[See link at bottom to download the full report] Executive Summary Developing a comprehensive climate action plan helps municipalities to mitigate climate change and adapt to the coming changes in ways that address people's needs. Climate change is a daunting issue: humanity’s actions have caused the Earth’s greenhouse gases to reach levels not seen for over 120,000 … [Read more...] about Climate Action Planning 2.0
Focus on Pages
The "Focus On" section provides in-depth information and opinion on many facets of sustainability. (Although these topics may appear quite distinct and separate, it’s important to remember that they are interconnected and interdependent in multiple ways — in general, the 4 basic principles of ecology apply to all complex systems.)
When you select a Focus On… topic, the system will select all the articles and posts in that category with the most recent pages at the top, just under a brief introduction to the topic. (Many articles appear in multiple categories.)
Background & detail information is organized into the main categories listed in the left sidebar.
Climate & Energy
The categories of Climate & Energy are linked because it’s almost impossible to consider energy issues without considering their impact on the Climate.
Also see: Environment & Ecosystems, Food, Transportation
Climate Action Planning for the Lehigh Valley 2.0
→ Executive Summary Introduction Across the nation, cities are responding to climate change by developing and implementing local policies and initiatives. In particular, municipalities have created climate action plans to demonstrate their commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) and protect their communities from the results of climate change. These plans … [Read more...] about Climate Action Planning for the Lehigh Valley 2.0
Climate Emergency Declarations
As displayed in the body of this report, the impacts of global warming and climate change are occurring at an alarming rate around the world, as well as right here in the Lehigh Valley. The science is conclusive: we are experiencing a climate emergency. The slow and sometimes subtle impacts of a changing climate do not neatly fit into the common notion of an emergency as an … [Read more...] about Climate Emergency Declarations
The Challenge of Global Warming: Inaction, and Crimes Against Humanity
Ted Morgan Alarming reports from a wide variety of science-based and international studies keep coming,[1] warning us of disasters that lie ahead if the world fails to make massive cuts in greenhouse gas emissions. Again and again, we are confronted by the damage that is already resulting from climate change: more intense and frequent extreme weather … [Read more...] about The Challenge of Global Warming: Inaction, and Crimes Against Humanity
Jobs, the Environment, and a Planet in Crisis: Unions vs. Environmentalists or Unions and Environmentalists?
by Aviva Chomsky When it comes to heat, extreme weather, wildfires, and melting glaciers, the planet is now in what the media increasingly refers to as “record” territory1, as climate change’s momentum outpaces predictions. In such a situation, in a country whose president and administration seem hell-bent on doing everything they conceivably can to make … [Read more...] about Jobs, the Environment, and a Planet in Crisis: Unions vs. Environmentalists or Unions and Environmentalists?
Let’s Shoot for the Moon! Again!
by Sheila Gallagher It’s 2015. Have we reached the point of “Now or Nothing”? Climate chaos is reigning. We know we cannot survive on a dead planet, yet we forge forward, fracking for that ever elusive, pre-historic fossil fuel locked deep within our native rocks, literally under our feet. It will give some untold wealth! Others, jobs! Heat for our homes and businesses! … [Read more...] about Let’s Shoot for the Moon! Again!
Climate Action Planning –Acknowledgments
About the Alliance and the 2019 Summer Internship Project on Climate Action Planning The Alliance for Sustainable Communities–Lehigh Valley is a nonprofit organization that focuses on a wide variety of environmental and social justice issues that contribute to more-sustainable communities. Based in Bethlehem, PA, the Alliance has been active since 2003 and offers summer, … [Read more...] about Climate Action Planning –Acknowledgments
Public Participation in Climate Action Planning
Public Participation in Municipal Climate Action Planning: Exploring Deliberative Methods by Lauren Fosbenner Download as PDF Local Climate Planning Local climate planning refers to efforts at the city or municipality, county, or regional level to identify methods of climate mitigation — reducing the severity of future climate change through reducing … [Read more...] about Public Participation in Climate Action Planning
Make Capitalism History
by Faramarz Farbod To perish or to radically transform the way we relate to one another and to nature, that is the question humanity has never had to face until now. The evidence backing the above assertion is strong and accumulating. Nevertheless, there remains a stubborn problem of awareness as many who understand the perils facing humanity fail to connect them to its … [Read more...] about Make Capitalism History
Sustainable Food
[Notes from 2017 discussions with students] A sustainable food system: Supports ecosystems with regenerative organic growingreduces GHG by sequestering carbon into the soilbuilds soil health & reduces erosionpromotes biodiversity & resilience / preserves plants & animals (including people) that are poisoned by synthetic chemicals (fertilizers, pesticides, … [Read more...] about Sustainable Food