47 results for tag: climate change

Call on Oregon leaders to move forward with Clean Energy Jobs

When the 2018 session ended, the immense public support and momentum of the Clean Energy Jobs bill helped shape an historic pathway to adoption in 2019. Our leaders in Oregon's House and Senate created a first-of-a-kind committee to tackle carbon reduction and they approved dollars to pay for a Carbon Policy Office to inform the process and the public. The new committee, the Joint Interim Committee On Carbon Reduction, is led by Senate President Courtney and House Speaker Kotek. This summer, in just two meetings, lawmakers have heard from experts in science, economics and policy who have spoken about Oregon’s potential to draw down ...

How do we handle algae?

The water crisis in Salem is a wake-up call to the growing threat of harmful algae blooms in Oregon. How can we prevent these events from happening more in the future?

Wildfires and our water resources

As we face a future with more wildfires, it's time to start looking beyond the burn. Even after flames die down, our watersheds are still at increased risk.

Gov. Brown Boosts Water Conservation

New executive orders help mitigate climate change through Oregon's building codes and address key principals of ensuring a reliable water future: efficiency and re-use.

Join us for a Statewide Day of Action

In the unprecedented world facing us, what’s the most powerful statement you can make? It’s showing up to say I care about protecting people, defending clean air and water, and giving our kids a better life. On Saturday, Nov. 4th, we all need to show up. Check it out. Oregonians have been organizing for years. On November 4th, people across the state gather to show our legislators we can't wait any longer for a strong, equitable climate policy in Oregon. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to get together with friends, enjoy a beverage and talk about shared values, then look no farther. Join Oregon Environmental Council, founding ...

A Report Card for our Climate: Oregon Gets Graded

Wonder how Oregon is doing at meeting climate and clean energy goals? A new, visually-compelling Clean Energy Report Card grades Oregon’s progress toward a clean energy economy, and shows a suite of solutions which will create good paying jobs, make the air cleaner and promote healthy communities. The Report Card also provides inspiring examples of clean energy solutions--like how Pendelton has become a leader in solar installations. It includes surprising facts, including that transit projects create 70% more jobs compared to highway projects. It underscores that Oregon needs several solutions working together to accelerate the clean energy ...

REPORT: Oregon Faces Climate Threats; We Are Committed to Solutions

The Oregon Climate Change Research Institute just released their third Oregon Climate Assessment Report, and the results are foreboding. Off the top, it clearly states the problem: “burning fossil fuels to run our factories, heat our homes and drive our cars produces heat-trapping gasses that unequivocally warm the planet.” The report presents compelling evidence as to how our state is already experiencing the effects of climate change, and the various threats that lie ahead. Key takeaways: A majority of Oregonians are concerned about climate change: Two-thirds (67%) of Oregonians believe that climate change is happening (Howe et al., 2015). ...

Can Poetry Save Us from Our Global Environmental Crisis?

I have to admit that, after decades of work as an environmental advocate, I still find it slightly awkward to tell people that my educational training is in fine arts. But if you think about it for a moment, it makes sense. Environmental solutions, just like poetry, require imagination, vision and passion. I'd bet that, if you take a close look at the staff at our nation's most effective environmental groups, you'd find not only scientists and public policy experts but also artists, musicians and writers. It's certainly true at Oregon Environmental Council. There's clear evidence that OEC gets results with the way we make change, and it has a ...

August Climate Good News: 7 Reasons to Have Hope

...it takes 7 POSITIVE THOUGHTS to overcome the power of one negative thought, so here are 7 reasons to take heart and feel hopeful. Read and repeat as necessary to keep impending gloom at bay:

Making Oregon a Clean Energy Leader: Renew Oregon

It's an exciting time for those who care about cleaner energy and healthier communities. In 2016 OEC took major initiative to make Oregon a leader in transitioning from dirty, polluting energy to a clean energy economy: we helped found Renew Oregon. Renew Oregon is the most powerful coalition ever assembled in our state to fight for climate protection. Thanks to the continued support of our members, we are helping steer the Renew Oregon campaign to climate victory, starting with the passage of the Clean Electricity and Coal Transition Act, a first-of-its-kind law to transition off of polluting coal-fired power while simultaneously DOUBLING the ...