West Michigan Environmental Action Council’s Post

Client Spotlight: You’ve probably heard the #ClimateResilience Package, HB 3409 & HB 3630, was passed last month, and we have the lowdown on how it passed Oregon Legislature (plus, we can't help sharing client wins!). 🎉 Our team helped kick off the effort last fall by facilitating a powerful, day-long coalition meeting that united passionate staff from various organizations. Then week after week, incredible staff and leadership across the coalition and their rockstar lobbying teams navigated a complex legislative landscape and achieved results Oregonians will be celebrating for years to come. Through immense community collaboration from dozens of climate action organizations including our clients, Oregon Environmental Council and Oregon Just Transition Alliance, these bills were organized, proposed, and passed. The results? ➡️ $90 million in funding for more than a dozen priority bills related to climate action. Here’s to healthier and more affordable and resilient communities in Oregon’s future! #ORLeg #ORPol #ClimateAction #GreenInfrastructure

Arizona's recent legislative proposal, Bill 1195, is concerning. Under this bill, the study of #ClimateChange, adoption of climate action plans, and collection of crucial carbon emissions data within public institutions could face legal challenges. Critical research on understanding and mitigating the impacts of extreme heat, vital for protecting vulnerable populations, could become unlawful. This is particularly troubling given Arizona's alarming statistics, including 645 heat-related deaths in 2023 alone. At stake is not just research but the safety and well-being of communities. Institutions like ASU College of Health Solutions have spearheaded invaluable efforts in heat research dedicated to safeguarding those most affected. Read more about this concerning development: https://lnkd.in/gfygMFz3 Credit: Thanks to wiscoproject (TikTok) and jonkung (IG) for sharing. #ClimateResearch #ClimateAction #ExtremeHeat #ArizonaLegislation #ScienceAdvocacy #GHHIN

Check out this webinar from The Climate Center on how to strengthen local energy projects. #cleanenergyfuture

Incredible win for the future of our youth in Hawai'i and beyond. The precedent this sets is powerful. This suit, brought by keiki in Hawaii between the ages of 9 and 18, will now mean there are enforceable climate benchmarks that our Dept of Transportation must comply with to achieve zero emissions no later than 2045 for ground transportation, sea and inter-island air transportation. Share far and wide - here is a good article covering the original case: https://lnkd.in/gYYcRrz5

✍️ Sign the action: https://bit.ly/3SMZkQy 📢📢 California's legislators need to hear from you! Tell them you want a climate bond on California's November 2024 ballot. In 2023 the Legislature laid out two $15 billion climate bond proposals—AB 1567 (Garcia) and SB 867 (Allen)—which have yet to be passed by the Legislature to be placed on the November 2024 ballot. These measures contain many critical investments for environmental protection and community resilience, but they have a long way to go before a climate bond is presented to the voters. It is crucial that our legislators hear from you and work to craft and pass a single climate bond proposal in the upcoming legislative session to ensure that the state has the funding to improve and protect water and air quality, strengthen community resilience, mitigate wildfires, and protect natural resources in the coming years. Californians will continue to suffer from the severe impacts of drought, wildfire, and extreme weather events until the state prioritizes climate investment. We can't afford to wait any longer—sign on today and urge your legislators to act on a climate bond in 2024! #advocacy #climatechange #californiapolitics #advocate #education #awareness #activism #community #california #redwoods 📸: Ian Bornarth

Exciting Developments in Climate Action! 🌱🌍 Thrilled to share insights from a recent report shedding light on California's local governments' readiness to tackle climate change amidst unprecedented funding opportunities. The "Getting to Implementation: The Status of Local Climate Action in California" (https://lnkd.in/gzHPHuPX) report is a collaborative effort from Center for Law, Energy & the Environment at Berkeley Law, the Institute for Local Government, and Next 10. The report emphasizes the need for technical assistance, increased flexibility of grant programs, and significant investments in workforce development in order to maximize funding impact. The report aligns closely with findings from past reports contributed to by Farallon Strategies, including: - "State of U.S. Local Climate Action Planning" (https://lnkd.in/gEC2TpjV) - "Climate Crossroads: California’s Readiness to Act on Climate" (https://lnkd.in/gv7ju3WH) - "Ounce of Prevention: Advancing Equitable Climate Resilience Planning in California." (https://lnkd.in/gGi2iXn3) Furthermore, the report emphasizes the need for increased staffing capacity, which echoes ongoing efforts in local initiatives like the County of Santa Clara Climate Collaborative. Farallon Strategies continues to work together with communities to seize pivotal moments like this and drive impactful climate action! 🌿 #FaraStrat #ClimateAction #Sustainability #CommunityImpact

ICYMI: With input from Woodwell Climate, Senators Braun (R-Indiana), Warren (D-Massachusetts), Sanders (I-Vermont), Wyden (D-Oregon), and Merkley (D-Oregon) introduced the Natural Climate Solutions Research and Extension Act. The legislation focuses on using natural climate solutions to advance sustainable agriculture by funding land management practices that protect the environment. In 2024, Woodwell Climate’s Government Relations team will continue to work on federal policy that puts natural climate solutions front and center. #ClimateChange #ClimateSolutions #climatepolicy #sciencepolicy #climateimpacts (📸 : Andrew Mullin)

From extreme weather to rising temperatures, our communities are feeling the effects of climate change, with vulnerable populations suffering the most. Maryland took a significant step forward with the Climate Solutions Now Act of 2022, setting ambitious targets for emissions reduction and a sustainable future. 📈 Now, at LWVMD, we're on a mission to turn these goals into action. In the 2024 Maryland General Assembly, we're advocating for policies that: ✅ Cut greenhouse gas emissions ✅ Propel the renewable energy transition ✅ Uphold environmental justice Key bills we're supporting include: 🚗 Transportation and Climate Alignment Act of 2024 🏠 EmPOWER Maryland Reform 🌊 Recovering Impaired Watersheds 💧 Clean Water Justice Act Help us protect our environment by reading our issue paper here: https://lnkd.in/ewG26Jr6 And sign up for alerts on environmental legislation here: https://lnkd.in/eTvR9ky2 Together, we can make a difference.

In support of expanding avenues to create more 🌆housing and address 🌎climate action, AIA California has taken positions on five priority bills under consideration by the California legislature. ➡️ Discover what they are: https://loom.ly/LJrbUaw

Excellent funding opportunity