Global Warming Field Trip - Think Globally, Act Locally

Written by: Trudy Zaja on Nov 19, 2007 4:49 PM EST

Linked to groups: Hanover Township Democrats & Independents (HanDI)

Below is an article by Matt Kiefer, staff Writer of the Schaumburg Pioneer Press on Global Warming Locally at Spring Valley Nature Center last week.

Environmental activists urge 'act locally'
(http://www.pioneerlocal.com/schaumburg/news/651232,sc-greenpeace-111507-s1.article)November 15, 2007By MATT KIEFER Staff Writer

About 50 residents gathered at Spring Valley Nature Center in Schaumburg Monday night to talk about global warming and how they can help stop it. The Greenpeace-hosted event took on a standard town hall format -- a panel of local leaders and environmentalists talked about topics such as renewable energy and environmentally friendly building designs while audience members took notes and asked questions. Jim Tang, a scientist who works for the Chicago Botanic Garden, urged the audience to "act locally" and do the little things to help the environment, like riding a bicycle to work or driving a fuel-efficient car. "That's something I try to do myself and then show people they can have an effect on global warming," he said. But for all the advice offered on "green" living, the forum clearly had a larger political message for the individuals in the room: that the most powerful way to effect change is to vote. Greenpeace organizer Kate Ogden said her organization put on the town hall meeting to raise awareness about global warming but also to urge leaders in Congress to support stricter federal pollution regulations. Specifically, Greenpeace is watching U.S. Rep. Melissa Bean, D-8th, of Barrington. The global advocacy group is now in the second year of a public campaign known as Project Hot Seat, intended to pressure select members of Congress into supporting environmental legislation. "This town hall forum shows just how committed this community is to finding solutions to global warming," Ogden said. "Now it's up to Rep. Melissa Bean to lead on this issue in Congress and help reverse the effects of global warming." Bean has a record of supporting bills creating incentives for developing fuel-efficient cars and renewable energy sources as well as grants to research pollution controls. But Greenpeace is urging the legislator to go a step further and support the Safe Climate Act, a controversial bill that would impose industry caps on greenhouse gas emissions with the goal of reducing emission levels to 80 percent of 1990-era levels by 2050. Bean's press office declined to comment this week on the Project Hot Seat initiative or the Safe Climate Act legislation. But as far as Crystal Lake resident and environmental activist Stephen Fuller is concerned, it's only a matter of time before the federal government steps in with new greenhouse gas regulations of some kind; some corporations are already preparing for it. "In terms of a timeline, I would say we have about five years for businesses to get used to this before it gets into full swing," said Fuller, who was a panelist at Monday's meeting. Another panelist, Elgin City Councilman David Kaptain, said that there is growing demand for environmentally friendly products and services. As an example, he points out that there have been five certified green building projects started in his community in the past five years. Businesses can look forward to growing into those kinds of niche markets. "I think that one thing you have to do at the end of the day is leave them with hope," Kaptain said.

Tags:
Location: Streamwood, IL 60107