empowering local climate action and the work that the Climate Caucus is doing 

“The impacts of the climate crisis are felt first and foremost at the local level, as municipalities struggle to cope with the costs and challenges associated with stormwater, flooding, extreme weather events, and excessive heat,” Rep. Otten said. “We as state legislators have a responsibility to do everything in our power to support local communities and ensure that our municipalities and our commonwealth are well-positioned to take advantage of federal Inflation Reduction Act funds to combat the climate crisis.”

“Climate change is here, and this year Climate Week is an important and welcome reminder of the need to think globally and act locally in addressing the impacts of this ongoing crisis. Extreme weather, storms, flooding, and air and water pollution all impact our public health and safety, infrastructure, and economy at the local and regional levels,” Sen. Comitta said. “The legislature must act now to empower local communities in addressing climate impacts, including supporting the transition from emissions, investing in the clean energy economy, and building climate-resilient infrastructure.”

“With corporate polluters and special-interest groups working hand-in-hand to block meaningful environmental legislation, communities across Pennsylvania have had to bear the burdens and the costs of pollution and climate change,” Rep. Otten said. “This Climate Week, we’re focusing on how we in the legislature can and must provide communities across the commonwealth with the resources they need to advance local climate action.”

The Legislative Climate Caucus convenes to research, evaluate, discuss, and raise awareness about legislation, appropriations and related matters in ways that affirm evidence-based, peer-reviewed science, the acceptance that climate change is real and human-made, the importance of environmental justice, and the necessity for a renewable energy future. 

Further, the Climate Caucus operates to uphold the charge of environmental stewardship as laid bare in Article I, Section 27 of the Pennsylvania Constitution-- the Environmental Rights Amendment.

PA Climate Convergence - Oct. 1-2

On October 1-2, people from across Pennsylvania will be converging in Harrisburg to change the conversation on climate change at the PA Climate Convergence. 

The Pennsylvania Climate Convergence is a diverse, inclusive, peaceful gathering organized to demand urgent action by our government to address the climate crisis.

The path to climate justice necessarily includes the phase out of greenhouse gas production and a just transition to clean, renewable energy for those most affected by the exploitative fossil fuel and petrochemical economy.

On October 2 there will be a People’s Hearing on Climate Change at the East Wing of the Capitol Building from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.  Click Here for a list of presenters.

Visit the PA Climate Convergence website for the latest information.

NewsClips:

-- AP: Gov. Shapiro Noncommittal On Greenhouse Gas Strategy As Climate Task Force Finishes Work

-- Inside Climate News - Kiley Bense: Gov. Shapiro’s Climate Work Group Endorses Emissions Curbs To Fight Climate Change But Don’t Embrace RGGI Membership

-- WHYY - Sophia Schmidt: Climate Activists Bike Hundreds Of Miles Through PA To Demand Change

-- Grist - Will Peischel: Inside The Rough-And-Tumble Race To Clean Up America’s Abandoned Oil & Gas Wells [PA Highlighted]

-- Food & Water Watch Blog: The Sickening Toll Of Natural Gas Development In Pennsylvania 

-- USDA Makes $3 Billion Available For Climate-Smart Practices On Agricultural Lands

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: WV Sen. Manchin (D), PA Republican Cong. Reschenthaler Tell A Tale Of 2 Energy Futures [Biden’s Boost To Energy Independence, Ex-President’s Energy Deregulation]

-- Planet Philadelphia Radio: Cleaning Up Our Energy Systems, Oct. 5 At 4:00 p.m.

-- Utility Dive: PJM Board Calls For Capacity Market Changes To Bolster Grid Reliability, Resource Adequacy

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: A Drop In Emissions, A Jobs Bonanza?  Critics Question Benefits Of Proposed Hydrogen Hub For the Appalachian Region

-- Observer-Reporter Guest Essay: Carbon Capture And Storage Next Big Opportunity For PA - By Diana Irey Vaughan, Washington County Commissioner

-- Citizens Voice: Turnpike Plans To Add Electric Vehicle Chargers To More Service Plazas

-- Inquirer Column: Electric Vehicles Are Not Without Environmental Consequences 

-- Guest Essay: EPA Further Threatens Grid Reliability By Reducing Carbon Pollution From Power Plants, Including Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants - By Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the PA Senate Environmental Committee

-- Real Clean Energy Guest Essay: Suing Companies For Their Impacts On Climate Change Would Close PA For Business - By PA Manufacturers Association

-- PennLive Letter: Fossil Fuels Are Fueling Climate Change And Disaster For Our Planet - By Ed Perry, Former Aquatic Biologist, US Fish & Wildlife Service

Related Articles:

-- Gov. Shapiro’s Work Group Concludes A Cap-And-Invest Carbon Pollution Regulation Program Would Be Optimal Approach To Reducing Greenhouse Emissions From Power Plants; Scale Up Solar Energy  [PaEN]

-- Guest Essay: DEP Should Invest $33.6 Million In New Federal Funding Wisely To Plug  Conventional Oil & Gas Wells And Not Reward The Industry For Bad Behavior  - By  Russell Zerbo, Clean Air Council  [PaEN] 

-- DOE Awards DCNR $1 Million Grant To Provide Technical Assistance For Large Scale Carbon Storage And Regional Carbon Management Hubs  [PaEN]

-- CEOs For Sustainability Host C-Suite Summit Nov. 15 In Pittsburgh  [PaEN]

-- Philadelphia Solar Energy Assn., Philadelphia Energy Authority Host Solar Tour Webinar On Oct. 3  [PaEN]

-- PJM Interconnection Board Proposes Market Reforms Based Largely On Unreliability Of Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants During Winter Storm Elliot  [PaEN] 

-- PJM Interconnection Files Proposed Winter Storm Elliot Settlement With Non-Performing Electric Generators With FERC, Requests Final Action By Dec. 29  [PaEN] 

[Posted: September 29, 2023]  PA Environment Digest