Three members of the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies’ Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change will join representatives from more than 190 nations in Durban, South Africa next week for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) 17th Conference of Parties (COP).

The conference is expected to be a critical juncture for international climate initiatives.  As a designated non-governmental organization with Civil Society Observer Status through the United Nations, the Joint Center will participate along with hundreds of public interest organizations and thousands of activists from around the world in advocating for a fair, ambitious and binding agreement that will reduce global emissions, build vulnerable nations' resilience to climate change and foster a low-carbon green economy globally.
 
Representing the Joint Center’s Commission will be State Senator Rodney Ellis (D-TX), the Commission’s Co-Chair, and Commission Members Carolyn L. Green, Managing Partner of EnerGreen Capital Management LLC, and Benjamin Bronfman, Strategic Advisor, Global Thermostat.

Environmentalist/Musician will Help Group Reach a Broader Audience

WASHINGTON, DC – Environmental activist, investor and rock musician Benjamin Bronfman has joined the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change as the group, convened by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, looks to further engage younger Americans on issues related to global warming and its effects on communities.

Bronfman, 29, is a principal at EBJ Capital, an investment group focused on innovative technologies aimed at moving industry toward sustainable approaches and practices. He is also songwriter, producer and lead singer for the band Teachers.

Bronfman and fellow commissioners met this week in conjunction with the Congressional Black Caucus Legislative Conference as they prepare for the 17th United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 17), which will be held in Durban, South Africa, November 28-December 9, 2011.

This is the fourth installment of our collaboration with the "Back to School With the HistoryMakers" event on Friday, Sept. 23, when some 500 renowned African Americans -- from Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to Common -- will speak at schools around the country.

Warren Washington is one of the world's leading experts on climate change and global warming. He was developer of one the earliest computer models of the Earth's climate and has been a science adviser to four presidents, from Jimmy Carter to George W. Bush. A winner of numerous awards, he was named a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2009 and was one of 10 distinguished researchers selected by President Obama for the National Medal of Science in 2010.

I remember my father once sitting me down to ask me an important question. "Now, son, tell me what you really do," he said. My work involves a lot of theory and math and physical laws that are hard for a layperson to understand, so it is perfectly natural that my father did not understand exactly what I do. But one thing is for sure: I'm doing what he wanted me to do.

Read more at The Root.

A roundtable discussion hosted by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies and its Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change. The discussion will focus on an opportunity for the US ~ Africa ~ Latin America to form an alliance to support policy priorities leading to the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change or COP 17 and Rio+20.
 
Presentation of Discussion Paper
"Climate Disruption in the Global South and in African American Communities:
Key Issues, Frameworks and Possibilities for Climate Justice"

David N. Pellow, Ph.D.
Professor and Don A. Martindale Endowed Chair of Sociology
University of Minnesota

Co-Facilitators

                                                      
Participants will include representatives from the U.S. Department of State and other Administration officials, Constituency for Africa, Pan African Climate Justice Alliance, The African Union, USAID, U.S. Embassies from Africa and Latin America, Congressional members and state and local elected officials, corporate leaders, NGOs and others.

Networking Reception
Following the roundtable we will host a reception for participants to continue dialogue and form partnerships.


Please RSVP no later than Monday, September 19 at 5 p.m.


THIS IS AN INVITATION-ONLY EVENT.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies has appointed economist Kellee James as a Senior Fellow specializing on the links between the environmental and economic issues.

Ms. James is the founder and President of the Organic Futures Group, which designs pricing and risk management tools for environmental commodities.  She has previously worked for the Chicago Climate Exchange (CCX), which is North America's largest and longest-running greenhouse gas emission reduction program.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies kicked off its monthly webinar series on EPA's Regulatory Agenda with the inaugural topic focused on "Utility Air Toxics Rule." The webinar took place on Wednesday July 13, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and was free and open to the public.

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment.  This Joint Center webinar explored the agency's current initiatives, with a particular focus on its regulatory activities. Presenters covered both climate rules and the air rules, and explained the rulemaking process.  An overview of the Utility Air Toxics Rule was provided, and the critical issues identified as important considerations were discussed. Topics included the immense health benefits of the rule; the disproportionate impact of toxic air pollution on communities of color; the existence of cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions (which are currently being used by several companies); and an assessment of the overstated projected economic damages cited by industry as well the actual damages borne by vulnerable populations due to toxic air pollution.

The webinar is available for viewing and slides are available for download.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies kicked off its monthly webinar series on EPA's Regulatory Agenda with the inaugural topic focused on "Utility Air Toxics Rule."

The webinar took place on Wednesday July 13, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and was free and open to the public.

Meeting Description:

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment.  This Joint Center webinar explored the agency's current initiatives, with a particular focus on its regulatory activities. Presenters covered both climate rules and the air rules, and explained the rulemaking process.  An overview of the Utility Air Toxics Rule was provided, and the critical issues identified as important considerations were discussed. Topics included the immense health benefits of the rule; the disproportionate impact of toxic air pollution on communities of color; the existence of cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions (which are currently being used by several companies); and an assessment of the overstated projected economic damages cited by industry as well the actual damages borne by vulnerable populations due to toxic air pollution.

Audio associated with this presentation can be found here.

The Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies kicked off its monthly webinar series on EPA's Regulatory Agenda with the inaugural topic focused on "Utility Air Toxics Rule."

The webinar took place on Wednesday July 13, 2011 from 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. and was free and open to the public.

Meeting Description:

The mission of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is to protect human health and the environment.  This Joint Center webinar explored the agency's current initiatives, with a particular focus on its regulatory activities. Presenters covered both climate rules and the air rules, and explained the rulemaking process.  An overview of the Utility Air Toxics Rule was provided, and the critical issues identified as important considerations were discussed. Topics included the immense health benefits of the rule; the disproportionate impact of toxic air pollution on communities of color; the existence of cost-effective technologies to reduce emissions (which are currently being used by several companies); and an assessment of the overstated projected economic damages cited by industry as well the actual damages borne by vulnerable populations due to toxic air pollution.

Slides associated with this audio file are available for download.