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Global Divestment Movement Celebrates Vow of 1,000 Institutions, With Nearly $8 Trillion in Assets, to Ditch Fossil Fuels

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7 years ago

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Ditch Fossil Fuels

by Jake Johnson

“The momentum has been driven by a people-powered grassroots movement—it’s ordinary people pushing their local institutions to take a stand against the fossil fuel industry.”

While the COP24 climate talks are at risk of ending without a concrete plan of action thanks in large part to the Trump administration’s commitment to a dirty energy agenda, environmental groups on Thursday celebrated a major milestone in the global movement to take down the fossil fuel industry after the number of public and private institutions that have vowed to divest from oil, gas, and coal companies surpassed 1,000.

“When this movement started in 2012, we aimed to catalyze a truly global shift in public attitudes to the fossil fuel industry, and people’s willingness to challenge the institutions that financially support it,” May Boeve, executive director of 350.org, said in a statement. “While diplomats at the U.N. climate talks are having a hard time making progress, our movement has changed how society perceives the role of fossil fuel corporations and is actively keeping fossil fuels in the ground.”

According to 350, the institutions that have committed to divesting from fossil fuels hold nearly $8 trillion USD in combined assets. The 1,000th institution to vow to divest was Caisse des dépôts et consignations (CDC), which manages France’s public sector savings, pensions, and investments.

Coinciding with the new milestone, 350.org published a new report (pdf) detailing the rapid growth of the fossil fuel divestment movement over the past several years as climate science has made clear the necessity of immediately and boldly slashing carbon emissions to avoid global devastation.

“Since 2012, the fossil fuels divestment campaign has grown faster than any previous divestment movement,” the report notes. “From 181 institutions and $50 billion worth of assets committed to divestment at the end of 2013 to now more than 1,000 institutions with over $7.9 trillion in assets committed to divest from fossil fuels, we are slamming on the brakes of fossil fuel expansion.”

“Momentum for divestment has only accelerated: pledges span 37 countries with over 65 percent of commitments coming from outside the United States, and now include major capital cities, mainstream banks and insurance companies, massive pension funds, faith groups, cultural, health, and educational institutions—the institutions serving billions of people,” the report continues.

“This is a major milestone for the movement for a just transition to a zero-carbon, sustainable future for everyone,” added Ric Lander, divestment campaigner for Friends of the Earth. “Behind almost every one of these commitments is a group of committed people fighting for climate action and they should be proud of their achievements. They’ve persuaded, protested and brought the inarguable evidence of their case to decision-makers and won them over.”

With the 1,000 institution landmark reached, 350 said the global movement’s next ambitious goal is 2,020 divestments totaling $12 trillion in combined assets by 2020.

“For those investors who persist in engaging with the fossil fuel industry, despite mounting evidence of its failure to achieve anything, we ask them to change tack as the science and justice demands in this moment,” 350’s report concluded. “If companies are not on track to keep their reserves in the ground or play their part in meeting the 1.5°C target, investors must walk away. The clock is ticking on multiple carbon bombs around the world as we approach 2020.”

Originally published by Common Dreams

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‘Monumental’: Chicago Commits to 100% Renewable Energy by 2040

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6 years ago

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July 22, 2019

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Chicago River
Photo: hectorlo/flickr/cc

Chicago made history on Wednesday by becoming the largest U.S. city to commit to 100 percent renewable energy before the middle of the century.

It is, in the summation of Kyra Woods, Chicago organizer with the Sierra Club’s Ready for 100 Action Campaign, “a monumental achievement.”

According to the Sierra Club, the city council unanimously passed a resolution that commits the city to 100 percent renewable energy in buildings by 2035 and electrification of the city’s bus fleet by 2040.

The nonbinding resolution, backed by the Ready For 100 Chicago Collective, points to the kind of extreme weather including catastrophic flooding the region is already experiencing. “Climate change,” it reads, “will bring unprecedented environmental changes including extreme heat, heavy precipitation, and flooding to our region.”

“Residents of communities experiencing disproportionate cumulative impacts of environmental exposures and population vulnerability, as well as other communities across Chicago, desire a just transition away from all fossil fuels that prioritizes environmental justice, public health, community self-determination, high-quality jobs, and ownership opportunities for local residents,” the resolution also states.

As Woods noted, the move adds the Midwest metropolis to a list of over 100 other cities including Atlanta, Ga., Berkeley, Calif., and Gainesville, Fla. that have adopted clean energy goals.

“The Chicago Collective who wrote this resolution—comprised of frontline environmental justice communities, green groups, and unions—proves that not only can Chicago build a climate-safe future for next generations, but that a truly just transition also creates good, family-sustaining jobs to lift up communities,” said Kassie Beyer, campaign director of Jobs to Move America Illinois.

“We look forward to working with the mayor’s office in making our vision for a just transition a reality,” she added.

Source: commondreams.org

Photo credit: hectorlo/flickr/cc

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Glenwood Springs Moves to 100 Percent Renewable Electricity

Published

6 years ago

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July 16, 2019

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Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park

“Many cities and towns across the country have set aggressive targets, and we are doing our part now — our future is now,” said Glenwood Springs Mayor Jonathan Godes.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado, one of the oldest historic resort towns in America, will launch a 100% renewable energy program on June 1 of the year 2019. The announcement was made at Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park, a nationwide park in Colorado that overlooks Glenwood Springs, becoming one of the first such parks to be powered by 100% clean, renewable energy.

Glenwood Springs, Colorado’s Western Slope city, will become the seventh US city to be 100 percent dependent on renewable energy. Aspen was the first Colorado city to have everything be on its electricity from renewable energy sources. Its mix is 50% wind, 45% hydropower, and 5% from solar and gas, as reported by the Sierra Club.

Wind energy will be the dominant supply of Glenwood’s renewable energy, with energy generated at the Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) and MEAN generating stations on the eastern prairies supplying 6.8 percent.

“Sustainable tourism is an important issue these days and this move is a huge step in the right direction for Glenwood Springs as a whole,” – said Beckley, owner of the park.

– said Beckley, owner of the park

The caverns are the very first area park in the country to be powered entirely with renewable sources. There are organisms that live deep in the caves that are part of the Beckley ecosystem and because of that the caverns are not simply for an adventure tourist.

The city decided to commemorate a move to renewable energy by signing the contract in a theme park above the Iron Mountain elevation of about 7,000 feet in Glenwood Caverns Adventure Park. The park provided a free gondola ride for attendees and the 1st fifty guests got a free LED light bulbs.

Glenwood Springs has been encouraging energy conservation with customers and companies by supplying a rebates program since 2009. Glenwood Springs has been 35% renewable on the power grid since 2013. According to MEAN, 77,156 tons of CO2 emission would be saved if switched to 100% “green energy”, that could otherwise be released into the environment by the City of Glenwood Springs.

The new contract will reduce the city’s cost per megawatt-hour (kWh), from $51 to $46. This will save the city approximately $500,000 per year.

“We are thrilled that Glenwood Springs is on the cutting-edge utilizing 100 percent renewable energy. Our community has proven that clean energy is an important part of our local economy. This commitment to sustainability makes our community shine in a positive way.” – said Angie Anderson, president and CEO of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association

– said Angie Anderson, president and CEO of the Glenwood Springs Chamber Resort Association

On 100 percent renewable energy are already running other six cities Burlington, Vermont, Georgetown, Texas, Aspen, Colorado, Rock Port, Missouri, Greensburg, Kansas, and Kodiak Island, Alaska.

References: inhabitat.com
aspentimes.com
glenwoodcaverns.com
denverpost.com

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Spain plans to close all nuclear plants by 2035

Published

6 years ago

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June 15, 2019

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Spain close all nuclear plants

Teresa Ribera, energy minister of Spain, has announced that the country will have all energy furnished by renewable resources by 2050. The government supports a denuclearized country.

The government will soon be requested to approve plans to shut down the 5 plants and the investment in nuclear-waste management infrastructures for afterward. The entrance of new, advanced solar-powered technology has turned the nuclear power industry into a profitable government agency. It’s looking for options for nuclear plants that will last for years.

Energy minister Teresa Ribera reported Tuesday that the government will provide the National Integrated Plan of Energy and Climate, to be afterwards examined by the European Commission.

In 2017, the second source of power after renewable energy in Spain’s power came from nuclear energy, over a fifth of its energy production.

Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said last month, that Spain’s planned overhaul of its energy system, which made 40 percent of its mainland electricity from renewable energy sources in 2018, will cost an estimated 235 billion euros (US$266 billion) between 2021 and 2030.

Phasing out nuclear power accounts for a small fraction of Spain’s electrical output and was a key campaign promise of the Socialist leaders, who took office last year after their conservative predecessors were voted out of office in popular support.

Spanish power plants first began operating in 1983, and are run by three companies: Iberdrola, Italian-owned Endesa, Naturgy and Portugal’s EDP.

Spain will need over 100 billion euros of investment to reach its ambitious energy goals, Jose Ignacio Galan, the chief executive of Iberdrola, shared to the Financial Times.

Sources:
www.surinenglish.com
cnduk.org
kallanishenergy.com
antinuclear.net
www.yenisafak.com

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