Cross-Cutting Issues

There are a number of environmental issues that cut across boundaries and demand a “whole thinking” approach. Climate change, water (quality, quantity, ownership), consumption, population growth -- these are complex issues that challenge us to re-think how we conceive of "protecting" the environment and each other, ask us to re-examine our work in terms of whole systems, and demand us to respond at many levels: personal, organizational, and societal. Following are some resources and organizations we have found informative.

Climate Change
Innovative collaborations

350.org was founded here in our own state of Vermont by author Bill McKibben and a team of university friends and students. Starting in 2007 with the Step it Up campaign, their mission is to build awareness and action on climate change from the grassroots, and they have now mobilized young people all over the world to urge their governements to take action.

Three Degrees Project was started by two graduate students, Jen Marlow (CWC alum) and Jeni Barcelos at the University of Washington with the intent of buildiing the intellectual infrastructure that will be needed to boldly confront the urgent humanitarian crisis at the heart of climate change. Bringing together the best minds in law, policy, and the physical and social sciences, the project will reorient climate discourse to address issues of health, food and water, security, equity, and justice, while providing leadership opportunities to students and faculty seeking to prepare the world for a warmer future.

Stop Climate Chaos: a collaboration of environment and development groups, faith groups, humanitarian organizations, women’s groups, trade unions and many others mobilizing public concern, and through this the necessary political action, to stop climate chaos. By working together in a diverse, broad-based coalition the group believes it can deliver results that none of its members can achieve alone.

United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP): a group of businesses and leading environmental organizations that have come together to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.

Interfaith Power and Light, a program of The Regeneration Project, a Jewish, Muslim and Christian interfaith campaign mobilizing a national religious response to global warming while promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation.

Tools for tackling carbon footprints

Energy Star (tips on organizational energy management): Guidelines for Energy Management Overview

Natural Resources Defense Council: Greening your Business

Native Energy (sells renewable energy credits that support new renewable energy projects)

Reading

Resources for New Hampshire Climate Change Group: These articles give important background and context to the on-going efforts around climate change policy in NH. With the partnership of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation we have been convening retreats on this topic since 2009.

America's Second Harvest

Communities and Consequences

NHCL summary

NH Fact Book: Demographics

The Climate Gap Report