NEW YORK STATE COALITION
Working Toward a Brighter Future
THE NEW YORK STATE COALITION OF CLIMATE REALITY PROJECT CHAPTERS
is a group that was set up with the purpose to connect members across the state for joint action and friendship. In addition to coordinating an annual retreat, the coalition has several working groups which leverage our scale at the state level.
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COALITION RETREAT
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The highlight of the Coalition’s activities is our annual retreat where all members are invited to get together to discuss climate change, take action, network and build relationships. Dates and details are coming soon!
WORKING GROUPS
The New York State Coalition Working Groups are open to all members of Climate Reality in New York State. Participation in these groups is an exciting way to find inspiration and to act on your passion to fight the climate crisis. They are also an opportunity to meet interesting and friendly chapter members from all over New York State.
ADVOCACY
The Advocacy Working Group has been in existence for two years, with our initial objective to get the Biden Administration to pass meaningful climate policy. We made a lot of progress on this objective through the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, and to a lesser extent the Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill and the CHIPS Act which all included the strongest climate legislation in history. We played our part in this effort by lobbying almost every House Representative and both Senators, some several times. The group is now more focused on New York State legislation and is advocating for the implementation of the CLCPA, New York’s historic climate law. This law is just a framework, and now we are lobbying to get the NY government to pass the necessary laws to enact this landmark law. The Advocacy working group chair meets Fridays from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. The link to their Reality Hub site is here. If you are interested in joining, please contact SuzieRoss @ suzie.e.ross@gmail.com.
EDUCATION
The Education Coalition seeks to mobilize students, teachers, parents and administrators to address climate change. The Education Coalition welcomes interested volunteers from across New York State to get involved in our 3 focus areas:
1. Teacher Professional Development - supporting a network of teachers across NY state interested in embedding climate into their curriculum. Volunteers from the committee hold teacher development programs through Mid-Hudson Teacher Center, Duchess BOCES, and a global collaboration with Bard College. Support and resources are also provided to these teachers post training.
2. Promoting Sustainable Schools - provide resources and funding programs to School Boards for improving energy efficiency, siting renewable energy installations, reducing waste, and acquiring electric school buses.
3. Advocating for Climate Education Legislation - work with state education and environmental authorities as well as legislators to promote climate education bills.
The Education Coalition maintains links to resources for climate education and the "greening" of schools on our Reality Hub Site. Volunteers can sign up on the site to see the resources available. Volunteers do not have to be involved in education but should be interested in seeing climate incorporated into classroom curriculum and in getting schools to adopt more sustainable practices. Meetings are held approximately once per quarter based upon the interests of the group. The link to the Reality Hub site is here.
PRESENTATIONS
The Presentations Working Group has developed a comprehensive slide deck of federal, state and utility electrification incentives. They meet monthly to review and update the slide deck. If you are interested in joining, please contact Paul Kiesler at pdkrussia@hotmail.com. And if you are interested in giving presentations, either on electrification or on climate science, please email Lynn Saxton at saxwoman@gmail.com.
PUERTO RICO WORKING GROUP
The Puerto Rico Working Group was set up with the purpose to connect members from the Diaspora and others across New York State for joint action related with the actual situation of the Island.
This Group will be a bridge to advocate and educate people on how to help Puerto Rico to improve Resilience and Adaption for climate change.
Also this group will contact other grassroots organizations to help change the grid to solar Community Grids and to overseeing that all the Biden Harris Administration Bills will be fair for Puerto Rico, who don't have representation in Congress.
The Puerto Rico working group chair meets on an ad hoc basis so it is best to check in at the Reality Hub site here or contact Deanee Rios @ deaneer@hotmail.com.
WRITTEN COMMUNICATIONS
The Written Communications Group is currently on hiatus.