Sustainable Living & Climate Action

Do You Like Breathing Clean Air?

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has been protecting the health of the people and the planet since as far back as 1963. In 1970 under President Nixon it was strengthened and Earth Day was begun. It has been amended several times since then. In 2009, during the Obama administration, the EPA declared that greenhouse gases in the atmosphere were a hazard to people. We have had rules regulating climate pollution from coal and gas-fired power plants, car and truck exhaust, and methane from the oil and gas industry. Connecticut’s own Gina McCarthy served as the EPA Administrator, and later as the head of the Climate Policy Office under President Biden, creating clean energy innovation and investments.

However, our current President has declared climate change a “hoax”, ramping up the use of coal fired energy and increasing fossil fuel production for the benefit of the billionaire owners.

A PBS report on February 12th aired a speech by Trump and his appointed administrator, Lee Zeldin touting all the money which will be saved by eliminating these regulations. Thankfully individual states like Connecticut are working on their own Environmental Rights Amendments. It’s a small step, but it’s something.

Climate Superfund Bill H.B 5156 — will have a public hearing in the CT Environment Committee. Since this hearing will have happened by the time you read this, you can check with the CT League of Conservation Voters for updates. https://www.ctlcv.org/

From Yale Climate Connections subscription newsletter: Despite Trump, renewable energy keeps surging, according to reporter Barbara Grady.

Grady writes: Solar and wind electricity generation grew 109% worldwide last year, pushing these renewable sources past coal for the first time as a global energy supplier, according to an analysis by Ember Energy Research. More than 600 gigawatts of solar electricity were added last year, led by China and also including India, Brazil, Vietnam, the European Union, Kenya, and Mozambique. African experts say much of the continent is leaning heavily into solar and wind as it electrifies new regions and industries, bypassing fossil fuels.

Don’t forget to Support Equal Exchange on the 2nd Sunday of each month for your sustainably grown chocolate, tea and coffee at reasonable prices. Go to Equal Exchange to learn more. You can even order other products for yourself and friends, and you’re supporting small farmers with Fair Trade practices. https://shop.equalexchange.coop/

And finally, since February is Chocolate Month – or March or any month for that matter, here’s a simple 2 ingredient recipe for Chocolate Mousse from the Happy Pear website.

• 100 g. dark chocolate chips, such as Equal Exchange Dark Chocolate Chips.
• 75 ml. boiling water (Hot non-dairy milk can also be substituted.)
• Measure chips into a glass bowl. Pour in boiling water. Whisk until chocolate melts.
• Set bowl into a larger bowl of ice water. Continue whisking until mousse thickens.
• This may take 3 – 5 minutes. That’s it!

Serve with your favorite fruit and whipped cream, over ice cream, as a topping for brownies, or come up with your own healthy chocolate creations!

Thank you, Anne Vaugn

#MarchNewsletter