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Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup - 10/23/09
Jack Clarke, Director of Public Policy & Government Relations
Jennifer Ryan, Assistant Director for Legislative Affairs
This Week:
Endangered Species Need More Protection!
A recent Time magazine article warns that the Earth is currently experiencing an "extinction crisis." The article by Bryan Walsh, titled: "When Is a Species Endangered?", looks at humans as having accelerated extinction rates believed to be up to 1,000 times higher than in pre-human times. Also referenced is new research indicating that conservation policies often underestimate the number of individuals needed to maintain a population of endangered species. Such conclusions further underscore the importance of programs like the Massachusetts' Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program, which received no general funding this year in the state budget. Read the full Time article at: http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1930885,00.html.
Greenhouse Gas Calculations Must Branch Out
The New York Times discusses a new report concluding that the method for calculating greenhouse gas emissions is not always accurate, resulting in errors that could drastically throw off future emissions reduction strategies. The main source of error, according to the study, is the improper representation of biofuel emissions. Typically, biofuels like wood are treated as having no effect on atmospheric CO2, when in reality the clearing of forests for fuel reduces carbon sequestration. When a tree is cut down, it can no longer absorb CO2 from the atmosphere, and the net balance increases. Mass Audubon has long been an advocate for the inclusion of forest carbon sequestration when considering baseline emissions levels (see our past Roundup for more information: http://www.massaudubon.org/advocacy/roundup_archive.php?id=159). To read the full article, visit: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/23/science/earth/23biofuel.html?_r=1&hpw.
Safe Yield Hearing
The Joint Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, and Agriculture is holding an Oversight Hearing on Governor Patrick's newly released safe yield regulations regarding water resources.
The release of these regulations has sparked a backlash from the environmental community as the designated safe yield levels are not sufficient to protect streams and rivers. See last week's Roundup for more information: http://www.massaudubon.org/advocacy/roundup_archive.php?id=176. Hearing details:
Thursday, November 19, 2009
2:30 p.m.
Hearing Room A-2
State House, Boston, MA Note that this is an Oversight Hearing and testimony on specific bills will not be heard. The Committee will only be receiving testimony from pre-arranged panelists, which will include Administration staff and individuals from several environmental organizations. Additional written testimony may also be submitted by any interested individuals, organizations and agencies. For more information, contact Committee staff at 617-722-2210.
How Will We Adapt to Climate Change?
Find out during a three-part series of informational hearings on Massachusetts' adaptation plans. Open to the public, these hearings will focus on the work of the Climate Change Adaptation Advisory Committee, which was created in 2008 by the Global Warming Solutions Act. The Committee will be submitting a report of its findings to the legislature at the end of this year. The first hearing in the series, "Climate Change Adaptation, Part I: Climate Change Science and Coastal Zone", targets the science of climate change and adaptation strategies for the ocean and coastal zone. Speakers will include Rob Thieler of U.S. Geological Survey and Bud Ris of the New England Aquarium. Thanks to the House Committee on Global Warming and Climate Change for organizing this series. Hearing details:
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
10:30 a.m.
Hearing Room B-1
State House, Boston, MA For more information, contact Kayla Race at 617-722-2676 or Kayla.race@state.ma.us.
Calendar
Mass Audubon's Free Workshop Series: Get involved and make a difference! This fall, Mass Audubon's Shaping the Future of Your Community Outreach and Assistance Program is holding free workshops in communities throughout the state. Make a difference in your town's future -- join us and learn effective strategies for working with your local officials to guide your community's development, ensuring a high quality of life for years to come. Over the past 40 years, the landscape of Massachusetts has been dramatically transformed. In June 2009, Mass Audubon released Losing Ground: Beyond the Footprint, documenting changes in Massachusetts' land-use and exposing the harsh reality of unplanned development's impacts on natural resources and community character. Shaping the Future of Your Community is Mass Audubon's response to the issues revealed in Losing Ground. Working together, we can maintain the Commonwealth's natural heritage for the benefit of this and future generations. Free, pre-registration strongly encouraged. For schedule information or to register, email shapingthefuture@massaudubon.org or visit http://www.massaudubon.org/shapingthefuture/outreach.php Mass Audubon is proud to be an organizational sponsor of the following upcoming event: Worthy Causes Presents Boston Night to Combat Climate Change
Sunday, November 1, 2009
6:00 p.m. -- 10:00 p.m.
Royal Sonesta
Cambridge, MA Honorary co-chairs: Senator John Kerry & Congressman Ed Markey A benefit for Oxfam American & NRDC. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit
http://www.worthycausesinc.org/ Greening the City: Fostering Inspired and Innovative Leadership for Just and Sustainable Urban Communities A conference sponsored by Lesley University's graduate Division of Environmental Studies and Mass Audubon, November 6-8, 2009. Join more than 150 urban environmental leaders from throughout New England at the main campus of Lesley University in Cambridge, MA to explore key strategies for fostering inspired and innovative urban environmental leadership. "Greening the City" is geared toward environmental practitioners and thinkers from nonprofits, higher education institutions, local community groups, government agencies, and businesses. It will feature prominent environmental thinkers and practitioners from academia and government agencies, as well as from for profit and nonprofit organizations. There will be keynote talks, workshops, and an exhibit area, and other interactive ways to engage with the challenges and solutions arising from our increasingly urban world. Keynotes will include well known environmentalists like Julian Agyeman, environmental social scientist, activist and academic from Tufts University. Other keynotes will be announced shortly. The conference is meant to engage in-depth and meaningful dialogue among participants while addressing the difficulties and opportunities faced in cultivating just and sustainable urban communities. Registration required. A Water Resources Conference: Commemoration of the 20th Anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust Hogan Conference Center
Holy Cross College
Worcester, MA
Tuesday, November 10, 2009 Established as part of the Boston Harbor cleanup, the Trust has infused over $17 million into projects for water quality, aquatic species, environmental education and more. To celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Massachusetts Environmental Trust, the Trustees are hosting a one-day conference on Tuesday, November 10, 2009. The conference is intended to bring together practitioners engaged in the work of protecting and restoring water quality and the continuity of aquatic systems. For more information contact Susan Lanza at 617-626-1068 or email Susan.Lanza@state.ma.us MCAN Conference Join climate activists from across the state at the 8th Annual Mass Climate Action Network (MCAN) conference. Speakers include Gina McCarthy, Assistant Administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Workshops will be held on issues ranging from energy savings in the home to building localized climate movements, as well as the upcoming Copenhagen talks. Sunday, November 15, 2009
9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m.
Stata Center, MIT
32 Vassar Street
Cambridge, MA For more information, and to register, visit MCAN's conference page at: http://massclimateaction.net/conference/2009-conference.html.
Please contact us if you have any questions at: action@massaudubon.org.
About The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup
The Beacon Hill Weekly Roundup tracks the legislative priorities of Mass Audubon, focusing on the protection of the nature of Massachusetts. We encourage you to forward this newsletter to friends, family, and colleagues and to enlist their support.
If you are not already a member of Mass Audubon's Action Network, we encourage you to join by filling out our online form or by e-mailing us. Membership dues provide vital support for Mass Audubon's advocacy work on Beacon Hill and across the state. If you are not already a Mass Audubon member please join today.
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Senate and House Sessions Go Live
Consistent with the theme that decision-makers act differently when they know they are being watched, House and Senate sessions are now available on live webcast. Tune in to view live web stream broadcastings of the Senate and House and watch as the Massachusetts legislative process unfolds!
Current Legislation
Access the text of current legislation, bill histories and Massachusetts General Law by visiting one site. We encourage you to visit The General Court's website frequently as it is an important tool for conservation advocates like you!
How to Lobby
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View Mass Audubon’s How to Lobby document, and get started now!
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