This Solar Energy Group is Helping Impoverished Communities Worldwide

A small fishing community in Kiunga, Kenya of nearly 3500 people recently became the home to a revolutionary #solar water farm.  Located along the coast of the Indian Ocean, just a few miles from the Somalian border, the solar farm is the first project of its kind. The organization behind the solar water farm is known as GivePower. 

The farm uses solar panels in conjunction with a water desalination system housed in 20-foot shipping containers to transform over 75,000 liters of seawater into drinkable water for the surrounding village and nearby communities. The solar water farm produces enough clean water for over 35,000 people per day. Overall, it is projected to provide at least 20 years of clean water access at a cost of just $20 per person. 

The dry season in this particular area of Kenya can be especially brutal. Kiunga residents must fight for their survival every day. Prior to GivePower constructing their solar farm, the residents of this community only had access to salty, contaminated water. The drought in this region has only contributed negatively to the health and wellness of those living in Kiunga. 

Thanks to solar panels and renewable #energy technology, GivePower has now given the gift of clean water to this tight-knit and deserving community. Footage of these residents experiencing clean water for the first time, all thanks to #solar energy, is both emotional and powerful. 

Using Solar Energy to Lift Up Communities 

GivePower is revolutionizing the way solar energy is used and distributed – especially for impoverished communities. For the Kiunga, Kenya population, clean water is now at their disposal for drinking, bathing, and cooking. The Kiunga solar farm is just one of several projects that GivePower has successfully implemented throughout the course of its six-year history with solar energy. 

In 2017 after Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, a humanitarian crisis ensued in the area. Homes, community centers, stores, and powerlines were destroyed, leaving over 300,000 people without power. To help alleviate the power crisis, GivePower worked with several solar organizations to install solar panels on the rooftop of a fire station in the region. Communication and power were restored, helping emergency responders to once again perform their life-saving duties in and around Puerto Rico.  

In regard to the Puerto Rico project, GivePower Executive Director Barrett Raftery stated that, “beyond the direct access to power and water, it’s also been really critical to get into these neglected communities and let them know that people are thinking about them – that we are doing things to enable them to have access to basic human needs again.” His goal for GivePower is to continue to act responsibly and do the best they can to promote sustainable, long-term outcomes by way of #solar power. 

GivePower has also installed solar panels for a number of schools in Haiti, which previously had no electricity. Other projects have taken them to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Nepal, and Nicaragua. GivePower has helped provide sustainable solar energy for more than 2,650 schools across 17 countries, effectively changing the lives of over 400,000 people in impoverished communities. 

Solar Energy is the Answer 

According to the World Health Organization, 71% of the global population in 2017 had access to safe, on-site drinking water that was free of contamination and available when needed. Nearly two billion people, however, consumed drinking water from a source with contaminated water, which contributes to nearly half a million deaths per year. By 2025, it is estimated that nearly half of the world population will be living in a water-stressed area due to drought and climate change. 

Impoverished communities worldwide live in deplorable conditions that seem utterly foreign to those in the suburbs of the United States and other wealthier regions. GivePower is one of the brightest examples we have seen in recent years of how we can use solar power to transform and rebuild communities that are lacking basic resources.  

Solar energy is more than just sustainable power. Solar offers a way for those most in need to live healthy and productive lives. If solar power can sustain communities, it may one day sustain the world. 

Resources: 

https://www.designboom.com/technology/givepower-kenya-solar-power-plant-water-farm-ocean-water-11-27-2019/ 

https://givepower.org/ 

 

Critical year in Madrid for Climate Change

The 25th Conference of the Parties, otherwise known as COP, is gearing up to see a big turnout – negotiators from close to 200 countries are expected to attend this event.  

What is the 25th Conference of the Parties? 

What is the Conference of the Parties and how is it relevant to #climate change? This conference was created to take the next steps in the United Nations climate change process. One of the chief goals is to finish matters regarding the operationalization of the Paris Climate Change Agreement.   

A dire warning relevant to climate change has been issued from the UN secretary general – and that is that our world has reached the point of no return. António Guterres mentioned that in regard to climate change, the global response up to this point in time has been completely inadequate. 

Recent history has revealed bad news regarding climate change. Consider these points, for example…greenhouse gas concentrations, in 2018, reached their highest level ever recorded as per the World Meteorological Organisation. There is a gap between the governments’ objectives to cut emissions and the requirement to stay under 1.5C.  

As per António Guterres, we must stop digging and drilling and take advantage of the opportunities offered by renewable energy. Guterres announced that Mark Carney, Governor of the Bank of England, will take on an important position – UN Special Envoy on climate action and climate finance. 

The conference was supposed to take place in Chile. But President Sebastián Piñera canceled it as a result of civil turbulence taking place in the country. This is when Spain stepped in, but Chile will still take the lead regarding diplomatic discussions.  

#Teresa Ribera, Spain’s minister for the ecological transition, discussed how the 25th Conference of the Parties will reiterate that multilateralism is the best tool to resolve global trials such as climate change.  

Climate Change Goals for COP 

The expectation is that this meeting will concentrate the brains of international diplomats on the huge challenges regarding climate change. Governments have agreed to bring up-to-date their climate change pledges by 2020. Unfortunately, even though climate change experts urge otherwise, there has been nothing but slow developments when it comes to climate change action.  

Did You Know… 

Approximately 70 countries across the globe have pledged, by 2050, to be carbon neutral. There has to be an agreement among everyone to do their fair share, according to the Chair of the Least Developed Countries group in United Nations climate change negotiations, Sonam Wangdi. In accordance with Sonam Wangdi, it could be too late for 2020 pledges if an agreement does not happen in #Madrid.  

Climate Change: Funding Requests for Loss and Damage 

A key point to discuss is loss and damage. Here’s what is meant by this – these are impacts that are unpreventable or otherwise unadaptable. Damage can be repaired, but loss is when something is completely destroyed. Rising sea levels and storms relevant to climate change are two examples. Pressure from developing countries, back in 2013, led to climate change action discussions surrounding loss and damage.  

As the conference begins, climate change activists such as Lidy Nacpil and Naomi Klein have written to ministers requesting satisfactory funding for loss and damage. The belief is that climate change disasters can prove extremely harmful to developing nations. 

#Action Aid’s Harjeet Singh discussed how the climate change crisis has been causing despair and death, and how countries have been hit hard by climate change because of those who became rich off fossil fuels, and this bullying, if you will, needs to end immediately.  

When it comes to dealing with climate change, attempting to obtain an undisputed agreement between almost 200 countries is not an easy feat. Madrid will show us what can be achieved. Here (in Madrid), we will see if countries such as China and India will demonstrate leadership.   

It will be interesting to follow the 25th Conference of the Parties, and clearly, it is a big year for Madrid regarding climate change action. Stay on top of climate change news to learn about efforts being made across the globe. Remember, we all have a part in protecting our planet! 
 

Sources: 

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-50588128 

https://unfccc.int/cop25 

 

Psychologists Taking Action to Fight Climate Change

During the International Summit on Psychology and Global Health earlier this month in Lisbon, psychological associations from more than 40 countries signed a revolutionary proclamation. To help combat #climate change, leaders in psychology from around-the-world have vowed to apply psychological science to jointly advance progress on critical global issues, including the United Nations Sustainability Development Goals. Ultimately, they plan to “take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts.”  

Just as multiple scientific organizations worldwide have come together to combat climate change, it is no surprise that human science experts are now doing the same. It has long since been known that climate change has harmed the human psyche. On the same token, many of the negative effects of climate change have been a result of human behavior. The anxiety associated with climate change, as well as the notion that human behavior is, in part, to blame for climate change, calls for experts in the psychological fields to rise up and weigh in. Climate change is not just affecting us physically or ecologically, but psychologically and mentally, too. 

How Psychology Leaders Plan to Help 

The resolution addresses the fact that climate change-related events can result in acute and chronic mental health outcomes, such as stress, PTSD, trauma, substance abuse, and anxiety. To combat these adverse mental health effects, the Psychology and Global Health movement aims to encourage psychological organizations worldwide to collaborate, adapt, and ultimately mitigate climate change. 

According to the resolution, the availability of mental health resources and widespread advocacy are of great importance. Psychologists that are backing the resolution are vowing to support communities through better training to help counsel those suffering through a climate change-related crisis, as well as advocacy for public awareness campaigns and other social movements. The goal is to strengthen individuals, as well as their local communities, by increasing supportive interventions for those that are most impacted by climate change. 

The APA’s Take on Climate Change 

The American Psychological Association (APA) is one of the primary entities backing the Psychology and Global Health movement. Back in 2017, the APA released a 70-page document on the impacts of climate change on mental health. In the document titled Mental Health and Our Changing Climate: Impacts, Implications, and Guidance, the direct and indirect impacts of climate change on psychological health is explored in depth. 

In the report, the APA offers recommendations for how individuals can remain psychologically healthy in the wake of climate change. Fostering resilience, building optimism, using healthy coping mechanisms, maintaining a sense of purpose or meaning, and promoting connectedness among one’s family members, friends, and communities, are recommended if we are to combat climate change anxieties and mental trauma. 

The APA report also mentions the difficulties that arise when individuals deny the impacts of climate change. Political divides, psychological distance, and feelings of helplessness have all been found to contribute to individual psychological distress. One of the goals of the APA has always been to increase environmental self-efficacy, which has been shown to incentivize individuals to seek out and be more motivated to work towards climate change solutions. 

A Step in the Right Direction for Climate Change  

While some communities are still shielded from the present impacts of climate change, most are not. Individuals and communities around-the-world are experiencing mental health issues and anxiety related to global warming and climate change. The resolution set forth by psychological leaders should bring some relief. Without acknowledging the mental impacts of climate change, we cannot hope to bring widespread ecological and environmental relief. 

Moving forward, there is hope that psychologists will refrain from compartmentalizing climate change as a separate, political issue and those suffering from climate change-related anxieties will be taken seriously. Climate change is making news headlines on a daily basis, making it nearly impossible to ignore the issue entirely now.  

As experts in human behavior, psychologists are in a unique and important position to help relieve climate change anxieties. They are also equipped to help incentivize communities to fight back and change their behaviors. Now that the psychological communities have acknowledged the negative impacts of climate change alongside environmental scientists, there is hope that a better future for our planet may emerge.   

Read the declaration for yourself here: https://www.psychologyandglobalhealth.org/ 

Resources: 

https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2017/03/mental-health-climate.pdf 

https://qz.com/1749577/psychologists-sign-pledge-to-address-climate-change/ 

 

Virginians Are Going Solar

Many in Virginia, and across the country, are making the effort to go #solar. Joy Loving is one such individual. It started back in 2012 when she bought a Prius to reduce her carbon footprint. Going solar was her next step. She converted her home so it would utilize solar #energy and started to lead solar cooperatives in her Harrisonburg community. She found many others were interested in going solar, too.  

Loving founded #Solarize Harrisonburg, a co-op that took off thanks to the help of #Solar United Neighbors (#SUN) – a national organization that represents the needs of solar owners and supporters. Solar United Neighbors helps businesses and homeowners to get started with rooftop solar.   

SUN’s program director in VA, #Aaron Sutch, discussed how their work focuses on rooftop solar and is devoted to giving control back to local communities when it comes to energy. The organization is not only helping to build clean energy, but it is helping to create jobs while giving consumers more power and independence.  

Solar Co-Ops and Installers 

SUN brings businesses and individuals together to create solar co-ops in communities. When the co-ops grow big enough in size, SUN then matches the groups with local solar installers. Those who are part of the co-op are able to go over various bids and select an installer. The chosen installer then assists with a customized plan to go solar. 

SUN said that as of November, it has helped more than 840 families in Virginia to convert to rooftop solar. 

SUN has impressive goals. Another objective is to encourage homeowners to be their own activist when it comes to their energy rights. One example of this is the efforts being made to lift the cap on net metering in Virginia. Net metering, of course, means solar homeowners are compensated for producing a greater amount of electricity on a monthly basis than they consume. The extra energy is fed, under net metering, to the public grid. Any extra is used to offset monthly energy bills. Back in March, a bill was passed by the General Assembly to raise the net metering cap in VA for not-for-profit solar owners to 2 percent. SUN praised this legislation.  

This same bill allows utilities that are investor-owned to develop solar projects by letting Virginians participate in a subscription program. Unfortunately, there is still work to be done as it falls short of utility-scale solar.  

It is the belief of people such as Sutch that residents in VA should be able to participate in community solar projects. Why? Because doing so lets businesses and individuals get credit for their bill from a local shared solar project, which then lets renters benefit from clean energy regardless of their ability to install their own solar rooftop system.  

The key problem in the state of VA is that the energy system is deferred to Dominion Energy’s monopoly – schools and churches, for instance, are prevented from generating their own power outside of what is provided by Dominion (except in rare cases such as weather-related emergencies).  

How SUN Got Started in D.C. 

Back in 2009, SUN got its start in D.C. – it stemmed from the Mt. Pleasant Solar Cooperative which was started by #Anya Schoolman. After her son and a friend watched a documentary about climate change called “An Inconvenient Truth,” they wanted to go solar to help fight climate change. Schoolman realized the expenses involved and questioned if converting her neighborhood in bulk was the answer. 

In a matter of just a couple weeks, at least 50 neighbors wanted to join in and install rooftop solar. This group eventually became the first solar co-op in D.C. 

DC SUN was created by Schoolman to imitate the achievement of its neighborhood co-op and it eventually spread to nearby states. In 2017, Solar United Neighbors became a nationwide program offering memberships.  

SUN offers a host of other programs designed to provide Virginians with the information needed to go solar.  

Loving is continuing to assist in the establishment of other solar co-ops in the Shenandoah Valley. Clearly, efforts worth discussing are being made in Virginia. Keep following solar news to stay in the know and to discover what is happening by you!  

Sources: 

https://www.nbc12.com/2019/11/22/how-virginians-are-going-solar-powered-by-national-program/ 

https://rvamag.com/politics/virginia-politics/how-virginians-are-going-solar-powered-by-national-program.html 

 

Will Venice Become the Next Lost City Due to Climate Change?

Images of the severe flooding in #Venice on the news are absolutely devastating. Rain brought the high tides to almost record highs, as the waters were merely centimeters less than the levels of the historic floods which occurred back in the 1960’s. Does this point to #climate change? According to many, it unquestionably does. According to others, climate change is, at the very least, a scary possibility.  

Venice Flooding and Climate Change 

Climate change is one hot topic lately. There continues to be indications across the globe that climate change is a major issue that needs to be addressed — and it needs to be addressed fast. The mayor (Luigi Brugnaro) recently blamed the Venice flooding on climate change. As a matter of fact, many people across the globe blamed the flooding on climate change. The belief is that the warmer the planet becomes (due in some part to actions of people which are preventable), the more extreme and frequent harsh weather conditions such as this will be seen in the future. When the planet becomes warmer, heavy rainfall becomes more powerful and sea levels rise. It turns into a disastrous cycle.  

While there are always those who doubt the legitimacy of climate change, there is one thing we should all be able to agree on – the mayor knows Venice better than readers sitting in front of their computer screen or phone screen on the other side of the globe. High tides and rainfall are going to amplify events such as the current flooding in Venice – climate change and rising sea levels associated with it are at play, too. At what point does arguing against the concept that we need to take better care of our planet become just plain reckless? At what point does denying that bad things such as climate change can happen if we fail to respect our planet become wildly irresponsible? When beautiful cities such as Venice are – in actual fact – underwater, perhaps?  

A Dangerous Cycle – Climate Change and Our Planet 

There have been peer reviewed studies utilizing satellite-based methods essentially verifying that Venice is sinking. The concept that the flooding in Venice is connected to extreme snowfall in Austria has also been brought to light, which again can be linked to climate change. Here’s one theory relevant to climate change that should alarm anyone – in accordance with Anders Levermann, for each degree that our planet is warming, the sea level will rise roughly 2.5 meters. His belief is that Venice will drown, and cities such as New York, Hamburg, and Hong Kong will have to make major adjustments because of climate change. The mayor of Venice is confident that climate change is at least, in part, the cause of the severe flooding taking place. It seems that many experts in climate change, and experts in their own cities, are recognizing that climate change is a huge problem. Activists such as #Greta Thunberg are calling for people everywhere to listen to what scientists are saying regarding climate change. She is a young woman who has become a household name in her fight to protect people, ecosystems and our planet Earth by encouraging action against climate change.  

It has been a tremendously sad time for Venice. Was it all preventable? Just last week (as of this writing) #St. Mark’s Square was shut down over safety concerns. Centuries-old buildings have been destroyed. Floods have torn through the city. If there is even a chance that climate change is the cause, then to ignore it is a crime to both the history of our world and to the future of our planet. Climate change will lead to historic cities being submerged in water. It is leading to the collapse of ecosystems. When will it be enough for more people to take action? 

Stay in the know. Read the news and continue to learn about climate change and the impact it can have and is having. Take small steps to make a positive difference – we can and must make changes! We must take action against climate change!

Sources: 

https://www.express.co.uk/news/world/1206511/venice-flooding-latest-italy-floods-climate-change-Anders-Levermann-Luigi-Brugnaro 

https://www.forbes.com/sites/marshallshepherd/2019/11/16/venice-flooding-reveals-a-real-hoax-about-climate-changeframing-it-as-eitheror/#5cdd28473a12 

New Jersey’s New Proposed Solar Act Not Being Well Received

New Jersey has been one of the nation’s leaders when it comes to the promotion and implementation of #solar energy. Most notably, New Jersey’s federal investment tax credit for #solar, as well as state incentive policies, have landed New Jersey as one of the top 10 solar state’s in the nation. In 2018, New Jersey ranked seventh for overall solar capacity and nearly half a million homes are powered state-wide by solar #energy. Additionally, 586 solar companies in the state provide over 6,400 careers for residents. 

Public schools in New Jersey have also jumped on board with the state’s solar enthusiasm, engaging in over 600 solar energy-related projects that benefit both students and taxpayers. Unfortunately, the momentum gained by schools and other entities across the Garden State might soon be threatened if the latest New Jersey Board of Public Utilities’(BPU) initiative is not handled carefully. Their latest proposal is known as the solar transition incentive plan, or transition solar renewable energy credits (#TREC). It has residents and proponents of solar worried for the future of current solar energy projects. 

Inside the TREC Program 

The implementation of the TREC program will likely interfere with the current Solar Renewable Energy Credit (SREC) program. It demands that the state’s SREC program close altogether when 5.1% of total energy sold in the state is generated from solar power, or by June of 2021, depending on which comes first. TREC credits will operate in much the same way that SREC’s do with one major exception — TREC’s are worth significantly less due to lower compliance payments. 

The TREC program proposes five major changes, which include establishing an energy storage initiative, the institution of energy efficiency programs, increasing New Jersey’s renewable portfolio standard, increasing solar curve out, and creating community solar net metering frameworks. While all of these goals may sound agreeable upfront, critics of the TREC program believe that, if it passes, the initiative could ultimately harm the state’s current and future solar programs. 

Criticism Towards the TREC Program 

Those against the TREC program, namely the Division of Rate Counsel and others, have stated that the new proposal will harm solar customers since the proposal “fails to achieve objectives of a 2018 law,” which aimed to incentivize and lower costs for those who subsidize new solar projects. The counsel’s director, Stefanie Brand, argues that the implementation of TREC could ultimately cause a major roadblock for the state’s 2050 goal of becoming 100% reliant on clean energy. 

Solar developers are against the TREC program because the new incentives offered under the program are far too low for solar companies to want to invest in new solar projects in New Jersey. Thus, it is predicted that the program could ultimately lead to major employee layoffs statewide.  

If the proposal passes, solar energy costs will go up for customers and fewer home installations will be installed. In addition to the impact on the residential sector, businesses and industrial properties will likely refrain from investing in solar energy due to the changes to the state’s overall solar incentives as a result of the TREC program. 

What’s Next for New Jersey? 

New Jersey has made significant strides in the solar energy realm in the past. Notably, this past summer, the Six Flags theme park in Jackson completed a 40-acre solar farm that spans across what once was an unused parking lot. The solar array now powers 53 rides in the amusement park, including the Six Flags on-site water park. 

The Six Flags solar farm, in addition to other projects across the state that have made headlines, have made New Jersey a prime example of how states can utilize renewable energy effectively. If the new TREC program passes, it is possible that revolutionary projects, in the works and soon to come, may no longer receive proper funding.  

The New Jersey Board of Public Utilities plans to meet in December to further discuss how the TREC program can be improved and implemented. Although, we can say for certain that they will continue to be met with criticism and push back from solar advocates in the state. 

 

Resources: 

https://www.nj.com/opinion/2019/11/the-state-shouldnt-obstruct-plans-to-power-schools-with-solar-energy-education-group-says.html 

https://www.njspotlight.com/2019/10/op-ed-bpu-should-not-let-new-jersey-solar-projects-fail/ 

https://www.solar-estimate.org/news/new-jersey-srec-program-vs-trec 

 

Our Economy and Climate Change: How the Federal Reserve Plans to Act

Earlier this month on November 8th, leaders in the #Federal Reserve met in their first-ever conference to discuss #climate change and its impact on economics. Undoubtedly, climate change is already affecting ecosystems worldwide and environmentalists and communities everywhere have begun to take notice. Now, the Federal Reserve appears to be getting more and more concerned regarding the potential and widespread financial implications of climate change.  

International leaders from around-the-world have already begun to look at how climate change risks may affect global financial stability and the United States is now joining them. As climate change worsens, we are likely to see monetary policies change and shift as a result. 

According to Federal Reserve Governor Lael Brainard, to fulfill the primary responsibilities of the Federal Reserve, it will be necessary for her and her colleagues to “study the implications of climate change for the #economy and the financial system” and adapt accordingly. Specifically, they will need to remain vigilant and work to keep banks and the overall United States financial system intact as rising sea levels, increasing temperatures, and extreme weather conditions become more common.  

Brainard’s speech marks a major turning point in the Federal Reserve’s attitude towards climate change. This is the first time Brainard has even mentioned climate change since she became governor of the Federal Reserve over five years ago. Overall, Brainard stated that the main concern of the Federal Reserve will be to ensure that the effects of climate change are taken into account and policies are adjusted accordingly to ensure “maximum employment and price stability.”  

Taking Climate Change Consequences Seriously 

The Federal Reserve’s attention towards climate change could not have come any sooner. During the packed conference held in San Francisco, policymakers were given a crash course detailing research that shows how climate change has slowed economic growth, as well as how to possibly mitigate this stagnation. Hashem Pesaran, professor at the University of Southern California and one of the conference’s main presenters, spoke on how rising average temperatures and increased precipitation have been the primary culprits of low U.S. economic output. 

In addition to the change of heart from the Federal Reserve, following Paris Agreement goals could help limit losses per capita over the next 80 years from 14% to less than 3% if these goals are met, according to Pesaran. Conny Olovsson, a Swedish bank economist suggested that imposing a carbon tax may also be a solution to help offset economic losses brought on by climate change, especially if global warming continues to worsen. Carnegie Mellon University professor Nicholas Muller brought forth a more flexible solution, suggesting that Federal Reserve leaders adjust the tax rate depending on whether or not pollution levels are increasing or decreasing in any given year. 

How Homeowners are Already Being Impacted 

By looking closely, we can already see how climate change is starting to impact our everyday economy. In particular, the #housing market is already starting to shift as a result of climate change attitudes. According to research done by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication comparing National Oceanic and Atmospheric (NOAA) data, geographical data, and current real estate trends, certain real-estate markets are being affected by climate change ‘deniers’ and ‘believers’ alike. 

The study found that areas that have a great populous of climate change deniers are more likely to sell their homes for nearly 7% more, compared to areas where more climate change believers reside. Essentially, believers are unwilling to purchase certain properties in high-risk areas, such as beachfront properties, while deniers see these types of properties as investment opportunities.  

David Burt, a prominent financial investor in New York City that anticipated the U.S. financial crisis of 2008, is warning that history may repeat itself yet again. This time, he worries that the housing market may break due to mispricing. 

With research from economists and financial experts everywhere highlighting the potential financial consequences of climate change, the Federal Reserve will need to take heed. As we move forward into 2020, it will behoove the United States and nations everywhere to abide by the goals in the Paris Agreement and continue to fight climate change through every means possible. Otherwise, our homes, finances, and overall economy are sure to take a hit. 

Resources: 

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/climate-change-deniers-are-propping-up-home-prices-in-waterfront-communities-research-suggests-2019-11-07 

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-fed-climate-change/fed-sees-climate-change-shaping-economy-policy-idUSKBN1XI218