QNL 360

October 2025

Dear Friends,

Blink and you miss it – how can it already be autumn? Well, there were no summer doldrums for us here at C-Change and we’re keeping busy as we head into the end of 2025. From continued joint programming with Glenmede (a boutique wealth management firm) about climate risks to investments to multiple forays into the Deep South to training a roster of new presenters to help us extend our reach, we’ve had great momentum these past few months.

Right now, our work is more important than ever. It’s always eye-opening on my travels to learn just how much skepticism about climate change is still out there, although the tune does sound a bit different these days. Once upon a time, the lyrics were “it’s not real.” Today, the refrain – sung by none other than Secretary of Energy Chris Wright – is that climate change is real, but just an acceptable “side effect of building the modern world.”

Indeed, the Trump administration’s anti-climate action and anti-renewables stance is loud and impactful. Wind and solar are moving to the front lines of a culture war. This is a real shame, as they are the cheapest and fastest new energy to bring online – and at a time when our energy cost and demand are skyrocketing, we could really use that sort of juice on our grid. Preventing the growth of these power sources will stress our wallets and our communities, and it will leave our country behind as the global economy speeds toward cleaner-energy forms.

That’s why we’re going to keep working so hard to help people understand the risks – economic, health, safety – that we face if we turn our backs to the global realities of climate change and ignore the solutions we have to address it. As we always say, it’s not a political issue, it’s a human one.

And you can help by connecting us with your human network. Think about where we could speak in your community to help your family, friends, and coworkers feel connected and informed – and to build a safer future for our kids and grandkids. Please reach out and let’s make those connections.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Biggins
Founder and President

 

Cimate Week NYC

Climate reporter (and our spring benefit speaker) David Gelles invited us to attend the New York Times’ Climate Week event in September. Multiple team members attended that event and others during the weeklong showcase of the best and brightest in the world of climate.
 
It was exhilarating and sobering. Highlights included the point-counterpoint of Secretary Wright, who touted the Trump administration’s vision of climate and energy and extolled the economic potential of gas and oil, and California Governor Gavin Newsom, whose approach to powering the fourth-largest economy in the world relies heavily (and successfully) on renewables and storage.
 
We also had the chance to meet many entrepreneurs showcasing innovations that can help address the climate challenge. From new heating and cooling systems, new fast-charging batteries, or even “petrochemical” substitutes made from farm waste like corn husks and leaves – the number and variety of inventions are mindblowing.
 
We left feeling renewed and recharged for the work we’re doing – and we encourage you to try to attend in 2026.

Support for the Endangerment Finding

The Trump administration has threatened to roll back a crucial finding that determined that greenhouse gases endanger human health and can be regulated under the Clean Air Act. Issued in 2009, the Endangerment Finding gives the government the authority to regulate and limit power-plant emissions and methane leaks and to set fuel-efficiency standards for automobiles. A rollback would have massive implications for climate regulations – and our safety.

C-Change submitted a lengthy, science-based public comment to the EPA last month in hopes that we can add to the voice of climate reason as the agency determines next steps.

Partnering with Glenmede

Partnering with industry experts to explain and analyze ramifications of climate change adds a great deal of value when we talk with audiences. Our ongoing partnership with Glenmede is a perfect example – in July, we presented jointly in Stone Harbor, NJ. Kathleen presented on climate risks to our lives and economy, and Glenmede’s Mark Hays, managing director and director of sustainable investing, shared tools and approaches that help investors protect their investments and profit from the cleantech transition.

On the Road in the South

Our hats are off to the institutions and organizations that are working to educate their communities about climate change, especially in areas where climate-change pushback or denial is still strong. When they ask us to bring our expertise to town, we are thrilled to hit the road. 

Thanks to welcoming hosts with excellent outreach skills, our recent events in Jacksonville, FL, and Memphis, TN, were hugely successful. Kathleen presented to more than 800 people during these trips, including a whopping audience of 600 people at the Memphis University School. Other presentations in Memphis included the Hutchison School and the Little Garden Club of Memphis. In Jacksonville, she presented to the Late Bloomers Garden Club and at a public event hosted by the St. John’s Riverkeeper. We hope the audiences feel more empowered to meet the challenges ahead and we’re grateful for the chance to share our knowledge.

Dallas Hetherington Returns to Princeton

Dallas Hetherington was invited back to Windrows, a 55-plus luxury living facility in Princeton, to deliver our Health Primer and outline climate change’s many impacts on our ability to stay safe and healthy. Kudos to Dallas for his great work. 

New Primer Presenters

We are thrilled that we’ll be welcoming new presenters in 2026! We’re still wrapping up the process, but one new presenter – Karen Florini – has already hit the ground running, presenting to the Trowel Garden Club of the Washington, DC, area in September and delivering a Primer presentation on climate change and poverty at Villanova University this month.
 
We’re so excited to get the whole crew on the road – stay tuned for a formal introduction!

C-Change Athens

C-Change Athens affiliate members met with the new Athens-Clarke County Energy Program and Conservation Coordinator to learn about what the office is doing to reach the city government’s goal of 100% clean and renewable energy by 2035 and to discuss ways to educate the community about the clean-energy projects already underway.
 
Affiliate member Helen Kukendall has launched an Athens C-Change social media campaign aimed at expanding our reach and sharing local climate and clean energy news with Athens area residents.
 
The Environmental Defense Fund recently featured affiliate member Ramsey Nix in an article about her clean school bus advocacy with the Clarke County School District.
 
The Athens affiliates are focused on educating community members about the upcoming Georgia Public Service Commission election. These commissioners regulate utilities and determine the future of Georgia’s energy mix.

New Tool for Climate Central

When we talk with an audience about climate change, the information resonates better when people can connect with the impacts. This new tool from Climate Central shows the many ways that climate change is impacting specific locations. Enter your city and explore the data – you might be able to use this tool to start a productive climate conversation with people in your community.

Upcoming Events

Oct. 17, Villanova, PA: Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law
Nov. 5, Emmaus, PA: Emmaus Garden Club
Nov. 10-11, Richmond, VA:
     The Women’s Club: Garden Club of Virginia
     St. Catherine’s School
Nov. 12-13, Connecticut:
     Connecticut Valley Garden Club (Hartford)
     Farmington Land Trust (Farmington, public event)
     Miss Porter’s School (Farmington)

 

Read More
Athens CNN Web

September Curated Climate News

U.S. & Global Climate News

Read More
CCN Sept. 2025 – 1

September 2025

U.S. & Global Climate News

Read More
Gelles Video 250

C-Change Interviews New York Times Climate Reporter and Author David Gelles

From Headlines to Bottom Lines: An Inside View from New York Times Climate Reporter David Gelles
Offering unique insight about how climate change will impact our lives, this discussion delves into the economy, insurance, personal safety, migration, and more. C-Change Conversations Founder and President Kathleen Biggins and New York Times Climate Reporter David Gelles talk about what we are likely to face in a “3-degree world” and how we can still navigate to a safer future. Gelles, a bestselling author, also provides a fascinating overview of his new book, Dirtbag Billionaire: How Yvon Chouinard Built Patagonia, Made a Fortune, and Gave It Away.
You can get a copy of David’s book and create climate action at the same time! Here’s how:
  • Make a donation of $50 or more to C-Change between now and November 1st, and we’ll automatically send you a free copy of Dirtbag Billionaire.
  • Host a book club discussion. Let us know that you’re planning an event and we’ll send you up to five free additional copies to help spark a meaningful conversation in your community. (If you need more books, we can work with you to provide what you need at a reduced cost.) To order books, contact Nicole at nicole.curnan@c-changeconversations.org. Note: David is interested in joining us for an online book discussion event in early 2025 – details forthcoming.

“Dirtbag Billionaire is a powerful reminder that business,
at its best, can be good.
David Gelles captures the complex, often
conflicting pressure founders face – and the
courage it takes to lead with conviction.
It’s an inspiring call to dream big,
do the right thing, and use succes as a lever
for lasting imact. I couldn’t put it down.” 

–Sali Christeson, founder and CEO of Argent

Read More
CNN wires Athens

Athens Newsletter – August 2025

Dear Friends,

Since we began compiling this digest of local and statewide climate news in Georgia, we’ve both weathered storms and basked in the glow of progress. Cleantech has given us high hopes through high-paying jobs and economic growth across our state. At the same time, we’ve been deeply concerned about how climate change is affecting our ability to stay safe and thrive.
 
We all agree that we need reliable, affordable energy, but our economic future also depends on a stable climate. We need to be clear-eyed about the risks if we want our wonderful Peach State to thrive. As a group of citizens concerned about the economic, health, and national security impacts of climate change, we hope to build consensus across the political spectrum about the urgent need to address it. We welcome your support and ideas. Please reach out to us!
 
Sincerely,
The C-Change Conversations Athens Team


Georgia News of Hope

Americus, GA, is attracting economic development by embracing clean energy projects. Three solar companies have collectively invested $736 million in the region and will create more than 2,000 jobs in what could become the largest solar array east of the Mississippi.

Electric vehicle company Rivian will establish an East Coast headquarters in Atlanta. The company plans to hire 500 employees for this location by late 2026. This move supports its upcoming $5 billion Georgia factory and marks one of Atlanta’s largest office investments this year.

Kia Georgia is installing a 3.2-million-square-foot solar panel canopy at its West Point plant to generate clean energy and protect thousands of vehicles from hail damage. The project is expected to produce enough electricity to cover 20 to 30% of the factory’s needs.

An Augusta-based golf cart manufacturer sent two electric vehicles to Pope Leo XIV to use during international visits. The new pope has spoken out about the urgent need for climate action.

An Emory University nursing professor has helped develop a sensor patch to protect farm workers from the dangerous effects of extreme heat. The patch connects to a smartphone and monitors vital signs like heart rate, skin temperature, and hydration to provide real-time alerts to prevent kidney damage and heatstroke. Farm workers are 35 times more likely than others to die from heat-related causes.

The Firefly Trail secured a second major grant of $2.9 million to finance the construction of a 4.5-mile paved section from Maxeys to the Greene County line. This grant advances a plan to create a 39-mile recreational trail from Athens to Union Point along a former railroad corridor that will allow people to explore surrounding rural areas by bike or on foot.

Georgia News of Concern

Many Georgians were shocked by their power bills this summer. Recent rate hikes combined with higher summertime usage pushed the average household Georgia Power bill to $266 in July. Athenians spend a higher percentage of their income on energy than the state average – and more than double what the average American pays. In some of the lowest-income neighborhoods in Athens, residents are spending nearly 30% of their income on energy bills. And a program that would have provided free rooftop solar leases to hundreds of low-income homeowners lost its funding just one day after its launch in August when the Trump administration canceled the “Solar for All” grant.

As energy demand continues to increase, Georgia Power proposed a historic 10,000-megawatt expansion of the utility’s power generating capacity. The bad news is that the plan relies heavily on building and purchasing new gas-fired power plants, locking customers into decades of gas dependency that exposes them to volatile fuel prices and contradicts climate goals. The Georgia Public Service Commission will hold public hearings in October and December before voting to approve this expansion.


Sweltering summer heat in Savannah forced its city council to set a temperature limit for operating horse-drawn carriages that carry tourists through historic downtown. Before the August vote, carriage horses had been working in temperatures up to 95°F or a heat index of up to 110°F. That threshold will drop to 85° or a heat index of 91° next summer.

A new study revealed that 72% of Georgia’s coastal marshes have experienced belowground biomass loss since 2014, a critical indicator of marsh failure caused by increased flooding pressure from sea-level rise. Marshes defend against coastal flooding, filter water, and store carbon.

Ways to Act

Athens is one of the few cities where the U.S. Postal Service has deployed its electric mail trucks. The next-generation vehicles stay quiet and cool, and drivers rave about them. Despite local and national excitement about its plan to create a mostly electric fleet, the Postal Service is facing congressional efforts to strip its $3 billion in federal EV funding. Canceling the program would waste millions already spent and squander a critical opportunity to reduce air pollution from the government’s largest fleet, especially since the mail trucks’ short, stop-and-start routes are considered an ideal application for EV technology.

An $80 million federal grant to Blue Bird Corporation’s bus manufacturing facility in Fort Valley, GA, is also threatened. Approved in 2023, the funding is crucial for expanding the plant and increasing the manpower needed to meet the growing demand for electric school buses. Please reach out to your senators and representatives to express your opposition to efforts that would strip funding for electric postal trucks and buses.

Third Act Georgia will present Sun Day Sunday on Sept. 21 in Winterville’s Marigold Auditorium. The free events will feature the Sun Day Choir, local sustainability experts, demonstrations of solar products, tables with information on renewable energy, free children’s books, and free sundaes.

TheBig Picture: U.S. and Global Climate News

When is winning really losing? It’s when the results of victory cause the opposite impacts than desired, harm supporters more than opponents, and boost your biggest competitor.

The Trump administration’s stance on energy is indeed a losing proposition. It purports to provide cheaper and more secure energy, but in fact drives up costs and limits supply at the exact time that our demand and electricity prices are soaring.

Producing new electricity from utility solar in America today costs as little as $38 a megawatt hour: the most efficient natural gas plant provides the same amount of energy for $107. Solar and battery projects can come online in two years; natural gas plants typically need a five-year runway, in large part due to a shortage of turbines. In short, thwarting new clean energy is making us less energy secure. Consumers will pay for it – experts predict policy changes will make electricity prices rise up to 18% over the next decade, or $192 per average household on an annual basis, and increase the risks of blackouts.

In the big picture, who is being harmed the most? Rural and “Red” America. About 80% of the job and economic growth from clean-energy investment was planned in Republican-leaning districts. That investment has already dropped by a third over the first half of this year versus a year ago. And while anti-wind action has harmed offshore projects, it has impacted the country’s “windbelt” the most – the highest losses are in Texas, with Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska not far behind.

On the international front, the United States’ reversal is allowing China to extend its lead in this lucrative sector, which provided 10% of China’s GDP growth last year. China is becoming the “one-stop shop” for clean energy. And increasingly, its clean-energy products are superior to fossil fuel versions. For example, China produces EVs that can charge in five minutes, run for 600 miles, and cost significantly less than combustion engine cars. China is also exporting solar and wind technology around the world, enabling developing countries to manufacture “homegrown” electricity that is more secure and less expensive than fossil fuel imports.

And in a stunning role reversal, CO2 emissions in the U.S. rose 4.2% in the first half of 2025, while China’s fell 2.7%. As the U.S. leaves the Paris Agreement and disparages climate action, China is positioning itself as a climate leader, announcing a partnership with the EU to lower climate heating and calling the Paris Agreement the “cornerstone of international climate cooperation.”

It doesn’t feel good to be a loser – to pay more for less. We want our country to be the winner, to build the energy systems of the future, to save money, and to provide a healthier, more economically secure world for our kids and grandkids.

Don’t you?

News of Concern

The administration is working hard to create cover for its unraveling of climate science and action, including a recent DOE report that scientists say is filled with “error, bias, and distortions.” In one glaring mistake, the report states that Arctic melting is minimal, shrinking 5% since 1980. The actual number is 40%. The AP and other news outlets have debunked much of the report’s information, but the administration’s misinformation campaign is incredibly effective, and dangerous, because many people believe that narrative – and that belief precludes them from taking action to stay safer.
 
And we all need to get ready for climate change, as was so clearly evidenced by the tragic flooding in Texas in July. The flooding was made worse because of two climate impacts. First, warmer ocean waters and a warmer atmosphere enable more water vapor to be held in the atmosphere – for every degree Celsius increase, the atmosphere holds 7% more vapor, and that means floods will continue to get more dangerous. Second, the ground was parched from a drought exacerbated by higher temperatures, and the soil could not absorb enough of the flooding to slow it down. These one-two punches are becoming more frequent in our country and all around the world.
 
We’re also seeing a one-two punch when it comes to protecting ourselves from supercharged weather events. Hail, for example, is getting larger as the climate warms up, causing $20-$35 billion in losses annually, according to insurance experts. But impacts fueled by climate change are making it increasingly difficult to get affordable insurance, especially in the Midwest, where premiums are skyrocketing. As noted above, our electricity rates nationwide are also soaring – in large part due to the cost of making our grids more resilient to wildfires, storms, and heat waves. Almost 40% of recent cost increases are from upgrading and hardening our grid – and making repairs after extreme weather events is driving up costs as well. This affordability challenge will only get worse as energy-hungry AI centers come online – a single center can require as much electricity as an entire mid-sized city.
 
Costs are also being driven up by the administration’s action to keep inefficient coal plants online. Coal only provides 15% of our electricity, but it is the most expensive fossil fuel. Keeping these plants running instead of replacing them with cheaper (and cleaner!) fuel sources will cost utility customers billions of dollars.
 
But there are things happening that are perhaps even more concerning than these direct hits on clean technology. The administration is dismantling much of our scientific expertise, limiting our ability to measure climate change impacts to help farmers, businesses, communities, and families prepare for climate changes. And in a move that would handicap future administrations’ ability to regulate greenhouse gases, the EPA wants to rescind a landmark finding that declared CO2 and other emissions are a danger to our health and welfare.
 
We know climate change affects our health, but we don’t yet know how to put a cost on how it impacts our happiness and mental health. For many of us, summer has always been an idyllic state of mind as much as a season of outdoor pleasures. But in many places it has become so much more hot and sticky – so much so, scientists have created a new metric to measure “stickiness.” Even the Steve Miller Band, musical mainstays of the summer stage, canceled its 2025 tour because of the risk of extreme weather.
 
It’s giving us the summertime blues, literally and figuratively. And we have to wonder, what we’re gonna do…

News of Hope

However, at the same time that the U.S. government is trying to minimize action on climate change, the highest court in the world just elevated the issue in a powerful way heard around the world. By recognizing that a healthy climate is a human right, and claiming that countries have a legal obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gases, the International Court of Justice is holding countries accountable to action – a much-needed bolstering in the drive to lower emissions.
 
It’s a global issue that needs global action, and a recent move by the European Central Bank could have far-reaching impacts. By integrating a “climate factor” into its financing operations, the bank is doubling down on holding companies accountable for their carbon footprints and upping the motivation for creating cleaner products and processes.
 
More good news – about 90% of the world’s new renewable energy is now cheaper than power from fossil fuel generation. The world saved almost $500B in energy costs in 2024 using renewables versus fossil fuels. And momentum is growing, with the EU spending 63% more on renewables in the first half of 2025 than a year ago, even as the U.S. investment declined.
 
And climate action is moving forward, even if it’s in a whisper instead of a roar. Banks are quietly pulling funding from fossil fuels lending and investors are piling into renewable energy, even though they are doing it quietly and withdrawing from associations that could spark the administration’s ire.
 
We also saw great hope in a recent test of a critical concept in California. The state successfully tried out a two-way grid in July, drawing power from more than 100,000 residential batteries to provide electricity. This model holds great promise, especially as the demand surge from AI and electrification is challenging our existing system. If end users can store and sell energy back to the grid during peak usage periods, it changes the equation dramatically – we’d no longer need to build the same quantities of new power generation facilities.
 
Adaptation is key to protecting ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. Two cool new gadgets really got us excited. They’re both sensors designed to keep us safe – a pinecone-sized device could give people a leg up on staying safe from wildfires and a patch that farm workers would wear to monitor vital signs while working outdoors in extreme heat. Ideas like this can change our world one person at a time, making it possible for us to have a healthier future – imagine that.

Notable Graphic

As climate change supercharges our weather, our risk of loss increases – and that is making insurance premiums much more expensive. The national average for home insurance is up 9% since 2023 and, as this graphic shows, it’s particularly high across the Midwest and South.

Notable Quiz

This month, instead of watching a video, we hope you’ll take this interactive, eye-opening New York Times quiz. You’ll learn a lot about what you need to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe if you’re faced with a climate disaster.

Read More
CNN wires 250

August 2025

Dear Friends,

When is winning really losing? It’s when the results of victory cause the opposite impacts than desired, harm supporters more than opponents, and boost your biggest competitor.

The Trump administration’s stance on energy is indeed a losing proposition. It purports to provide cheaper and more secure energy, but in fact drives up costs and limits supply at the exact time that our demand and electricity prices are soaring.

Producing new electricity from utility solar in America today costs as little as $38 a megawatt hour: the most efficient natural gas plant provides the same amount of energy for $107. Solar and battery projects can come online in two years; natural gas plants typically need a five-year runway, in large part due to a shortage of turbines. In short, thwarting new clean energy is making us less energy secure. Consumers will pay for it – experts predict policy changes will make electricity prices rise up to 18% over the next decade, or $192 per average household on an annual basis, and increase the risks of blackouts.

In the big picture, who is being harmed the most? Rural and “Red” America. About 80% of the job and economic growth from clean-energy investment was planned in Republican-leaning districts. That investment has already dropped by a third over the first half of this year versus a year ago. And while anti-wind action has harmed offshore projects, it has impacted the country’s “windbelt” the most – the highest losses are in Texas, with Idaho, Iowa, and Nebraska not far behind.

On the international front, the United States’ reversal is allowing China to extend its lead in this lucrative sector, which provided 10% of China’s GDP growth last year. China is becoming the “one-stop shop” for clean energy. And increasingly, its clean-energy products are superior to fossil fuel versions. For example, China produces EVs that can charge in five minutes, run for 600 miles, and cost significantly less than combustion engine cars. China is also exporting solar and wind technology around the world, enabling developing countries to manufacture “homegrown” electricity that is more secure and less expensive than fossil fuel imports.

And in a stunning role reversal, CO2 emissions in the U.S. rose 4.2% in the first half of 2025, while China’s fell 2.7%. As the U.S. leaves the Paris Agreement and disparages climate action, China is positioning itself as a climate leader, announcing a partnership with the EU to lower climate heating and calling the Paris Agreement the “cornerstone of international climate cooperation.”

It doesn’t feel good to be a loser – to pay more for less. I want our country to be the winner, to build the energy systems of the future, to save money, and to provide a healthier, more economically secure world for our kids and grandkids.

Don’t you?

Sincerely,
Kathleen Biggins
Founder and President

 

Notable Quote

“Ten years from now we could look back on this moment as the time in which the U.S. pulled back and essentially lost the transition to clean energy.”

– Nick Nigro, Atlas Public Policy, regarding the predicted impacts of the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” on the renewable energy sector

News of Concern

The administration is working hard to create cover for its unraveling of climate science and action, including a recent DOE report that scientists say is filled with “error, bias, and distortions.” In one glaring mistake, the report states that Arctic melting is minimal, shrinking 5% since 1980. The actual number is 40%. The AP and other news outlets have debunked much of the report’s information, but the administration’s misinformation campaign is incredibly effective, and dangerous, because many people believe that narrative – and that belief precludes them from taking action to stay safer.

And we all need to get ready for climate change, as was so clearly evidenced by the tragic flooding in Texas in July. The flooding was made worse because of two climate impacts. First, warmer ocean waters and a warmer atmosphere enable more water vapor to be held in the atmosphere – for every degree Celsius increase, the atmosphere holds 7% more vapor, and that means floods will continue to get more dangerous. Second, the ground was parched from a drought exacerbated by higher temperatures, and the soil could not absorb enough of the flooding to slow it down. These one-two punches are becoming more frequent in our country and all around the world.

We’re also seeing a one-two punch when it comes to protecting ourselves from supercharged weather events. Hail, for example, is getting larger as the climate warms up, causing $20-$35 billion in losses annually, according to insurance experts. But impacts fueled by climate change are making it increasingly difficult to get affordable insurance, especially in the Midwest, where premiums are skyrocketing.

As noted above, our electricity rates nationwide are also soaring – in large part due to the cost of making our grids more resilient to wildfires, storms, and heat waves. Almost 40% of recent cost increases are from upgrading and hardening our grid – and making repairs after extreme weather events is driving up costs as well. This affordability challenge will only get worse as energy-hungry AI centers come online – a single center can require as much electricity as an entire mid-sized city.

Costs are also being driven up by the administration’s action to keep inefficient coal plants online. Coal only provides 15% of our electricity, but it is the most expensive fossil fuel. Keeping these plants running instead of replacing them with cheaper (and cleaner!) fuel sources will cost utility customers billions of dollars.

But there are things happening that are perhaps even more concerning than these direct hits on clean technology. The administration is dismantling much of our scientific expertise, limiting our ability to measure climate change impacts to help farmers, businesses, communities, and families prepare for climate changes. And in a move that would handicap future administrations’ ability to regulate greenhouse gases, the EPA wants to rescind a landmark finding that declared CO2 and other emissions are a danger to our health and welfare.

We know climate change affects our health, but we don’t yet know how to put a cost on how it impacts our happiness and mental health. For many of us, summer has always been an idyllic state of mind as much as a season of outdoor pleasures. But in many places it has become so much more hot and sticky – so much so, scientists have created a new metric to measure “stickiness.” Even the Steve Miller Band, musical mainstays of the summer stage, canceled its 2025 tour because of the risk of extreme weather.

It’s giving us the summertime blues, literally and figuratively. And we have to wonder, what we’re gonna do…

News of Hope

However, at the same time that the U.S. government is trying to minimize action on climate change, the highest court in the world just elevated the issue in a powerful way heard around the world. By recognizing that a healthy climate is a human right, and claiming that countries have a legal obligation to protect the environment from greenhouse gases, the International Court of Justice is holding countries accountable to action – a much-needed bolstering in the drive to lower emissions.

It’s a global issue that needs global action, and a recent move by the European Central Bank could have far-reaching impacts. By integrating a “climate factor” into its financing operations, the bank is doubling down on holding companies accountable for their carbon footprints and upping the motivation for creating cleaner products and processes.

More good news – about 90% of the world’s new renewable energy is now cheaper than power from fossil fuel generation. The world saved almost $500B in energy costs in 2024 using renewables versus fossil fuels. And momentum is growing, with the EU spending 63% more on renewables in the first half of 2025 than a year ago, even as the U.S. investment declined.

And climate action is moving forward, even if it’s in a whisper instead of a roar. Banks are quietly pulling funding from fossil fuels lending and investors are piling into renewable energy, even though they are doing it quietly and withdrawing from associations that could spark the administration’s ire.

We also saw great hope in a recent test of a critical concept in California. The state successfully tried out a two-way grid in July, drawing power from more than 100,000 residential batteries to provide electricity. This model holds great promise, especially as the demand surge from AI and electrification is challenging our existing system. If end users can store and sell energy back to the grid during peak usage periods, it changes the equation dramatically – we’d no longer need to build the same quantities of new power generation facilities.

Adaptation is key to protecting ourselves, our loved ones, and our communities. Two cool new gadgets really got us excited. They’re both sensors designed to keep us safe – a pinecone-sized device could give people a leg up on staying safe from wildfires and a patch that farm workers would wear to monitor vital signs while working outdoors in extreme heat. Ideas like this can change our world one person at a time, making it possible for us to have a healthier future – imagine that.

Notable Graphic

As climate change supercharges our weather, our risk of loss increases – and that is making insurance premiums much more expensive. The national average for home insurance is up 9% since 2023 and, as this graphic shows, it’s particularly high across the Midwest and South.

Notable Quiz

Source: The New York Times

This month, instead of watching a video, we hope you’ll take this interactive, eye-opening New York Times quiz. You’ll learn a lot about what you need to do to keep yourself and your loved ones safe if you’re faced with a climate disaster.

Read More
Food waste Athens

B-Change Blog: Reducing Food Waste Helps the Climate

B-Change: Reducing food waste helps the climate

by Karen Dougherty

Growing up, the mantra I always heard at my dinner table was “eat everything on your plate.” I was constantly reminded about starving children around the world, and that stuck with me. To this day, I hate to waste food, but now I have another reason: preventing food waste helps reduce climate change.

Food Waste and Climate Change

You might be surprised to learn that wasted food is a sizable part of the problem. How big? Food waste makes up around 8% of our total carbon-equivalent emissions (CO2 and other heat-trapping gases). To put it in perspective, that is roughly the same amount as the global tourism industry!

There are two main ways food waste contributes to climate change:

1. Methane emissions

Food makes up almost 25% of the waste in our landfills, and when it decomposes, it releases methane. Although it doesn’t linger as long in the atmosphere as CO2, methane is more damaging while it’s up there. In fact, for 20 years after it is released, methane traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide.

 2. Wasted energy and resources

Producing enough food to feed all of us requires a vast amount of energy, money, and natural resources. But because around 1/3 of our food is wasted every year in the United States, we are squandering everything it took to produce, package, and transport that food. We’re also creating unnecessary emissions. This hurts our environment and our economy.

To top it off, we are throwing away lots of our hard-earned money. The EPA estimates that a family of four tosses away an average of $56 worth of food every week, adding up to $2,913 a year!

What Can we do?

1. Cut down on food waste at home

Here are some ideas:

  • When feasible, make more frequent, smaller grocery trips.

  • Plan meals ahead, and only buy what is needed.

  • Make use of your freezer if you don’t plan to use food right away.

  • Be more conscious about using leftovers.

  • Compost if you are able – it can keep waste out of landfills and enrich your garden.

Here’s an interesting fact. One reason people toss food involves confusion about date labels. According to the USDA, here are the common date labels and their meanings:

  • Best if used by/before identifies when the quality and flavor will be highest.

  • Sell by helps stores manage inventory by indicating how long to display an item for sale.

  • Use by indicates the last date the item is expected to be at peak quality.

Notice that none of these are expiration dates. The USDA says food is generally safe to eat beyond these dates, unless it shows signs of spoilage like an “undesirable taste or odor.” The bottom line: the dates stamped on food have to do with quality, not safety.

2. Talk about food waste

Sharing factual information in person or on social media makes a big difference. It’s an easy thing to bring up in conversation with friends and family when you are out for dinner or while cleaning up after at a party. Most people dislike wasting food, but may not realize how much it contributes to climate change.

3. Donate or volunteer

Many communities have nonprofits that “rescue” donated food from commercial kitchens before it is thrown away and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. While mostly focused on fighting hunger, these groups are also inadvertently helping solve climate change. You can arrange to donate food or to volunteer your time to help.

Reducing food waste is a win-win

More than half of all food waste occurs at the industrial level, and that sector is largely out of our hands. Nevertheless, we can make simple household changes that add up to make a big difference. Wasting less food at home means buying more efficiently, and also using the food we have for as long as it is safe to do so. Ultimately, reducing food waste is a win-win – it saves us money and helps solve climate change at the same time.

In addition to volunteering for C-Change, Karen blogs about climate change at unheating.com.

 

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Flooding Blog 250

Climate Change and Life-Threatening Flooding: Planning Today Will Keep Us Safer Tomorrow

By Sophie Glovier In the aftermath of the devastating Fourth of July flash floods in Texas, some pundits claimed that the tragedy is being “exploited by partisans.” Holman Jenkins in a recent Wall Street Journal op-ed identified “cruel and fickle Mother Nature” as the culprit and quipped, “Tragedies happen, and not because the climate gods […]

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Food waste small 250

B-Change Blog: Reducing Food Waste Helps the Climate

B-Change: Reducing food waste helps the climate

by Karen Dougherty

Growing up, the mantra I always heard at my dinner table was “eat everything on your plate.” I was constantly reminded about starving children around the world, and that stuck with me. To this day, I hate to waste food, but now I have another reason: preventing food waste helps reduce climate change.

Food Waste and Climate Change

You might be surprised to learn that wasted food is a sizable part of the problem. How big? Food waste makes up around 8% of our total carbon-equivalent emissions (CO2 and other heat-trapping gases). To put it in perspective, that is roughly the same amount as the global tourism industry!

There are two main ways food waste contributes to climate change:

1. Methane emissions

Food makes up almost 25% of the waste in our landfills, and when it decomposes, it releases methane. Although it doesn’t linger as long in the atmosphere as CO2, methane is more damaging while it’s up there. In fact, for 20 years after it is released, methane traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide.

 2. Wasted energy and resources

Producing enough food to feed all of us requires a vast amount of energy, money, and natural resources. But because around 1/3 of our food is wasted every year in the United States, we are squandering everything it took to produce, package, and transport that food. We’re also creating unnecessary emissions. This hurts our environment and our economy.

To top it off, we are throwing away lots of our hard-earned money. The EPA estimates that a family of four tosses away an average of $56 worth of food every week, adding up to $2,913 a year!

What Can we do?

1. Cut down on food waste at home

Here are some ideas:

  • When feasible, make more frequent, smaller grocery trips.

  • Plan meals ahead, and only buy what is needed.

  • Make use of your freezer if you don’t plan to use food right away.

  • Be more conscious about using leftovers.

  • Compost if you are able – it can keep waste out of landfills and enrich your garden.

Here’s an interesting fact. One reason people toss food involves confusion about date labels. According to the USDA, here are the common date labels and their meanings:

  • Best if used by/before identifies when the quality and flavor will be highest.

  • Sell by helps stores manage inventory by indicating how long to display an item for sale.

  • Use by indicates the last date the item is expected to be at peak quality.

Notice that none of these are expiration dates. The USDA says food is generally safe to eat beyond these dates, unless it shows signs of spoilage like an “undesirable taste or odor.” The bottom line: the dates stamped on food have to do with quality, not safety.

2. Talk about food waste

Sharing factual information in person or on social media makes a big difference. It’s an easy thing to bring up in conversation with friends and family when you are out for dinner or while cleaning up after at a party. Most people dislike wasting food, but may not realize how much it contributes to climate change.

3. Donate or volunteer

Many communities have nonprofits that “rescue” donated food from commercial kitchens before it is thrown away and distribute it to organizations that feed hungry people. While mostly focused on fighting hunger, these groups are also inadvertently helping solve climate change. You can arrange to donate food or to volunteer your time to help.

Reducing food waste is a win-win

More than half of all food waste occurs at the industrial level, and that sector is largely out of our hands. Nevertheless, we can make simple household changes that add up to make a big difference. Wasting less food at home means buying more efficiently, and also using the food we have for as long as it is safe to do so. Ultimately, reducing food waste is a win-win – it saves us money and helps solve climate change at the same time.

In addition to volunteering for C-Change, Karen blogs about climate change at unheating.com.

 

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Clothes Athens

B-Change Blog: Helping Solve Climate Change by How We Shop

by Karen Dougherty

Here’s a fact that may surprise you: the global fashion industry is a leading contributor to climate change. And because people don’t often make the connection between their shopping habits and rising temperatures, it’s a sneaky culprit.

Our point isn’t to make you feel guilty about shopping – but the more we know about the causes of climate change, the easier it is for us to make behavioral choices. Every single item we buy has to be produced, packaged, and shipped, either to us as individual consumers or to a store. Each step along the way uses energy and resources, emits heat-trapping gas, and creates waste. Just like with every industry, some companies are more responsible than others. The worst offenders are those making high volumes of cheap clothing in the trends of the moment, a.k.a. “fast fashion.” Mass-produced clothing is often made overseas, in locations where exploitation of workers and environmental pollution can make a bad situation worse.

The textiles themselves are also problematic. Natural fibers like cotton require a shocking amount of energy and other resources to produce, but synthetic fabrics have their own set of drawbacks. Even high-quality brands use polyester and nylon, which are made from oil and contain plastic. Synthetic fabrics shed microplastics during manufacturing and throughout the rest of their lifecycle.

The problem continues even after we are finished wearing a piece of clothing. Sadly, donating isn’t as helpful as we think – an estimated 85% of used clothing ends up in landfills, where it releases methane, a potent heat-trapping gas. Further, because of the plastic content, it may live there forever.

Eye-popping facts about the fashion industry:

  • The global fashion industry is responsible for roughly 10% of carbon emissions.
  • The industry emits more heat-trapping gas than all international shipping and flights combined.
  • It takes around 1,000 gallons of freshwater to make one pair of jeans!
  • Every second of every day, a garbage-truck-sized load of clothing is dumped in landfills.
  • The average American tosses 70 pounds of clothing each year.
  • Over 100 billion items of clothing were made in 2020, double the number in 2000.

Industry-wide change is needed

In order to solve our climate problem, the industry needs to adopt system-wide change. Many companies are responding by reducing their emissions, and are using more sustainable fabrics and manufacturing processes. Some are certified as B Corps, meaning they meet a set of environmental and social governance standards. Consumer demand for these options will help force change.

An inadvertent upside of tariffs

There are new economic factors at play that may have the inadvertent effect of slowing fast fashion and overconsumption, which would ultimately reduce industry emissions. Clothing made inexpensively overseas and imported into the United States is facing new tariffs, including the closing of a key loophole that is expected to lead to higher prices and slower shipping times. This may make the trend of over-buying less appealing.

What can we do?

When it comes to clothing – or any consumer product – the formula is fairly simple: buy less, choose sustainable options, use longer, and recycle more.

Here are some clothing-specific ideas:

  • Resist fast fashion and choose quality over quantity
  • Patronize sustainable companies, including B Corps
  • Shop vintage, either through a local consignment shop or an online site
  • Consider a clothing rental company if you plan to only wear an item a few times
  • When it’s time to let go, give some thought about how and where to donate, recycle, or sell

Consumer demand can help motivate companies to change how they operate. We can be a part of the solution by investing in fewer, more sustainably-made pieces of higher quality. It may feel like a small change, but it can really make a meaningful impact.

In addition to volunteering for C-Change, Karen blogs about climate change at unheating.com.

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