|
by Verena Owen and Tony
Fuller, Chicago Group Air/Energy Committee The Chicago Group of the Sierra Club was a lead sponsor of a major global warming forum in Chicago at the end of October last year. The event attracted more than 150 participants and was part of the “Step It Up 2: Who’s a Leader?” nationwide initiative to train activists to obtain specific, meaningful political action to address global warming. The event was held at the High Risk Gallery, whose bright, art-lined interior was the perfect backdrop to a series of speakers from the environmental community and local politicians. Among environmental organization speakers were Jack Darin, director of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club, Tim Montague from Climate Justice Chicago and Anthony Star of the Center for Neighborhood Technology. Each speaker emphasized the science behind global warming and the need to take specific action. Star, for example, examined global warming in a local context, using data from the soon-to-be-released Chicago Climate Action Plan. He demonstrated how the large goal of reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions to below 1990 levels could be tackled by dividing it into smaller “wedges,” representing different aspects of city operation. “The longer we wait [to take action on global warming], the harder it will be. All new growth needs to be carbon-neutral,” Star said. Darin discussed the Sierra Club’s four key Illinois legislative initiatives to combat global warming: Clean Cars, Clean Energy, Cool Cities, and Cap Carbon. He highlighted recent legislative victories, such as establishing a new renewable energy standard, which requires that Illinois utilities obtain 25 percent of their power from renewable energies by 2025. Local and state officials including State Representative Greg Harris (D-Chicago), Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, and Debra Shore, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago, offered their insights on global warming solutions. The Step It Up events also generated responses from U.S. Congressman Sierra Club Leads the “Step It Up” Chicago Global Warming Leadership Forum Jesse Jackson Jr. and Senator Barack Obama, who both supported the event. In addition, the Sierra Club, as part of its Illinois Clean Cars campaign, asked participants to sign postcards petitioning the state legislature to adopt California’s stricter fuel economy standards for vehicles. Hundreds of energy-saving compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), donated by the city of Chicago, were distributed. The event was organized in part by the Chicago Group’s Air/Energy Committee which meets monthly at the downtown office of the Illinois Chapter of the Sierra Club. Please contact Tony Fuller for more information about the committee’s activities at arfarf13@sbcglobal.net or 773-728-6164. |
|
<< PAGE BACK |
