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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-04-19 Special Mtg CAC Minutes Jefferson County/City of Port Townsend Climate Action Committee Special Meeting Minutes April 19, 2016 Cotton Building Port Townsend, WA DRAFT Members Present: Laura Tucker, Cindy Jayne, Deborah Stinson, Barney Burke, Staff: Judy Surber, City of Port Townsend Guests: Dorothy Curren, Ruth Blyther, Julie Miles, Max Miles, Jim Rough, Carol McCreary Scribe: Judy Surber Topic Recommendation/Action Call to order 7:02 p.m. Call to Order & Welcome Cindy provided a quick overview of the City and County’s jointly adopted goal to reduce local GHG emissions to 80% of 1990 levels by the year 2050 and the role of the Climate Action Committee. She introduced Laura Tucker and her husband Hank Walker. COP21 Update Laura and Hank provided a PowerPoint presentation summarizing their experience at the COP21 conference. 195 countries attended the conference in Paris with the goal of signing a legally binding agreement to reduce emissions. Laura and Hank were impressed by many aspects of the conference including how well this massive event was organized, the use of social media (#EarthtoParis), the hospitality of Parisians, art exhibitions (Ribbon Tree Project), inventions (Solar flower, Wind Tree), cooperation between police and demonstrators, etc. Due to the recent terrorist bombing, the march (anticipated to be 2 million people) was cancelled. In their place people sent their shoes! 20,000 pairs of shoes. And they stood up against buildings in a chain. About 5 miles long. Hank and Laura arranged live online interviews connecting Port Townsend students to Paris. Interview guests included an Australian student activist, French oceanographer ("change the system, not the climate"), American environmental engineer, formerly with NASA and now with All Power Labs; 18 year old American Eskimo from an Alaskan subsistence tribe, and a student activist from Beijing, China. The couple attended a panel discussion on local sustainable energy co- ops. Efforts in Spain and England could serve as a model for Jefferson PUD No. 1 They shared a video clip - Astronauts message to the COP21. Dec, 9, 2015 all 195 nations signed a first-ever climate change agreement! There was a celebratory March through Paris. For more detail, go to: ltuckercop21@blogspot.com Q&A Attendees discussed "system" change”? What is it that needs to change, the fossil fuel dependent system? Capitalism? Political? (8:15 - Barney Burke joined the meeting.) Attendees thanked Laura and Hank. Adjourn The meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. Next Meeting Next meeting is scheduled for May 25, 2016, 3:30-5:30 pm