Climate Change and Inland Northwest Agriculture: Impacts and Possible Responses
Climate change is already affecting our lives in the Inland Northwest, especially in one of our largest economic sectors: agriculture.
We already see warmer temperatures, wetter winters, and different precipitation patterns. Overall, by the end of the century Inland Northwest temperatures are expected to increase between 5oF and 9oF and precipitation is expected to increase between 4.5 and 8.6%, resulting in still wetter winters and hotter, drier summers.
Spokane becomes the third city in Washington to commit to 100% renewable electricity
We did it! Before a packed room of supporters, the Spokane City Council adopted an Ordinance establishing a Sustainability Action Committee to plan for climate resilience, achieve greenhouse gas emission reductions, and support the goal of 100 percent renewable electricity by 2030. Spokane now joins 78 other U.S. cities in its commitment to the goal of 100 percent renewable electricity, including power from wind, hydroelectric, and solar.
Climate-Friendly Gardening: Some thoughts, and suggestions for reliable sources
My first real awakening to the importance of gardening came when we discovered a hummingbird nesting in our yard. After a rain, Mama hummingbird would roll around on rosebush leaves to take a bath in beads of water. The two eggs she laid were the size of tic-tacs, and I thought with babies smaller than a kidney bean, any chemical I sprayed on my yard might be picked up and carried to them.
On Biomass
Biomass is the burning of wood for electricity. Some claim this reduces carbon emissions because trees burned for energy eventually grow back, re-sequestering the carbon released by burning the fuel. For example, about half of the European Union’s renewable electricity now comes from biomass (and most of that wood comes from the American Southeast’s fast-growing pine farms).
Candidate Climate Conspiracy
The race for Mayor of Spokane has taken a strange turn. Not only have we learned that one candidate for Mayor refuses to believe the 97% of climate scientists whose research confirms that humans are the dominant cause of global warming, but in recent KXLY and KPBX interviews she advances the conspiracy theory that Avista has a secret, unrevealed “study” showing that Spokane’s 2018 climate ordinance and its goal of 100% renewable energy by 2030 would cost each ratepayer “thousands of dollars”.
How To Go Solar In Spokane
What better place to capitalize on solar power than a city whose name translates to “Children of the Sun”?
And in Spokane there’s been no better time to go solar, with handsome state and federal incentives due to taper off over the next three years, but still going strong right now—they pay up to 80% of your system’s cost, and slash your utility bills for many years to come.
Persistence Pays: The Ups and Downs of Environmental Activism
WOW! On May 5, Governor Jay Inslee signed the clean energy bill, SB-5116, along with several other bills to help reduce global warming. After two years of frustrating defeats of carbon tax initiatives here, this was a huge thrill for many of us in 350 Spokane along with other environmental groups around the state and the country. We encouraged our legislators to take these bold, necessary actions. We urged them to stand up to the large fossil fuel corporations who are ignoring the damage that their fossil fuel economy is inflicting on our earth. Now our state is getting noticed for what has been accomplished here. I consider this success to be OUR success, a result of OUR actions letting our legislators know that many people here in Washington State want such essential change.
12 Concrete Actions You Can Take as a Climate Citizen
The 350 Spokane Interfaith Climate Change Committee compiled a list of 12 actions you can take to contribute to the movement for a safe and healthy climate and future for all.
The Story Of Plastics, Discussion Notes
The Story of Plastics is a documentary film released on October 6, 2019, which aired on the Discovery Channel on April 22, 2020 and was hosted by 350 Spokane for free public screenings from May 21 – June 12, 2020. What follows are notes from the movie and from the Zoom Film discussion meeting convened by 350 Spokane on June 11, 2020.
What is Neighbor Love in the Time of COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter Movement, and the Unfolding Climate Crisis?
Every major faith tradition teaches its members to love their neighbor, and in my own faith (Christianity) the rule to love our neighbor is one of the two great commandments. Stuck at home in front of the TV for the last few months three things have led me to rethink this basic command and wonder what we need to do to practice neighbor love in the time of COVID-19, the Black Lives Matter movement and the unfolding Climate Crisis.