Climate Change Committee Meeting

Agenda:
6:30p – 6:45 p Announcements
6:45p – 7:15p Action Team breakouts
7:15p - 8:00 p Anita Knight, Brenda Berstin, and Susan Lippman on "Plastics"

7:15p – 8:00p Plastics - Worse Than You Think
Three leaders of our superb Gulf Coast Action Team, whose work includes fighting the proposed world's largest plastics plant near Corpus Christi, will tell us more than we ever wanted to know about plastic.
Plastics are bad, very bad, for climate change. Its greenhouse gas emissions will exceed that of coal in the U.S. before long.
We're piling plastic into giant mounds, not recycling it. Only 9% is recycled. Over 90% ever produced is still here, and it's being produced faster than ever.
By 2050, the oceans will have more plastic than fish.
Come, learn what's going on and what we must do about it!
Only with knowledge can we effect change.

Climate action teams formed or being formed:
Climate Justice Team (emerging): This critically important team focuses on working with other justice organizations to help the Austin area citizens who are most harmed by climate change and have the least resources to help.
Political Team: Elections and issue advocacy is central to changing power. 2022 is an election year and this team will help guide us towards what we should work on, from local to national races.
Gulf Coast Action Team: The oil & gas industry is working hard to expand ability to transport oil & gas (via pipelines), process it, and transport it around the world. We don’t need more, cheap oil & gas. This team is fighting new infrastructure, including pipelines and deep sea ports, which is centered along the Texas Gulf. They’re supporting national Sierra Club efforts and working with coalitions including other organizations.
Transportation Team: Transportation is now the biggest contributor to the Austin area direct carbon footprint. We’ve made significant strides, with the approval and funding of Project Connect. We may need to help accelerate the transition to electric vehicles.
Social Media Team: Our presence on social media is strong and continues to increase. This can support all other teams as well as other issues.
Renewable Energy Team: Austin Energy has passed a strong renewable energy plan but they aren’t shutting down our Fayette Coal Plant as planned. Austin Energy was unable to “affordably” get out of a long-term contract with LCRA. We need to push back on that decision, pursue alternatives, and possibly get involved with other Austin area communities to increase transition to clean energy.
Education Team: We are seriously considering an initiative to engage high school students in climate action and providing high quality presentations to classrooms and clubs. This would be a state initiative with an early focus on Austin. Anyone who knows teachers or high school students who want to channel climate concerns into action are encouraged to join this effort.
Tabling & Street Outreach Team: We need to build a strong climate movement. Tabling is an excellent way to get concerned citizens to take a quick action, to learn how to get more involved, and to convey more information about our climate emergency. We need more volunteers so we can go to more events.
Plastics Team (NEW): Hands-on team to get Austin people and businesses to slash our demand for more, more, more plastics.
If you can join one of more of these teams, please email me at RobertHHendricks@aol.com
Bob Hendricks, co-chair of Austin Sierra Club Climate Change Committee