Novmeber 2021 NewsLetter
Was COP 26 Up to the Challenge? By Anne Caruso
Guernsey County is in the center of beautiful Ohio with rolling fields and a historic state park. Kevin and Marlene Young have owned property in Guernsey for 47 years, investing time, savings, and labor into their 21 acres. They built their home here, with space for horses, stables, a half-mile race track, and workspace to modify street rods. As the Youngs neared retirement they looked forward to enjoying the land that they worked on for so long. In 2016 Caithness Energy took over the land across from their home. The massive Guernsey Natural Gas Power Station is now under construction in their front yard. Read More
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From November 1-14, 2021, 197 Heads of State met in Glasgow for COP26. This was the 26th time since 1995 that world leaders met at a Conference of Parties (COP) to the Paris Climate Agreement addressing the planet’s changing climate due to heightened greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions. The goal of these conferences is to keep global warming to no more than a 1.5C increase since the start of the Industrial Revolution. That goal requires a 45% reduction of global GHG emissions by 2030 and zero GHG emissions by 2050. This is an extremely tight schedule to meet. It’s always good to lead with the positives and COP26 did have some positives. It’s a victory that there was no debate about the need to transition to renewable energy, the necessity for robust global forests, or the responsibility of wealthy countries to aid poorer countries in making a transition away from high GHG emission fuel production. These battles have been won. New deals were made on reducing coal use, reversing deforestation, and reducing methane emissions. The goal of reducing methane emissions by 30% by 2030 is important because methane is the second largest global GHG. COP26 succeeded in getting many countries to sign a pledge to reduce their use of coal burning power and eliminate all plans to build new coal plants. Unfortunately, the countries which burn the most coal did not sign on. China with 54.3% of the world coal use, India with 11.6% of the world coal use, and the USA with 6.1% of the world coal use all did not sign the pledge. Heavy coal users Russia and Australia have also refused to sign the pledge. Also disappointing is the weak language COP26 adopted when addressing coal by calling for a “phase down of unabated coal” instead of clear, measurable language. For this reason many experts fear the momentum at COP26, while being in the right direction, will not result in the needed GHG reduction in time to avert more extreme climate change. Read More
Join us for our November Connecting the Dots event on Sunday, November 21 at 5:00 pm. We will talk about farming equity and how it intersects with race, class, climate change, food systems, and more. Historically, Black farmers have struggled to get grants and funding while white farmers were provided with easier access to financial supports, resulting in great losses for many Black farmers. We need to support local farms. What will we do if we can’t get fruits and vegetables from elsewhere? What’s being done to locally source food? What are the challenges and risks for Black farmers? How can we as individuals leverage community actions into policy? Learn how you can make an impact in your own sphere of influence. This online event is free and open to the public. Register on Zoom at this link and please share our Facebook event.
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Equitable Farming & Climate Change Sunday - November 21 - 5pm to 6pm https://fb.me/e/3S0n640uG
Dear FaCT Friends, In spite of the pandemic, FaCT has grown in both membership and in programming—thanks to you, our supporting members. With restrictions on in-person meetings, we have offered a series of very successful online events. We have hosted interviews with authors and experts, including Dr. Fadhel Kaboub on Modern Monetary Theory, author and cultural geographer Dr. Carolyn Finney, filmmaker Eleanor Goldfield, FaCT’s own Dr. Debbie Cowden and Ted Auch, PhD., who presented on health impacts of fracking in Ohio and how the Ohio Health Project is addressing those challenges, distinguished microbiologist Dr. Yuri Gorby, and our most recent program with award-winning author and journalist Michael J. Fitzgerald. The Ohio Health Project has launched its newest program this fall, Sharing-Support Circles, to help people adversely affected by the fossil fuel industry, especially those exposed to fracking infrastructure and operations. None of FaCT’s programming would be possible with your material support. As we approach the end of 2021, we ask you to consider making a tax-deductible gift to FaCT. We received some major gifts last year ranging from $300 to $5,000. If you are able to donate in this range, we would be most appreciative, but whatever donation you can make would also be deeply appreciated. Please make your checks out to: FaCT, and mail them to: FaCT, P.O. Box 1235, Mentor, OH 44061. OR, you may donate via our secure PayPal link at: https://www.factohio.org/take-action Many thanks, Ron Prosek, Treasurer
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Carbon Capture is Not a Solution to the Climate Crisis Dr. Randi Pokladnik, PhD, Environmental Studies Nov 2, 2021 Hoots and Hollers
Connecting the Dots: Call For Action
Greetings FaCT friends, I am delighted to be the new President of FaCTOhio. A few words of introduction - I am currently the Pastor of St. John’s United Church of Christ in Elmore, OH after having served on the staff of two of our Ohio Associations of the UCC. I’ve been involved with FaCT since it’s beginning and believe strongly in our ministry and mission. You’ll hear more from me each month. Thanks to all who joined us for our November 13 discussion with journalist and award winning author of eco-thrillers Michael J. Fitzgerald. Michael’s insights as an investigative journalist and his skill as an author invite wider audiences to the conversation about the gas and oil industry and how to address the climate crisis. With sincere gratitude as we renew our commitment to promote clean air and water, healthy soil, and an equitable transition to renewable energy sources, Margaret Mills FaCTOhio President
Got a group of folks interested in learning more about the perils of carbon capture and utilization technologies? You can inquire about having Dr. Randi Pokladnik virtually present this PowerPoint and take your questions. To reach Dr. Poklandik on this matter, please send a query to Randi.Pokladnik@gmail.com.