CT Climate News

Related to our recent post,  East Hartford Set to Destroy Another 47.3 Wooded Acres  for development, East Hartford is  updating its Plan of Conservation & Development for 2024 , as are towns and regional planning organizations across the state.  The POCD is a state-mandated planning document to guide conservation  and development for the next 10 years in each town. The update is a big lift. Most, if not all, towns use consultants to guide the process.  East Hartford's using Susan Favate from  BFJ Planning .    East Hartford looks to be doing a respectable job of creating opportunity for citizens to be part of the process. But are local environmental champions weighing in?  Doesn't look that way!  We saw just 3 comments submitted on Environment & Sustainability on  the Idea Wall . The other major problem is the 4 update documents posted so far contain just two references to climate - in 83 pages. Cripes.  The two chapters on Natural Resources and Open Space are going

The subject property includes about 28.5 acres in East Hartford at 90 Long Hill Road and 1152 Tolland St. The rest is in Manchester, at 1769 Tolland Turnpike, 104 Glode Lane and 104-A Glode Lane. By all appearances, neither Connecticut nor its towns are serious about climate action. It's been a while since we added to our Selling Out Connecticut posts.  Not that there's been a shortage of material to write about.  It's as if there was no climate crisis and preserving woodlands and green space weren't essential parts of climate action solutions. Connecticut's inaction and blithe obliviousness is lunacy.  East Hartford Planner Eager to Develop Last "Vacant" Parcels So now there's another large woodland tract that East Hartford is eager to bulldoze.  You can read about it here:   Husband-and-wife team buy 47.3 acres in East Hartford/Manchester, plan ‘hundreds’ of housing .  As quoted in the Hartford Business Journal, East Hartford Town Planner Carlene Sha

Hey CT environmental voters - have you answered the Hartford Business Journal poll asking if the state should allow the proposed ban on automakers selling new gas-powered vehicles starting in 2035 to move forward?      If you haven't, you should.  (You know the opponents have.)  Then share the link with your readers.  Weigh in here .

The CT League of Conservation Voters is helping you let your legislators know you expect them to be serious about taking #ClimateActionNow.  Email them this weekend.   EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR As you already know, the recently concluded 2023 Legislative session fell short in addressing crucial climate issues, leaving us deeply concerned about the future of our environment and the urgent need for action.   We want to emphasize the importance of holding our lawmakers accountable for their lack of action on climate issues. It is imperative that we come together as a strong and unified force to demand more from our elected officials.     Contact your legislators right now to say you are disappointed that they did not pass meaningful action on climate. Urge them to do more to make it a priority at the legislature next year. EMAIL YOUR LEGISLATOR Tell them that we are not happy with the outcome of the legislative session and we demand that our lawmakers step up and take charge in m

Starting tomorrow, June 28, at 9 am, a new program in Connecticut will offer a $500 eBike voucher to all Connecticut residents aged 18 years and older, as part of an effort to improve air quality and reduce traffic congestion.  An additional $1,000, which DEEP calls "Voucher+," will also be available to Connecticut residents that meet any of the following criteria: reside in an Environmental Justice (EJ) community or Distressed Municipality or participate in a state or federal income qualifying program or have an income less than 300% of the Federal Poverty Level (FPL) How it works Connecticut residents 18 years or older can apply for and redeem a voucher, of up to $500, at a participating Connecticut-based, "brick & mortar" eBike retailer to reduce the total purchase price of an eligible eBike. You have to get your voucher before you buy. And you'll have 90 days to buy your eBike after your voucher is issued.   The Connecticut eBike Incentive Program wi

Last week we posted on ConnDOT's infamous clearcutting assaults on the environment, and we're not dropping it. The agency's  Vegetation Management Guidelines  that address tree removal have ZERO references to climate, climate change, or sustainability.  And that of course is the problem.   The guidelines leave far too much to the discretion and judgement of those involved. Whoever's calling the shots on DOT's clearcutting clearly has no awareness of climate change or sustainability, even though the guidelines are as recent as 2021. Clearcutting is an exceedingly overbroad response to overblown safety rationales, where excessive driving speed is far more likely to blame than a tree falling across the road. This is about more than "aesthetics."  ConnDOT's out-of-control clearcutting destroys trees that: store carbon - that's what we need! live along the road, where CO2 emissions are especially high (cars & trucks are CT's biggest source of e

Today's the 6th annual international #ShowYourStripes day, a campaign where meteorologists and climatologists throughout the world come together to spread awareness of human induced climate change and the increasing impacts from it that are being felt globally. The communication centers around the simple bar code like climate stripes graphic visualization created by professor Ed Hawkins of Reading University in the UK. Here's how the temp has changed in CT since 1895. Same info, viewed a different way: Please share and talk about this. The more voices that speak up, the better the odds are that society will do more to address climate change. #ShowYourStripes And here are the global views: Please share and talk about this. The more voices that speak up, the better the odds are that society will do more to address climate change. #ShowYourStripes

stock photo There they were, 10 -12 huge trucks and heavy equipment, with massive bright lights illuminating the destruction. We were hoping TV news crews would film the appalling clearcutting around 11pm last night, June 19, in Newtown on I-84 west bound. The brutal demolition of hundreds of perfectly healthy trees and habitat far beyond the edge of the roadway was sickening to see, counterproductive, unnecessary, and even amoral.  Hundreds of mature, healthy, CO2-consuming, cooling, erosion-preventing trees bludgeoned into non-existence.  For what?  Of course, that's exactly why the destruction is scheduled at that hour -- while most of us aren’t looking. But the public deserves to see its government in action. Between the pointless, destructive clearcutting and mowing down miles of much-needed pollinator habitat, Connecticut's Department of Transportation couldn't be more anti-environment. It's time for that to change, and fast. ConnDOT and Governor Lamont need to h

From the CT Roundtable on Climate & Jobs:   View Our 2023 Legislative Watch List Of 2023.   View The Climate, Environmental, & Social Justice-Related Bills That Passed The In House From Our 2023 Watch List  Although SB 961 Carbon Free & Healthy Schools did not pass before the midnight deadline, we still have plenty of reasons to celebrate. We've been tracking local climate, environmental, educational, and social justice-related bills and we are happy to share our personal watch-list of bills that passed. Click here to view a PDF and learn more.       ctclimateandjobs.org

From the CT League of Conservation Voters: Now that session is over, join CTLCV tomorrow from 1-2PM *Registration Required* Register today! 2023 Virtual Environmental Legislative Debrief   Now that the legislative session is over, join CTLCV and legislative leaders tomorrow from 1-2PM for a post-session environmental debrief. This FREE virtual session will bring together legislators and the public for a review of this year's climate, energy, and environment wins and losses. All are welcome to attend!   This virtual event is FREE to the public and pre-registration is required!  2023 Environmental Legislation Debrief Friday, June 9, 2023 1PM - 2PM Featured Speakers Senator Bob Duff - Senate Majority Leader Representative Jason Rojas - House Majority Leader Senator Tony Hwang Secretary of State Stephanie Thomas  REGISTER HERE! The one-hour program will take place via Zoom. You won't want to miss this chance to hear from CTLCV and legislators about the bills on our 20

Just in from the CT Coalition For Climate Action:  SB 1147 Passes " Congratulations to all of you who showed up to work for an Environmental Justice law that has teeth! Special thanks to champions Sen. Lopes, Rep. Gresko, Rep. Reyes, Rep. Bumgardner, Rep. Palm, Rep. Michel, and the entire Black and Puerto Rican Caucus. BIG PROPS to advocates Alex Rodriguez and Dr. Mark Mitchell for leadership on this bill, and Charles Rothenberger for drafting work. Along with high-fives to staunch allies doing in-the-building work and/or grassroots organizing on this bill: Sierra Club CT, Clean Water Action, American Lung Association, CT Health Professionals for Climate Action, CT Chapter of American College of Physicians, CTLCV, TNC, CLF, Sunrise CT, Nonprofit Accountability Group, and CT Coalition for Environmental Justice. Always more to do, like a few more climate bills still hanging in the balance, but this bill was a years-long effort so take a moment to celebrate!"

Urgent Action Alert: The Current Session Ends Tomorrow, Contact Governor Ned Lamont To Ask Him To Support SB 961 Today! We have less than 48 hours to get the Carbon-Free & Healthy Schools Act ( SB 961 ) has passed in the House. Now it's time to get the support of the Governor's office to see this bill through! This is once in a generation opportunity to bring $400 million worth of federal funding to the state.   We are urging the public to contact Governor Ned Lamont and Lt. Susan Bysiewicz today before the current session ends tomorrow.     Thank you for taking action to support Carbon-Free and Healthy Schools! CALL GOV. LAMONT Leave a message at 860-566-4840 Call Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Susan Bysiewicz and ask them to support SB 961 Carbon Free & Healthy Schools today.   You can use these  talking points  to help frame your argument.   Email Gov. Ned Lamont and Lt. Susan Bysiewicz and ask them to support SB 961 Carbon Free & Healthy Schools today .  Feel free to c