Sustainable Arlington

FEB 28, 2020TEBANY YUNE, MIC

In general, plastic bag bans aren’t perfect, wrote policy analyst John Hite for the Conservation Law Foundation, but they’re a good start. ... the bans consistently decreased the overall use of single-use plastic bags. ... he considers the bans a small stepping stone ...  For the full story, click here.

presents documented incidents and publicly available facts about the gas distribution system that add up to an urgent message to legislators, the executive branch, municipalities, and gas companies to take action now. Immediate and short-term improvements can greatly enhance public safety. At the same time, Massachusetts can accelerate measures to transition away from gas to safer, healthier, affordable renewable energy.

Published by GasLeaksAllies.org, 9.13.19.

Let your State Sen. and Rep. know (by June 2020) if you support this act.

An Act For Utility Transition to Using Renewable Energy (F.U.T.U.R.E.)

The GasLeaksAllies.org outline a safe, just transition that moves Massachusetts utilities off gas in alignment with our state’s mandated greenhouse gas reduction targets. 

Sponsors: Senator Cynthia Creem (1st Middlesex and Norfolk), Representative Lori Ehrlich (8th Essex), and Representative Christina Minicucci (14th Essex)

https://climate-xchange.org/communicating-the-climate-crisis/

At first glance, climate change communication is about educating and informing people about this massive issue, in order to mobilize and solve the climate crisis. On a deeper level however, climate change communication is shaped by our different experiences, mental and cultural models, and underlying values and world views. The way we talk about climate change, either as advocates, scientists, or regular citizens, affects the way people understand and think about both the problem and the solutions alike.  A lot of communication about climate change gets it right about the risk and possible negative scenarios, but wrong about how we try to accomplish the critical goal of not just raising public concern, but moving people to action.    [see also  Climate Generation, Climate Stories, https://www.climategen.org/take-action/act-climate-change/climate-stories/]

DeSmogBlog exists to clear the PR pollution that is clouding the science on climate change.  It began in January 2006 and quickly became the world’s number one source for accurate, fact based information regarding global warming misinformation campaigns.

Supporting the Commonwealth through up-to-date climate change science. Documents, Data, Maps, MA programs, etc.

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

Interview recorded at Arlington, MA EcoFest, March 4, 2019

Explore sea level and coastal flood risks.  A location can be several miles inland and still at risk.  Try typing in Arlington, MA. Click "Full-Feature Map" to see impacts of sea level rise from 0 to 10 feet.

Climate Central’s Program on Sea Level Rise strives to provide accurate, clear and granular information about sea level rise and coastal flood hazards both locally and globally, today and tomorrow. Anchored in rigorous primary research, our work distinguishes itself by its user-friendly maps and tools, extensive datasets, and high-quality visual presentation. The program dedicates its efforts to helping citizens, communities, businesses, organizations, and governments at every level to understand the consequences of different carbon pathways and to navigate the shifting waters of our warming world.  See http://sealevel.climatecentral.org/about

Pursuing Climate Justice.  Climate change is rapidly exacerbating racial, economic, and social inequities. As sea levels rise, droughts lengthen, and storms become more intense and unpredictable, people and communities with limited resources will have less capacity to prepare for – or bounce back from – these challenges.

A manicured lawn might look nice, but messy is better for birds and bugs.

The Audubon Society says:  leave this year's dead flower stalks with their seeds pods.  Winter birds need them.  Let some leaves remain on your garden beds and mulch (mow over) those on your lawn.  Leaf litter is free fertilizer and provides essential cover for tiny insects and invertebrates that wild birds eat.  Build a brush pile to provide cover from pedators and weather. Skip the chemicals.  They cause harm throughout the food web.  Download the article to learn more.

Arlington CCA: 1. Gives residents and businesses access to additional local renewable energy generated in Mass. and other New England states. 2. Speeds  transition off fossil fuels. 3. Saves you money because the Town uses its bulk purchasing power to get better rates. Learn more from this 2018 video interview with Town Manager Adam Chapdelaine, Select Board member Joe Curro, and Green Energy Consumers Alliance's Erin Taylor.  

A report has been prepared for the Committee on Climate Change, which advises [UK} ministers how to cut the UK's carbon footprint.  It says an upheaval in our lifestyles is the only way to meet targets ... to cut carbon emissions to net zero by 2050.

Arlington artist-in-residence Michelle Lougee offers a series of workshops and meet-ups from Jan. to June 2020 for a community art project.  Free. Fun. Engaging.

http://artsarlington.org/artist-in-residence/

The HeatSmart Alliance seeks to accelerate adoption of heat pumps in residences and community buildings. Our volunteers from over 10 Massachusetts towns collaborate with local organizations and municipalities to provide information, event organizing, coaching, and other tools for promoting adoption of heat pumps and related building efficiency measures.

"After ... the United States [withdrew from] the Paris Climate Agreement on June 1, 2017, many states jumped to sign a pledge promising to uphold the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement. Massachusetts was not one of them.  

Instead, local mayors and Boards of Selectmen have signed the pledge, We Are Still In, including Arlington’s Board of Selectmen. Chair Joseph Curro proposed the pledge at the Selectmen’s meeting on July 24."

McKibben calls methane " CO2’s nasty little brother."   Unfortunately, "our new natural-gas infrastructure has been bleeding methane into the atmosphere in record quantities. And molecule for molecule, this unburned methane is much, much more efficient at trapping heat than carbon dioxide."  All that extra methane going into the atmosphere is offsetting many of the gains made by cutting carbon dioxide emissions.

The Cambridge, MA Community Development Department has done an intensive study of anticipated local climate change impacts for 2030 and 2070.  Useful graphics and maps are posted online with the March and December 2015 reports.  Some future flooding scenario maps of the Alewife area include detailed information for East Arlington.