This Week in Communities & Climate

Each week we share the stories that shouldn’t be missed. Local climate leaders, the latest in community climate action, and new climate research are all featured to highlight the good news coming out of cities. These are the top stories of the past week:

STORIES

• Citing economic benefits, Abita Springs became the first city in Louisiana to commit to 100% renewable energy.
• That same day, Madison WI made the same pledge, bringing us to a total of 25 U.S. cities to establish 100% clean energy goals.
• Austin Energy is pursuing a customer-focused business strategy that lowers power bills while raising efficiency.
• Siding with a Boulder teen, a Colorado appeals court ruled that the government must protect public health and the environment before oil and gas drilling can be done.
• More good news from Boulder: Despite rapid economic and population growth, the city reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 5% between 2005-2015.
• And globally, carbon emissions and economic growth continued their decoupling trend.
• From the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, these highly detailed maps show how climate opinions differ not only state by state, but county by county.

CLIMATE DAY LA

• Our partner Climate Resolve, along with ecoAmerica and IHEARTCOMIX, will be co-hosting the second annual Climate Day LA on April 21 at the Ace Hotel in downtown Los Angeles. The event, which will bring together over 1,500 Angeleno leaders, locals, and advocates, includes a daytime leadership summit, afternoon gala, and evening concert. Get your tickets here!

WEBINAR: MENTAL HEALTH AND OUR CHANGING CLIMATE

• Climate change impacts us in many ways – psychologically and socially, as well as physically. Join ecoAmerica and the American Psychological Association for a free webinar on 3/29, and learn how communities can protect against and prepare for impacts.

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS

• Your city’s climate leadership deserves to be celebrated and shared! Inspire other community leaders to follow your example by submitting your story for inclusion in Path to Positive Communities’ upcoming Let’s Lead guide. Send us your accessible, replicable story by May 15.

BLOG

• This week’s blog shared how women and children – two groups that are particularly vulnerable to climate impacts – are speaking out to demand a better future for their communities.

SUBSCRIBE

• To keep up to date on the most recent community climate action, be sure to subscribe to our weekly blog.