Bard CEP C2C Blog

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday (4/20), noon eastern, join our national webinar, with Bill McKibben and Nike’s Director of Stakeholder Mobilization, Sarah Severn. The focus of this National Climate Seminar Earth Week conversation will be on “Why We Fight”. Facing challenging politics, and relentless momentum behind global warming, where do we find the continuing inspiration and courage to fight for the transformative changes in government, and in business, that must occur in the coming years?

To join the webinar, head to http://bard.acrobat.com/cep, and log in as a guest. To get audio for the webinar (and for audio only), you’ll still need to dial into 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.
Join us for this engaging discussion. Send advance questions for Sarah and Bill to climate@bard.edu and follow us on  during the call!

Our C2C Earth weeks dialogs are off to a great start. Students in MN from St. Johns and St. Benedicts, Macalaster, and Century College talked with Senator Franken’s (D-MN) office; and from UCF and Rollins with Senator Nelson’s (D-FL). University of Colorado students dialoged with staff from both Senator Bennett (D-CO) and Senator Udall (D-CO). And Congressman Hanna (R-NY) talked one-on-one with students from Hamilton College. We have a number of more dialogs lined up: see if your state or district is listed below!

Each of the video dialogs below can accommodate up to six different college or university audiences. None of the sessions are full yet. So help organize your college to participate. All you need is a room, a laptop with a webcam, and a projector. If you want to talk to political leadership about global warming, here is your chance.

To learn more or to get involved, send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu.

4/21/2011 @ 1 pm – Jonathan McCarken Energy/Environmental LA – Senator Brown (OH)
4/27/2011 @ 11 AM – Rep Kaptur will visit Oberlin College
4/29/2011 @ 10:30-11:30 AM – Rep. Jared Polis will visit CU Boulder
5/2/2011 @ 2 PM- Aide to Congressman Sam Graves (MO)
5/3/2011 @ 3 pm – Senator Lieberman
5/4/2011 @ 3PM – Rep. Hultgren (IL)
5/4/2011 @ 4 PM – Senator Durbin
5/12/2011 @ 12 pm (noon) – Rep. Henry Waxman

Dialogs in the process of being confirmed or scheduled:

4/29/2011 @ 4:30 pm (mountain time) – an Energy LA for Bingaman will visit UNML
Rep. Markey (MA)
Rep. Michaud (ME)
Rep. Pingree (ME)
NY Senators

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday (4/13) at noon eastern, The National Climate Seminar hosts a conversation with Majora Carter, Green jobs pioneer, Macarthur “Genius” Award Winner, and founder of Sustainable South Bronx. Carter is widely credited with helping engage the movement for environmental justice with a vision for economic revitalization in low-income communities. Where has the green-for-all movement made progress?

Join us. Send advance questions for Ms. Carter to climate@bard.edu. Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.

Next Wednesday (4/20), we’ll host our first-ever national webinar, with Bill McKibben and Nike’s VP for Sustainability, Sarah Severn. The focus of this Earth Week conversation will be on “Why We Fight”.  As we face environmental challenges that seem overwhelming, where do we find continuing motivation to envision the really profound changes in government and business that must occur in the coming years?  Look for webinar details later this week.

As promised, C2C is delivering Earth month opportunities to talk with Congresspeople, Senators and their Staff about climate and clean energy directly from your own classroom or college auditorium. See if your state or district is listed below! If you can help us get 350 people on a video dialog, that sounds a powerful message of engagement.

Each of the video dialogs below can accommodate up to six different college or university audiences.  None of the sessions are full yet. So help organize your college to participate.  All you need is a room, a laptop with a webcam, and a projector.  If you want to talk to political leadership about global warming, here is your chance.

To learn more or to get involved, send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu.  Join us, from C2 (shining) C!

4/12/2011 @ 5:30 PM – Badishia Battchayra Energy/Environmental LA- Senator Franken (MN)

4/13/2011 @ 1 pm – Sara Gonzales-Rothi Energy/Environmental LA- Senator Nelson (FL)

4/14/2011 @ 4:30 pm – Colorado (Udall and Bennet aides)

4/15/2011 @ 11 AM – Rep. Hanna (NY)

4/21/2011 @ 1 pm – Jonathan McCarken Energy/Environmental LA – Senator Brown (OH)

4/27/2011 @ 11 AM – Rep Kaptur will visit Oberlin College

4/29/2011 @ 10:30-11:30 AM – Rep. Jared Polis will visit CU Boulder

5/2/2011   @ 2 PM- Aide to Congressman Sam Graves (MO)

5/3/2011   @ 3 pm – Senator Lieberman

5/4/2011   @ 3PM – Rep. Hultgren (IL)

5/4/2011   @ 4 PM – Senator Durbin

5/12/2011 @ 12 pm (noon) – Rep. Henry Waxman

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday, McKie Campbell, an aide to senator Murkowski and the top Republican Staff Member for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will be joining The National Climate Seminar.

SPECIAL TIME: 4 PM EASTERN.

The Republican Party has a long and honorable tradition of leadership on environmental protection, but as is well known, this perspective in the GOP has lost much ground. Republican champions of climate action have either lost their jobs (Inglis and Castle) or gotten out in front and then backtracked (McCain and Graham). Is there a remaining desire by Republicans to lead on climate and clean energy? Is there a way forward?
Join us for this important conversation.  Send advance questions for Mr. Campbell to climate@bard.edu and follow us on  during the call.

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.

The Full Earth Month Schedule:
4/13: Majora Carter, Green jobs pioneer, Macarthur “Genius” Award Winner, and founder of Sustainable South Bronx.
4/20: Special EARTHweeks Webinar- Author Bill McKibben, and Nike CSR Director Sara Severn, on “Why We Fight.” This will be our first webinar, so watch for details on how to participate.
In the latest climate new, the White House appears likely to oppose attempts to weaken EPA’s regulatory authority. There are a number of exciting climate engagement opportunities for students coming up:
PowerShift April 15-18. Thousands of students are headed to DC for a weekend of workshops, with stops at congressional and senate offices. If you can get there, don’t miss this one.
C2C: If you can’t go to Washington, and even if you can: we will help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congressperson. Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April and May web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time. Get live updates on the event on Facebook and Twitter. More on this one in a separate e-mail later this week.
Chill-Out, the annual celebration of campus sustainability efforts brought to you by NWF is April 13th. The webcast will feature winners in six categories: students in action, campus actions, green jobs training, innovation and design, green sporting events, and high school actions. Click here to register.

Lots of ways to get involved.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Join the call with Mckie Campbell

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

The Bard Center for Environmental Policy’s C2C/EARTH weeks is hosting a web based video-dialog and conference call with McKie Campbell Wednesday, April 6th at 4pm EST and we want you to join!  Mckie is the Senior Republican staff for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and an aide to Alaskan Senator Lisa Murkowski. We will be discussing climate change, clean energy, and green jobs with him.  Teaching a class about the environment or policy?  We still have a few spots left to participate via web-dialog.  Contact us at climate@bard.edu if your class can call in.

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.
Send advance questions for Mckie Campbell to climate@bard.edu and follow us on  during the call. Join us for this engaging conversation.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday, March 30th at noon eastern, The National Climate Seminar kicks off 4 weeks of exciting Earthweeks conversations with two of the brains behind 350.org; May Boeve and Sara Camp. We all know Bill McKibben as the face of 350, but the real organizing work has been done by a core team of a dozen young people.

How does 350 manage to mobilize teams in virtually every country of the world? What is the social change strategy behind these days of actions? And where is 350 headed? Find out how this dynamic group has made a wonky number very cool, and driven it into the global consciousness.

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.
Send advance questions for May and Sara to climate@bard.edu and follow us on  during the call. Join us for this engaging conversation.

The Full Earth Month Schedule:
4/6: Mckie Campbell, Senior Republican staff for the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and an aide to Senator Lisa Murkowski. (Special time: 4pm eastern).
4/13: Majora Carter, Green jobs pioneer, Macarthur “Genius” Award Winner, and founder of Sustainable South Bronx.
4/20: Special EARTHweeks Webinar- Author Bill McKibben, and Nike CSR Director Sara Severn, on “Why We Fight.” This will be our first webinar, so watch for details on how to participate.
As the challenges to EPA’s regulatory authority continue, there are a number of exciting climate engagement opportunities for students coming up:
PowerShift April 15-18. Thousands of students are headed to DC for a weekend of workshops, with stops at congressional and senate offices. If you can get there, don’t miss this one.
C2C: If you can’t go to Washington, and even if you can: we will help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congressperson. Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April and May web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time. Get live updates on the event on Facebook and Twitter.
Chill-Out, the annual celebration of campus sustainability efforts brought to you by NWF is April 13th. The webcast will feature winners in six categories: students in action, campus actions, green jobs training, innovation and design, green sporting events, and high school actions. Click here to register.

Lots of ways to get involved.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday, March 16^th at noon eastern, The National Climate Seminar welcomes McDonald’s VP of Corporate Social Services, Bob Langert.  Langert oversees efforts at the company focused on global environmental management systems, including climate change.

McDonald’s has taken some proactive steps on climate, and their environmental footprint more broadly: see the report in Climate Counts “GreenWatch” Campaign.  What is the motivation?  Dollar savings? Consumer concern? Has corporate urgency declined with the collapse of a US national policy push? Or increased as the scientific evidence continues to mount? What are the challenges faced by a sprawling global company? The opportunities?

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.

Send advance questions for Langert to climate@bard.edu. Please join us for this important conversation. In two weeks: what does it take to organize global days of action?  We’ll hear from the team at 350.org.

As the challenges to EPA’s regulatory authority continue, there are a number of exciting climate engagement opportunities for students coming up:

• PowerShift April 15-18. Thousands of students are headed to DC for a weekend of workshops, with stops at congressional and senate offices. If you can get there, don’t miss this one.
• C2C: If you can’t go to Washington, and even if you can: we will help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congressperson. Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.
• Chill-Out, the annual celebration of campus sustainability efforts brought to you by NWF is April 13^th. The webcast will feature winners in six categories: students in action, campus actions, green jobs training, innovation and design, green sporting events, and high school actions. Click here to register.

Lots of ways to get involved.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

How is McDonald’s responding to climate change? Climatecounts.org provides this background information:

Overall Score: 36/100. Change from previous year’s score: +6

Review: 11/22 points. McDonald’s has measured the impacts that sub-units of the company have on global warming.

Reduce: 21/56 points. McDonald’s has been working to limit energy consumption in its stores in order to reduce its impact on global warming (i.e., its greenhouse gas emissions or climate footprint).
Policy Stance: 0/10 points. McDonald’s provides no public information that it supports public policy that addresses climate change.
Report: 4/12 points. McDonald’s has made public information available on its companywide efforts to address global warming.
Learn more on the call, Wednesday.

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

McDonald’s has over 32,478 restaurants, more than any other company in the world. That’s some climate footprint. What is the company doing to make it smaller?

Wednesday March 16th, The National Climate Seminar will welcome McDonald’s VP of Corporate Social Services, Bob Langert. Langert oversees efforts at the company focused on global environmental management systems, including climate change.

How is McDonald’s responding to climate change? Climatecounts.org provides this background information:

Overall Score: 36/100. Change from previous year’s score: +6

Review: 11/22 points. McDonald’s has measured the impacts that sub-units of the company have on global warming.

Reduce: 21/56 points. McDonald’s has been working to limit energy consumption in its stores in order to reduce its impact on global warming (i.e., its greenhouse gas emissions or climate footprint).

Policy Stance: 0/10 points. McDonald’s provides no public information that it supports public policy that addresses climate change.

Report: 4/12 points. McDonald’s has made public information available on its companywide efforts to address global warming.

Mark your calendar for next week’s questions and answers on global warming, from the burger perspective. Send advance questions for Langert to climate@bard.edu.

Meanwhile, the EPA’s authority to cut global warming pollution (as well as protect public health) remains under unprecedented attack by the House of Representatives. There has never been a more important time for students to be tuned into DC. At Bard CEP, we can help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congressperson.

Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.

In MA, FL, ME and several other states we are already arranging web dialogs between several campuses and their US Senators. Please send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 pathbreaking conversations launched between campus and congress this spring.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday at noon eastern, The National Climate Seminar welcomes Peter Byck, the director of the new climate film, Carbon Nation: “an inspiring look at the many recent advances in clean energy and green technologies.” (LA Times) Join us for a critical conversation about climate communication. Post Inconvenient Truth, what is the best way to tell the global warming story?

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.

Send advance questions for Peter to climate@bard.edu. In two weeks: McDonald’s Sustainability VP Bob Langert, and later this term, green jobs pioneer Majora Carter, Bill McKibben, and Nike’s Sarah Severn.

Meanwhile, the EPA’s authority to cut global warming pollution (as well as protect public health) remains under unprecedented attack by the House of Representatives. There is no more important time for students to be tuned into DC. We can help you set up a video dialog with your Senator or Congress person.

Here’s how it works: The Bard Center for Environmental Policy is sponsoring April web dialogues between campus and congress on energy, climate and jobs as part of our C2C/EARTHweeks project. All faculty need to do is let us know that they want to participate. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.

One example: In MA, FL, ME and several other states we are already arranging web dialogs between several campuses and their US Senators. Please send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 pathbreaking conversations launched between campus and congress this spring.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

I would be grateful if you would pass this e-mail along to student leaders in your campus or community.

The US Environmental Protection Agency needs your voice. Here is how to get your campus engaged.

The EPA is proposing rules to stabilize US global warming pollution. Many politicians in Washington are trying to stop the agency– and some are even trying to dismantle it.

We have an easy and powerful way for you to voice your opinion on climate action: C2C / EARTH weeks.

Colleges and universities across the country are inviting Senators and members of Congress to talk, via the web, this April. If you would like students at your school to participate, let us know. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web-enabled dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.

All you have to do is sign an invitation letter from your school, and once the call is scheduled, get students at your end of the call. This part isn’t hard: just get environmental studies professors to require that their students participate!

Please send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 pathbreaking conversations launched between campus and congress this spring, and give youth a voice about the EPA, global warming, and the future.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy

Dear Colleagues and Friends,

This Wednesday at noon eastern, The National Climate Seminar turns to China: Andrew Stevenson from Resources for the Future will look at the Chinese growth trajectory for the coming decade. What potential is there for China to decarbonize its economy, soon?

Call-in number: 1-712-432-3100; Conference Code: 253385.

Please join us for this important conversation. Send advance questions for Stevenson to climate@bard.edu.

Later in the term: Carbon Nation film producer Peter Bryck; McDonald’s Sustainability VP Bob Langert; and green jobs pioneer Majora Carter. We are also sponsoring an Earth Week webinar with Bill McKibben and Nike’s Sarah Severn.

C2C is picking up steam, with dozens of faculty from across the country joining us to invite Senators and members of Congress to talk with their students this April. If you would like to participate, let us know. We do the rest: invitation, scheduling, access to policy resources for your students, suggested questions. We even staff the DC end of the web dialogs, bringing a laptop to the office of your Senator or Congressperson at the appointed time.

Please send us an e-mail at climate@bard.edu if you would like to learn more. With your help, we will get 100 pathbreaking conversations launched between campus and congress this spring.

Thanks for the work you are doing.

Eban Goodstein
Director, Bard Center for Environmental Policy