400 mayors

I’ve mentioned the podcast Gaslit Nation and even listened to and reported on an episode. I’ve finally been told where the episode transcripts are (alas, not on the same page as the audio). I started my reading with an episode about climate change. It’s actually titled Climate Crisis Special. Hosts Andrea Chalupa and Sarah Kendzior talk to Daniel Zarrilli, a climate change specialist and officially known as the chief climate policy advisor for New York City.

Zarilli does get into the horrible future we face if we do nothing about climate change. And that even if we cap the warming to and increase of 1.5C (not a sure thing) we’ll still be living with lots of global change.

The episode also gets into some hopeful stuff. Such as…

We know that shortly after taking office the nasty guy pulled America out of the Paris Climate Agreement. We’re not really out yet. The process to leave takes a while and will happen about the time of the 2020 election. The day after the nasty guy’s announcement New York City became the first city to sign an executive order committing itself to the goals and principles of the Agreement.

Within several weeks 400 mayors said we’re still in. This became America’s Pledge. Also joining them have been several states, universities, and businesses. Together, those taking the pledge can almost meet the American part of the Paris agreement. This is a silver lining of the nasty guy’s actions. Cities and others are not waiting for the federal government, they’re figuring out what they can do.

New York City and others have required a retrofit of their old buildings, which is creating jobs to do that work. They are expanding renewable power and electric vehicles. They are shifting from plastic foodware to compostables.

Zarilli says there are clearly big solutions that only governments, city, state, and nation, can make happen. But there are also things that need to be done by individuals. And doing those things builds support for the big changes.

An example of the individual things are to “bring your own” bottle or mug to avoid single use plastics. Do composting. Take public transportation (easy in NYC, quite difficult in Detroit).

One issue just beginning to be talked about is climate refugees, people forced to flee because of the effects of climate change. There could be 143 million climate refugees by 2050. And many conservatives think we have too many refugees now and want to prevent them from coming to America or Europe.

Though areas of poverty tend to be hit especially hard by climate change, areas of wealth are not going to be spared. That contradicts the thinking of a lot of rich people who think their wealth can protect them or can create an OligARK where they can live while climate change kills off the rest of us. But where are you going to go? Space? That’s more hostile than the planet you’re leaving.

A couple more things an individual can do: (1) Go to the NYC website, download what they’re doing about climate change, and take it to your city’s elected officials. (2) Vote.