G2. Local Greens

File:  ltr to Congress, 76 scientists 2012.pdfResource Type: Letters

File:  ltr to Congress, 76 scientists 2012.pdfResource Type: Letters

Spring 2026 Newsletter TAKE QUICK ACTION for a REAL IMPACT

 

Dear Friends, Thanks to ongoing community efforts, New Mexico officials are taking action to require DOE, Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), and the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) to prioritize sending LANL’s “Legacy” nuclear waste to WIPP for disposal. “Legacy Waste” is Cold War nuclear waste, created during decades of nuclear weapons research, design and fabrication. DOE promised New Mexicans that if we allowed WIPP to be built in our state, Cold War and other radioactive waste, then stored at LANL, would have priority to be disposed in WIPP. DOE has continually broken this promise over the years. New Mexico is usually far behind other states in disposing LANL’s Legacy Waste in WIPP. This has led to, among other problems, about 2500 drums of plutonium-contaminated Legacy Waste languishing for decades in tents in “Area G” in a wildfire zone. The red area shows the combined burn area of 8 wildfires between 1977 and 2022 three of which burned over LANL property. For more information about these fires, including an interactive map, go to FireOnTheMountain.xyz   On April 23, our New Mexico Environment Department (NMED) issued an important permit modification to WIPP’s 2023 Renewal Permit, holding LANL and DOE accountable for not prioritizing this Legacy Waste disposal as required in the 2023 WIPP Permit Renewal.   Important Points in the Proposed Permit Modification •  All Legacy Waste currently stored above-ground at LANL’s Area G shall be disposed in WIPP by July 1, 2028. (This would include the plutonium-contaminated Legacy Waste stored in the tents. •  From January 1, 2027 through December 31, 2031, at least 55% of the total volume of all waste disposed in WIPP from all national sites must be LANL Legacy Waste. •  Beginning January 1, 2032, and until all LANL legacy waste has been disposed in WIPP, LANL legacy waste must be at least 75% of the total volume of waste disposed in WIPP from all national sites. •  If at any point any of those conditions are not met, all shipments, other than those from LANL, must cease until all deficiencies are cured.   NMED needs to hear that we are in support of this permit modification.   Our full support is especially necessary because DOE is strongly opposing the modification.       To view the full Permit Modification, Public Notice, and a detailed Fact Sheet, go to:
www.env.nm.gov/hazardous-waste/wipp/
And scroll down to WIPP News 2026 For more information and sample comments go to:
www.StopForeverWIPP.org ————————————————————– Members of the Stop Forever WIPP Coalition and Fire on the Mountain as well as other community groups support this action and urge people to submit written comments in support of NMED’s action by Monday, June 22 at 5 PM.   How to submit comments     •  NMED has asked that we submit comments directly through their portal here. •  But if you find that a little intimidating you can email your comments to:      HWB-WIPP-Comment@env.nm.gov •  Or even snail mail them to NMED at:            
    Megan McLean, WIPP Program Manager
Hazardous Waste Bureau
New Mexico Environment Department
2905 Rodeo Park Drive East, Building 1 Santa Fe, New Mexico 87505-6303   For more information visit    Stop Forever WIPP https://stopforeverwipp.org
https://www.facebook.com/StopfvrWIPP/ Concerned Citizens for Nuclear Safety (CCNS) http://nuclearactive.org Southwest Research and Information Center (SRIC)
http://www.sric.org/ Nuclear Watch New Mexico

https://nukewatch.org

Fire on the Mountain www.fireonthemountain.xyz

For Immediate Release:

June 5, 2026

Contact:
Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org

STOCKTON, CA — In response to a recent press release from Governor Gavin Newsom, Restore the Delta’s Executive Director, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla released the following statement:

“Further proof that Governor Newsom holds the same values regarding California water management as the Trump Administration. The Governor is influencing every regulatory process for his corporate agenda hoping the next Governor will continue with these special interest, big water projects like the Delta Conveyance Project.

Left, right, and center, the majority of Californians do not support the Delta tunnel or the water grab. They do support plans like the Water Renaissance Plan. If the top two gubernatorial candidates line up with Governor Newsom on water, they will lose a great deal of public support from voters.”

Restore the Delta further reiterates that Governor Newsom’s approach to water resources management fails the tests of morality, fairness, affordability, and protection for everyday Californians. Under this administration, the Delta has not only been neglected, it has been placed at even greater risk by policies that continue to endanger the region, its communities, and its future. 
 

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APPLY HERE

Job Title:Director of Finance and Operations
Job Location: Hybrid-based in Oakland, California: 2 days in office required.
Position Start Date: September 2026
Job Classification: Full-Time Employee, Exempt, 37.5 hours per week
Salary Range: USD $135,000-145,000 per year
Reporting To: Amanda Brown-Stevens, Executive Director

About the Opportunity:

Are you enthusiastic about bringing a numbers-savvy, strategic lens to financial oversight and management? Excited to provide leadership and direction to operational infrastructure in service of the organization’s mission and long-term sustainability? Greenbelt Alliance is hiring a Director of Finance and Operations who will be instrumental in deepening its financial management infrastructure to accommodate anticipated growth in programs and revenue while engaging deeply in the day-to-day details of nonprofit operations and human resources. This is a senior leadership role working closely with organizational leadership to support thoughtful decision-making around growth, staffing, program expansion, and funding strategy.

We are looking for someone who brings years of experience in finance and operations, who is excited to collaborate with colleagues to direct and implement organizational financial policies, procedures, management, and strategy to ensure Greenbelt Alliance’s healthy financial position carries forward and operational needs are consistently met.

You’ll be a great Director of Finance and Operations for Greenbelt Alliance if you:

• • Bring expertise in budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring of revenue and expenses
  • Enjoy translating what the numbers are indicating about annual financial health to non-financially savvy colleagues, executives, and board members 
  • Can proactively solve problems, developing and improving systems
  • Have experience building and overseeing complex, publicly-funded project budgets to philanthropic grant project budgets
  • Have excellent communication and critical thinking skills, including experience presenting to Board of Directors and Finance Committees
  • Thrive in providing leadership and oversight of organizational operations
  • Bring experience managing a high-functioning Finance and Operations department
  • Ability to create and promote a positive and supportive work environment
  • Enjoy collaborating and iterating with a talented, bright, and supportive team
  • Pride yourself on having great attention to detail
  • Bring a passion for supporting organizational excellence in our mission to ensure the Bay Area is resilient to a changing climate

Key Activities Will Include:

Strategic Financial Leadership

• Oversee all financial operations, including accounts, ledgers, AP/AR, cash management, investments, and reporting systems
• Lead annual budget development, midyear forecasting, and multi-year financial planning, including cash flow analyses and contingency planning
• Present financial reports, dashboards, and narratives to the Finance Committee and Board of Directors
• Manage monthly, quarterly, and annual financial close and internal reporting

Compliance & Audit

• Lead the annual audit process, including financial statements and IRS 990
• Develop and manage complex public funding budget proposals and oversee state and federal grant administration and compliance
• Maintain a revenue processing system for timely draw-downs and reimbursements across multiple grant periods
• Strengthen and implement internal policies and controls to protect assets and ensure financial accuracy

People Management

• Supervise and provide strategic guidance to the Sr. Finance and Grants Manager and accounting staff, serving as back-up across functions as needed
• Provide oversight to the People Operations Manager on HR and employee relations matters in collaboration with a third-party PEO

Operations Management

• Oversee organizational operations, including office management, infrastructure, and vendor relations
• Support the development and maintenance of operational systems, policies, and documentation
• Ensure operational practices reflect organizational values and foster a collaborative work environment

Desired Qualifications:

NOTE: We do not expect any single candidate to have extensive expertise/experience in all of these areas, but will prioritize candidates with demonstrated success as a critical-thinker and quick-learner.

• Experience in accounting, finance, business administration or a related field.
• Experience as a people manager with knowledge of and ability to employ effective strategies that motivate and guide other staff members.
• Excellent mathematical and analysis skills.
• Experience with nonprofit financial systems as well as operations and administration.
• Knowledge of Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) and nonprofit accounting.
• Proficient use of the following software is a plus: Google Suite, Quickbooks, BILL, Zoom, Salesforce, Asana, Insperity, TimeCamp, Slack.
• Ability to lead departments and individuals.
• Strong written and oral communication skills, including presenting on financial information.
• Willingness to continually improve processes and systems, and be a team player.
• Ability to strategize creatively and think critically, overcoming obstacles and offering sustainable solutions.
• Self-starting work ethic, comfortable working both collaboratively and independently.

Benefits:

• 100% Employer-Paid Health Insurance, Dental Insurance, and Vision Insurance policies. Life insurance policy also provided.
• 50% Employer-Paid Insurance policies for dependents.
• Generous Paid Time-Off package, including Vacation Days, Sick Days, and Floating Holidays. As many as 14 paid holidays off, including Winter Break.
• Professional development and training opportunities. 

How To Apply

Applications for this position will be considered on a rolling basis; however, priority consideration will be given to applications submitted by June 29, 2026. Please allow several weeks for a response, as we are reviewing applications. Be sure to attach a professional resume as a PDF document to your application. In your cover letter, state your interest in the role along with answers to the following questions: 

1. How do you communicate complex financial metrics, risks, and forecasts to non-finance staff and board members?
2. What is your leadership philosophy for managing and developing a high-performing finance and operations team?
3. Give an example of how you used financial data and forecasting to inform an organization’s strategy direction?

APPLY HERE

Work Authorization:

At this time, Greenbelt Alliance is unable to offer assistance to noncitizens or nonresidents in obtaining employer-sponsored work visas. All employees must have existing authorization from the federal government to work lawfully in the United States of America. Authorization would include US citizenship, US permanent residency (“green card”), or any other type of unexpired work authorization visa issued by the federal government.

Equal Employment Statement:

Greenbelt Alliance is an equal opportunity employer that does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, disability, sex, gender expression, nationality, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or any other category. We strongly encourage people of color, LGBTQIA+ persons, people of different levels of physical ability, people with diverse national and class origins, and all qualified persons to apply for this position. Learn more about our nondiscrimination policy here.

Greenbelt Alliance encourages candidates of all abilities to apply to this position! In the case you may require any kind of special accommodation in order to complete the application or hiring process, please contact us at info@greenbelt.org.

About Greenbelt Alliance:

Greenbelt Alliance’s mission is to educate, advocate, and collaborate to ensure the Bay Area’s lands and communities are resilient to a changing climate. Greenbelt Alliance has stewarded the region’s beautiful natural landscapes while promoting the growth needed for thriving communities for over 65 years. We focus on innovative policy solutions and accelerating local and regional collaboration to plan and invest in resilient communities. Learn more at greenbelt.org.

The post Director of Finance & Operations appeared first on Greenbelt Alliance.

For Immediate Release:

June 4, 2026

Contact:
Ashley Castaneda, ashley@restorethedelta.org

SACRAMENTO – Tribes, environmental justice organizations, fishing groups, and environmental advocates joined forces yesterday in a Day of Advocacy for the Delta, engaging with legislators on water policy issues impacting Delta communities, environment and economy. The Day of Advocacy, organized by the Bay-Delta coalition, focused on:

• Support for the California Water Renaissance Plan which proposes a shift towards a sustainable local water supply and away from expensive, unreliable water imports
• Support for AB 2218 which would establish a statewide policy directive to remedy historical water inequities with California Tribes
• Support for SB 872 which invests proactively in Delta levees and subsided state conveyance infrastructure to ensure long term protection for communities and water supply 
• Opposition to AB 2026 which deepens water system inequities, minimal protections for the Delta and extends unpermitted diversions
• Opposition to AB 2215 which fast tracks permitting of the controversial Delta Conveyance Project and bypasses review for environmental impacts

The Advocacy Day brought together 45 volunteers, who organized into 11 teams and held more than 60 meetings with legislative offices. Participants had productive conversations with decisionmakers, voicing broad community support for common sense water solutions desperately needed in the state. 

STATEMENTS FROM COALITION MEMBERS:

Gary Bobker, Program Director, Friends of the River:

“CA Bay-Delta Flows Advocacy Day is a chance for citizen activists to provide a counter-narrative to the official state ‘party line ‘ that in order to address the impacts of climate change, California must divert and dam every drop of water and build incredibly expensive and inefficient projects to move and store that water. Instead, people from diverse communities and regions come together to talk to legislators about how the biggest new source of water for our cities is from reusing and recycling water and capturing storm runoff; how recharging our depleted groundwater aquifers can be done without robbing our rivers and lakes of the water they need to survive, provide clean water and support healthy ecosystems; and how expensive and unnecessary boondoggles like the Delta Tunnel can only be made to seem feasible when the rules are relaxed to ignore legal, environmental and financial realities – steps that the legislature cannot and should not sanction. These citizen voices are vital to helping lawmakers make the right decisions that promote a sustainable water future for all Californians.”

Bruce Reznik, Executive Director, Los Angeles Waterkeeper:

“Agencies throughout the Los Angeles region have established aggressive local water supply goals, aiming to move from 40% local water to 80% countywide by 2045, and they are already moving ahead on major wastewater recycling, stormwater capture and groundwater remediation projects. These efforts will not only make the region more water secure in the face of increasingly less reliable sources of imported water due to our changing climate; they will also help reduce water pollution as well as our carbon footprint, create greener and healthier communities, and provide a tremendous number of local jobs and economic activity for the region. We now need the LA delegation to the state legislature to get behind this agenda if we are going to successfully bring all these critical projects to fruition.”

Cintia Cortez, Policy Manager, Restore the Delta:

“California faces a critical choice in its water planning: legislators can either invest in a resilient and affordable water future for all Californians, or waste billions on the destructive Delta Tunnel, a project that would fail to deliver reliable water supplies for future generations. Over 40 volunteers joined the Delta Flows Coalition to advocate for the Water Renaissance Plan, which would protect the Delta’s annual $7 billion economy, enhance the Delta ecosystem so local communities can reconnect with their waterways, and support local investments in Southern California.”

Christie Ralson, Associate Attorney, San Francisco Baykeeper:

“The San Francisco Bay Estuary ecosystem is in crisis. Through conversations with over 60 legislative offices, San Francisco Baykeeper and our colleagues educated decision makers on the direct threats to the continued survival of this unique ecosystem and the communities that rely on it and shared our vision for the future of water in California.”

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Update: Contra Costa voters sent a clear message this past election by voting to protect the county’s Urban Limit Line (ULL). As of June 3,  68% of voters said a resounding YES to Measure A, marking an incredible win!

Once again, the voters endorsed the renewal of the ULL, which was set to expire by the end of the year, for another 25 years. This effective land-use tool has been in place for over three decades. In that time, the line has been adjusted only six times, and voters renewed it in 2006 with 64% support. The landscapes that define Contra Costa exist in part because that commitment has been kept.

We thank all the voters who endorsed Measure A and our partner Save Mount Diablo who advocated for its passage!

Contra Costa voters just sent a clear message that the farms, the hills, and the open spaces that make this county worth living in are worth protecting. This is smart growth done right, directing development where infrastructure exists, keeping sprawl out of fire-prone hillsides and climate-vulnerable shorelines, and making sure future generations inherit a county they’ll actually want to call home. Greenbelt Alliance is proud to have stood with Contra Costa voters on this one."

Zoe Siegel, Senior Director of Climate Resilience at Greenbelt Alliance Why the Urban Limit Line Matters

When Contra Costa voters approved the Urban Limit Line (ULL) in 1990, they made a decision about what kind of county this would be. They drew a boundary beyond which urban development couldn’t go – protecting the farms in the Tassajara Valley, the open hillsides above Walnut Creek, and the wetlands along the shoreline—and they asked future generations to keep it in place.

The Contra Costa Board of Supervisors has referred the measure to voters, with updates to the boundary to better reflect current conditions on the ground. 

The ULL isn’t about stopping growth. It’s about making sure growth happens in the right places: in existing communities where infrastructure already exists, where people can get around without a car, where new housing and new neighbors strengthen what’s already there. By establishing a clear line beyond which no new urban land uses can be designated, the ULL has protected the county’s agricultural lands, open hillsides, and natural landscapes for more than three decades.

Protected open space and farmland are not optional extras — they are foundational to the health, climate resilience, and livability of Contra Costa communities. Clean water, cooler temperatures, local food, open land that absorbs carbon, and buffers communities from wildfire and flood. The ULL supports all of that by directing growth where it belongs and keeping natural lands open.

Why Greenbelt Alliance Endorsed Measure A

Greenbelt Alliance has worked to protect the Bay Area’s open spaces and farmland for nearly 70 years, and the Contra Costa Urban Limit Line is central to that work. By keeping growth focused within existing communities and away from natural landscapes, the ULL directly supports our mission to protect the greenbelt and help Bay Area cities thrive. 

Measure A is also a critical climate tool. Compact infill development reduces the vehicle miles traveled and greenhouse gas emissions that drive the climate crisis, while preserving open lands sequester carbon, filter water, and buffer communities against extreme heat, flooding, and wildfire. At a time when federal rollbacks are threatening environmental protections across the board, locally-driven policies like this one matter more than ever.

Passing Measure A advances priorities that matter deeply to residents across the county, including:

• Protecting agricultural lands and open space from conversion to sprawl development.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions and traffic by directing new housing and jobs to infill locations.
• Maintaining the 65/35 Land Preservation Standard, which ensures that at least 65% of the county’s land remains non-urban.
• Restricting new development in fire hazard severity zones and on steep slopes, reducing wildfire risk.
• Supporting successful implementation of the county’s newly adopted 2045 General Plan.

By approving Measure A, Contra Costa County is able to maintain approximately $2 million annually in local street maintenance funding from the Contra Costa Transportation Authority, which required the permanence of the ULL for the funding.

There Is Room to Grow Inside the Line

Opponents of urban growth boundaries sometimes argue that such limits constrain housing production. The Contra Costa ULL tells a different story. The county’s 2045 General Plan process confirmed that vacant and underutilized land inside the existing ULL can accommodate 23,200 new housing units, 1.2 million square feet of new commercial development, and 5 million square feet of new industrial space. There is no need to expand into open space and farmland to meet the county’s growth needs — and there never has been.

Measure A also includes targeted adjustments to the ULL map that would make it more accurate and functional: removing areas with major development constraints or protected status, aligning the county line with city boundaries where cities have adopted their own urban growth boundaries, and cleaning up inconsistencies like so-called ULL “islands.” These changes reflect reality on the ground without opening the door to sprawl.

The post WIN: Contra Costa Voters Say Resounding YES to Renewing Urban Limit Lines appeared first on Greenbelt Alliance.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 4, 2026

Statement on ACT NOW Clean Tech Initiative

ALLEGHENY COUNTY, Pa. — On June 4, Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato signed the Advancing Clean Technology for Neighborhood and Next-Generation Opportunity and Workforce (ACT NOW) Executive Order. In response, Ohio River Valley Institute Industrial Decarbonization Program Manager Justine Hackimer issued the following statement:

Clean technology and advanced manufacturing present a generational opportunity to strengthen Allegheny County’s economy, create high-quality jobs, and build on our region’s long history of industrial innovation. 

For generations, southwestern Pennsylvania’s workers, manufacturers, and research institutions helped power economic growth across the country. As global markets increasingly demand cleaner technologies, our region is well-positioned to compete for the industries that will shape the next generation of manufacturing. 

But realizing that opportunity requires more than individual projects. It takes coordination and smart policy like ACT NOW to ensure workers and local communities directly benefit from investments. We applaud County Executive Sara Innamorato’s leadership in shaping a clean tech future that works for all Pennsylvanians.

By investing in the industries of tomorrow while strengthening the systems that support workers and communities, the region can build a more diverse, resilient economy that creates opportunities for generations to come.

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The post Statement on ACT NOW Clean Tech Initiative appeared first on Ohio River Valley Institute.

In this issue:

Intro: May Action Night / Volunteer for Election Work /Energy Justice Team / Protect Portland’s Climate Justice Fund / Portland Budget Update / Forest Defense Team / Arts Team / Data Centers: Good News / Welcome Summer Interns / Book Club / SW Team / Brooklyn Action Team / Washington County Team / Rumble on the River / Venmo, Totes, & Stickers – Oh My!

Thanks to all of you, we had an illuminating and inspiring May 21 Candidate Meet & Greet Action Night, our first event in the 2026 Vote for Climate Justice campaign! 15 candidates from Districts 3 and 4 attended. Each candidate briefly shared about their climate priorities, and at least 80 Portlanders circulated at their tables to learn more. Ten candidates have fully endorsed our Climate Justice Platform, and one has endorsed parts of it. Scroll to the bottom of this page to see if your preferred candidates have endorsed it.

Visit our news page to see Action Night photos by 350PDX volunteer Dana Schot, as well as video of each candidate’s speech.

Volunteer for Election Work

We’re recruiting volunteers to support our District 3 & 4 city council election work. Whether you can table at an event, assist with candidate forums, do outreach in your neighborhood, or lend a hand behind the scenes, there is a role for you in this pivotal moment for climate justice in Portland! Sign up at 350pdx.org/volunteer or email us at info@350pdx.org.

And, if you know of events in D3 or D4 that 350PDX should attend, please share with info@350pdx.org!

Energy Justice Team

350PDX’s newest campaign team, the Energy Justice Team, has fully launched! We’re working on everything from protecting PCEF to fighting for safety in the Critical Energy Infrastructure Hub, from stopping Zenith and data centers to advocating for transportation justice. Join us! We meet on the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month from 6:00-7:30 PM, rotating between virtual and in person. Our next meeting is Tuesday, June 9 at 6:00 PM on Zoom. To get the link or sign up for an orientation, reach out to team leaders Dineen and Cherice: dineen@350pdx.org, cherice@350pdx.org

THIS WEEK: Join us at the Toxic Roots of the Silicon Forest Conference, hosted by Portland Jobs with Justice! The conference takes place at Portland State University, and begins tonight (Wednesday) evening with a film screening and continues all day tomorrow (Thursday). Come explore the legacy of the semiconductor and microchip industry (the backbone of AI…), discuss its impact in our own backyard, and plant the seeds for a more equitable and sustainable future. Get tickets here.

PCEF to Police? Protect Portland’s climate justice fund!

Portland police and wealthy special interests are gathering signatures for a ballot measure to raid the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), diverting 25% of it to the police. Portlanders can:

• Decline to sign measures you don’t support.

• Share concerns with friends and family.

• Sign the Protect PCEF pledge.

• Learn more

Ethics violations have been filed against those who filed this ballot measure, alleging they are training signature gatherers to mislead the public about the purpose of the measure. See this story in the Portland Mercury for more info. Here is the text of the petition.

Portland Budget Update

14 Tree Protection Jobs Saved!

Major thanks to everyone who contacted their council members and submitted testimony in support of our city tree budget for long-term cooling. Councilor Koyama Lane’s amendment to restore 14 (mostly PCEF-funded) urban forestry and tree permitting jobs passed 8-4. See vote results here; search for “urban forestry.” Consider dropping your councilor a note.

Through our advocacy together, a budget amendment to fund the fire engine that serves Linnton and the CEI hub also passed, and the budget includes two new positions in the Office of Sustainability. Unfortunately, some PCEF money was diverted; stay tuned to see if more advocacy will help before the budget is finalized.

Forest Defense Team

Stop by 350PDX’s Shade Equity table at Columbia Slough Watershed Council’s Annual Slough Celebration, Saturday June 13, 2:00-6:00 PM, 1880 Northeast Elrod Drive.

Would you like to co-host a tree walk in your neighborhood? Reach out to Noelle@350pdx.org.

Arts Team Because of a conflict with the No Kings event on June 14, our June Artbuild will be postponed. Watch for an email with more information and new June Artbuild date! We’ll be planning for the NW Climate Week in July, and an Oregon Wild event in August. Stay tuned! Donna, Lauren, Dannika, and Ali Data Centers—Good News about the POWER Act!

Data centers have swooped into the state and are charged less than half of what residential customers pay, while drawing immense amounts of power. That is about to change! Due to the POWER Act, which 350PDX helped advocate for in the 2025 legislative session, Oregon’s Public Utility Commission is requiring PGE to charge data centers more, reducing the burden on regular ratepayers. Learn more.

Welcome Summer Interns

We’re excited to welcome two summer interns. Natalie Severson is a third year Reed College student majoring in political science and sociology. Her main focus will be PCEF, and helping organize our District 4 tabling opportunities and candidate forum. Owen Wegner just graduated from Reed (congratulations, Owen!) with a degree in environmental studies and a concentration in political science. He’ll be helping develop our Climate Justice Scorecard and organizing our District 3 tabling and candidate forum.

Book Club

The 350PDX Book Club meets every month on the first Wednesday of the month at 6:30 PM. Every other month is in-person and the others are virtual. Reach out to books@350PDX.org with any questions or to join our list, and please RSVP so we can inform you of any meeting changes.

Join us on Wednesday, June 3 at 6:30 PM for our next non-fiction in-person meeting. We’ll discuss Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future by Gloria Dickie, a global exploration of the eight remaining species of bears―and the dangers they face. RSVP at books@350PDX.org.

Save the date for our other upcoming discussions:

• Wednesday, July 1 at 6:30 PM (Google Meet) – Book to be selected in June

• Wednesday, August 5 at 6:30 PM (In Person) – Book to be selected soon

• Voting starts soon for our next batch of books! Email us your suggestions.

Do you like to talk about books and climate justice? We are seeking volunteers to help facilitate! Contact books@350PDX.org to learn more.

Southwest Neighborhood Team

The Southwest Neighborhood Team includes neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Portland. We work together to raise awareness of the climate emergency.

A big thank you to our volunteers for supporting our kiosk at SW Sunday Parkways on Sunday, May 17. Your efforts resulted in big gains for our SW Neighborhood Team. We signed up 40 people who were interested in the District 4 candidate forum. We gave out 18 Climate Action Yard Signs to community members willing to raise awareness about the climate crisis, and we are quickly gaining ground on efforts to reign in data center expansion in Oregon. Photo: Matt Austin

Our street corner demonstrations continue weekly in June and July, every Friday from 3:00-4:00 PM at SW Garden Home & SW Oleson Rd. Street parking is available or reach us via bus or bike. We may make adjustments to our gathering time to accommodate our volunteers. We are suspending our monthly Zoom team meetings for June and July. We will resume meetings on the third Monday in August (Monday, August 17th, 2026, at 6:30 PM).

To get involved, please contact Pat Kaczmarek at patk5@msn.com.

Brooklyn Climate Action Team (BCAT) 

BCAT is heading into a busy summer. Our popular Go-Bag Series returns June 9, June 23, and July 7 at 7:30 PM at Brooklyn School Park (near Winterhaven Elementary School) — a community favorite for building emergency preparedness alongside neighbors. Whether you’re refreshing an existing kit or starting from scratch, come join us!

We’ve also been busy this spring: last month, neighbors gathered for BCAT’s first Climate Action Writing Night, putting pen to paper on letters to representatives urging protection of our National Forests.

See our full calendar here.

Washington County Team

We are super excited to see last year’s successful community event moving forward in partnership with The City of Hillsboro, the Westside Planet Alliance, and Hillsboro Saturday Farmers market, with sponsorship from PGE.

Please join us for year *TWO* of our event:

Westside Sustainable Living Fair
July 18 | 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM  2nd Avenue between Main and Lincoln Streets, Downtown Hillsboro

Explore interactive exhibits, hands-on games and activities, giveaways, prize drawings, and local resources focused on clean energy, electric vehicles, water conservation, urban forestry, waste reduction, watershed health, wildlife-friendly gardening, and more. The Fair is adjacent to the downtown Hillsboro Farmers Market, which features fresh local produce and goods, prepared food, and sustainable products. Visit PGE’s Ride & Drive experience on 3rd Avenue between Main and Washington Streets in the Heritage Bank parking lot where you can learn about and test drive a number of electric vehicle options.

Our group will NOT meet online in June.  Our next gathering will be in person for a summer picnic in conjunction with the July 18 event. We always welcome newcomers to our events and to our monthly online meetings (6:30 PM on the second Tuesday of the month). For the link, join us here or contact us at 350washco@gmail.com.

Rumble on the River: Building Community For The Long Haul 

In response to the disheartening onslaught against democracy, humanity, and life on our planet, we come together for inspirations, ideas and actions that will energize us to create a humane and supportive community. Come learn what other neighborhoods and networks are doing and how you can get engaged.

Tuesday, June 16

St Andrew Catholic Church (806 NE Alberta St)

Doors and Info Tables at 5:30 PM, Panel at 6:30 PM

350PDX is on Venmo! @Climate-350pdx

The first 35 people to donate any amount to us on Venmo will receive a screen-printed tote bag & a new Vote for Climate Justice sticker—designed by 350PDX volunteer Joaquin Moore! All donations will support grassroots climate justice advocacy. Donate here! 

Thank you for reading our monthly newsletter. We hope to see you soon!

With gratitude,

Cherice, Dineen, Irene, Jessica, and Noelle

The post 2026 June Newsletter! appeared first on 350PDX: Climate Justice.

There’s no way to sugarcoat it: Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument is under attack. 

The elected officials behind 2025’s failed public lands sell-off attempts – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) – introduced a joint resolution to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). 

If both chambers of Congress pass the measure by simple majority votes, the plan – which sets expectations for how these remarkable public lands will be managed for recreation, camping and outdoor access, collaboration with Tribal Nations, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses – will be undone and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future. This would be a devastating blow to the monument and could turn it into a wildly different place. We cannot let this happen. 

View our StoryMap and learn more

Here are ways you can join us and fight back: 

• Visit our action page and email your members of Congress, telling them to vote NO on the joint resolution. 

• Reach out to your friends, family, neighbors, and colleagues who you know also love the redrock, Grand Staircase-Escalante, and southern Utah. Send them a link to our action alert and encourage them to join our email list too!

• Share this action on social media – be sure to tag our accounts on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky, and TikTok. 

• Call your Representative and both of your Senators (find office numbers here), saying something along the lines of: “Hi my name is _____, and I’m a constituent from ______. I am calling to urge you to vote NO on the Congressional Review Act Resolution targeting the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument management plan.  The monument — a crown jewel of America’s public lands and a place like nowhere else in the world — should be protected for its rich biodiversity, unique geology, and remarkable cultural values. The resolution to disapprove the plan puts everything that is special about Grand Staircase-Escalante at risk. Please vote NO. Thank you.”

• If you live outside of Utah, reach out to a member of SUWA’s Grassroots Organizing Team to get more involved and find out if your member of Congress is one who could cast a deciding vote.  

• View and share our Grand Staircase-Escalante StoryMap.

• Watch our recent Virtual Rally for Grand Staircase-Escalante and learn about ways to take effective action from wherever you live.

• If you’re able, consider financially supporting SUWA. Our members and supporters make our work possible. 

• If you’re looking for another way to participate, we encourage you to get creative! We’re seeking artistic works for use in an interactive map for Grand Staircase-Escalante. Create something new or share a piece you’ve already made. This can range from short stories about your experiences in the monument, to quick sketches, to your favorite photographs! Email files to loveforgse@suwa.org. 

For over 40 years, SUWA and the nationwide Protect Wild Utah movement have worked tirelessly to protect wilderness-quality lands, including the monument. That work continues, undeterred.  Thank you for standing with us at this critical moment.  

 

View Our “Love for Grand Staircase-Escalante” StoryMap of Art Submissions

The post Actions You Can Take to Defend Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument appeared first on Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

The fight to protect Oregon’s Climate Protection Program continues Nora Apter Wed, 06/03/2026 - 9:56 am

On May 16th, 2026, dozens of supporters gathered at the beautiful Oak Hill Farm in Glen Ellen, shared food grown just a few steps from the table, and talked about one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how do we protect our communities from the growing threats of wildfire and extreme heat?

During our traditional Annual Sonoma Leadership Council Luncheon, supporters raised over $150,000, surpassing our goal in 20% and making it one of our best fundraising events ever, to fund climate resilience work underway across the Bay Area. A huge thank you to our incredible host and supporter, Arden Bucklin-Sporer.

The funds raised at the event will go toward concrete, on-the-ground work:

• Expanding wildfire buffer strategies countywide and helping homeowners take proactive mitigation steps.
• Advancing zoning policies that steer development away from the highest-risk areas.
  Strengthening local Fire Safe Councils with coordination and resources.
• Running community workshops that help Southwest Santa Rosa residents recognize heat risks early and protect their health.
• Creating opportunities for young people to take an active role in shaping climate solutions in their own neighborhoods.

We’ve captured some wonderful moments from the day—view event photos here.

Focusing on Solutions for Wildfire Resilience

After years of devastating fires in Sonoma County, the question is no longer whether the threat is real; it’s what to do about it. The Sonoma Luncheon has become a hub for discussing this topic and the cutting-edge solutions that are emerging in the region.

Over the past several years, Greenbelt Alliance partnered with the Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and Open Space District and local organizations to develop the Interwoven Greenbelt Buffer—a first-of-its-kind, landscape-scale approach to wildfire risk reduction.

Rather than treating parcels of land in isolation, the model uses data and cross-sector collaboration to “weave together” conserved lands, working agricultural lands, and developed neighborhoods into coordinated buffer zones. The goal: reduce wildfire intensity before it reaches homes, protect biodiversity and farmland, and shift communities from reactive disaster response to proactive, landscape-level prevention.

It’s a scalable concept, and one that could serve as a model not just for Sonoma County, but for fire-prone communities across California and the Western US.

Rising Threat of Extreme Heat 

As a major driver of intensifying fires, extreme heat is becoming one of the region’s most dangerous public health threats. Over the past decade, Southwest Santa Rosa alone has seen nearly 10,000 heat-related emergency room visits.

In response, Greenbelt Alliance is partnering with Latino Service Providers to develop a community-led Extreme Heat Action Plan for Southwest Santa Rosa, one of our Resilience Hotspots. The effort, supported by the Governor’s Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation, centers the people most affected—agricultural workers, families, and youth— in designing the solutions. It’s a process built on community knowledge, cultural responsiveness, and local leadership.

Our Marin Resilience Manager Jessie Rountree put it simply at the luncheon: climate solutions aren’t just possible. They’re already happening.

Help Make a Difference

As we look ahead, we invite you to continue standing with us in this critical work. With your support, we can expand these solutions across the region and safeguard the places we all love.

Every year, we host this event for our Sonoma Leadership Council, a group of supporters in the North Bay who donate $1,000 or more annually towards the work we do in the region. Our work would not be possible without our donors, and this is a great opportunity to thank them and help raise funds for ongoing projects in Sonoma County and beyond. If you would like to donate toward our work or join our Sonoma Leadership Council, click here. 

Thank you again to our wonderful supporters for helping us work to build a safer and more resilient Sonoma County! 

 

The post Funding Solutions for Fire and Heat at Sonoma Luncheon appeared first on Greenbelt Alliance.

The Northern Territory government has granted approval for gas giant Santos to drill 12 fracking wells in the Beetaloo Basin, despite concerns that the project would mainly serve the export market while putting water and environment at risk. 

Resolutions to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument’s Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA) have been introduced by Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02). Once either chamber of Congress takes up the legislation, we’ll post live updates as they consider this legislation, with the most current information at the top of this webpage (as well as a link to watch the proceedings live). If you haven’t already, review our actions you can take to defend the monument. A timeline and additional information can be found below.

(All times are MT. These updates come from SUWA staff and our best interpretations of proceedings)

Live Updates Timeline:

• March 4, 2026 –  Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) – introduced joint resolutions to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). If both chambers of Congress pass the measure by simple majority votes, the plan – which sets expectations for how these remarkable public lands will be managed for recreation, camping and outdoor access, collaboration with Tribal Nations, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses – will be undone and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future. 
  
  
• February 26, 2026 – Senator Mike Lee formally begun the process to fast-track the destruction of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument byadding the Government Accountability Office (GAO) opinion regarding the Monument’s Management Plan to the Congressional Record (see page 51). Conservation groups began sounding the the alarm regarding the GAO opinion, requested by Rep. Maloy, on January 22, 2026. 
  
  
• January 7, 2025 – Following two and a half years of work, anew Monument Management Plan was finalized for Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. As a part of that work, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) engaged in extensive outreach to Tribal Nations, the State of Utah, local governments, stakeholders (including outfitters and guides, ranchers, local utilities), and the public. During the planning process, BLM received overwhelming support from throughout Utah and the nation for a holistic, conservation-based management plan worthy of this remarkable place.

Additional information about the CRA:

In March 2026, the elected officials behind 2025’s failed public lands sell-off attempts – Senator Mike Lee (R-UT) and Rep. Celeste Maloy (R-UT-02) – introduced a joint resolution to undo the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument Management Plan using the Congressional Review Act (CRA). 

If both chambers of Congress pass the measure by simple majority votes, the plan – which sets expectations for how these remarkable public lands will be managed for recreation, camping and outdoor access, collaboration with Tribal Nations, dark night skies, grazing, and other uses – will be undone and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) will be barred from issuing another plan that is “substantially the same” in the future. This would be a devastating blow to the monument and could turn it into a wildly different place. We cannot let this happen. 

Actions you can take to defend the monument.

The post Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument CRA Vote – Live Updates appeared first on Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

On May 21, 2026, 15 candidates for City Council Districts 3 and 4 joined us for our Action Night Meet & Greet. We had an insightful, inspiring evening, and are so appreciative of the candidates that joined us and mingled with community members before and after sharing their campaign goals. We are also immensely grateful for 350PDX’s volunteers, staff, and board members that helped make this happen. It takes all of us! Check out photos by the luminous Dana Schot. And check out our video below which features each candidate discussing their campaign goals as they relate to our climate.

 

The post May 2026 Action Night! City Council Candidate Meet & Greet appeared first on 350PDX: Climate Justice.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

June 2, 2026 

President Trump Revokes Executive Orders Protecting Public Lands from Unmanaged Motorized Recreation  Repeal threatens wildlife, public safety, and outdoor recreation across federal lands  

Contacts:
Laura Peterson, Senior Attorney, Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA); (801) 236-3762; laura@suwa.org

Washington, D.C. – Last Friday, after most people left work for the weekend, President Trump announced the repeal of two executive orders (11644 and 11989) that govern off-road vehicle (OHV) and over-snow vehicle (OSV) use on public lands. He further directed federal land management agencies to rescind or revise their regulations implementing these orders, risking chaos and confusion on public lands across the country. 

For 54 years, these orders have helped protect streams, wildlife and their habitats, and opportunities for safe recreation by providing clear and consistent guidance for motorized and nonmotorized users on Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service lands. In response, numerous conservation organizations cried foul over this latest attack on public lands. 

Below are quotes and background information:

“These executive orders provided the foundation for common-sense management of motorized vehicles on public lands, recognizing the detrimental impact unmanaged motor vehicles have on cultural sites, wildlife, waterways and other public land users,” said Laura Peterson, Senior Attorney at the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance. “In Utah alone, there are tens of thousands of miles of dirt roads and trails open to motorized vehicles. Far from motorized vehicles being kept out of public lands, it’s quite the opposite: it’s the wildlife and visitors trying to picnic or camp with their families that are being chased out at every turn. The impacts of repealing these executive orders will be long-lasting and devastating.” 

“Removing or weakening regulations for properly managing motorized recreation will endanger at-risk fish and wildlife, particularly grizzly bears and bull trout, because off-road vehicles choke streams with dirt and damage sensitive habitats,” said Adam Rissien, rewilding manager with WildEarth Guardians. “Today’s off-road vehicles are even more powerful, more damaging than when the first orders were put in place to protect public lands from unfettered motorized recreation, and removing long-standing protections will only make matters worse.” 

“Nobody wants national parks damaged by off road vehicles. The administration is making sweeping changes that could throw open the doors to unchecked off-road vehicle use that puts at risk the very resources national parks were created to protect,” said  Cory MacNulty, Southwest Region Campaign Director for the National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA). “With thousands of miles of roads and trails across public lands already open to off-road vehicles, what is at stake here is not access – it’s the future of the places that Americans love most.”

“Public lands are big enough for hikers, hunters, horseback riders, mountain bikers, motorized users and families looking for quiet places to camp, if we are wise about how we share them,” said Alison Flint, Acting Vice President for Federal Policy at The Wilderness Society. “For more than 50 years, common-sense safeguards have helped land managers reduce conflicts, protect clean water and wildlife habitat, and make sure public lands can be enjoyed by everyone. This administration is working to destroy this foundation, which has been in place since Richard Nixon. This is a cynical attempt to pit public land users against one another while weakening the rules that protect the land itself. Our children and grandchildren deserve public lands that are healthy, shared and cared for—not places where decades of balanced management are tossed aside for special interests.”

“The intent of these executive orders was to minimize environmental damage and user conflict from motorized vehicle use (including snowmobiles) on public lands,” said Anneka Williams, Winter Wildlands Alliance Policy Director. “They were established in the 1970s in response to widespread and increasing off-road vehicle use on public lands to balance motorized and non-motorized recreation and protect natural ecosystems and wildlife. Without these orders, there is no guidance to minimize impacts from motorized recreation, a loss that will have lasting consequences for decades to come.” 

 “This rescission is yet another loss for wildlife and natural places,” said Vera Smith, director of national forests and public lands for Defenders of Wildlife. “Removing common-sense tools for managing all-terrain vehicles, dirt bikes and other off-road vehicles on public lands is reckless and nonsensical.”

“If you want to make the public land experience worse for everyone – motorized and non-motorized – blowing up travel management is a good place to start,” said Hilary Eisen, federal policy director at Wild Montana. “It’s how we keep public lands working for everyone. These EOs are the foundation land managers rely on to provide motorized access while protecting wildlife, natural resources, and opportunities for quiet, non-motorized recreation. Getting rid of them to satisfy a tiny minority of users just invites more use conflict, makes public lands more dangerous, and degrades public lands and waters. This is a reckless move that could set off a chain reaction that undermines everything we love about our public lands.”

“Recreationists of all types enjoy camping next to clean mountain streams, seeing wildlife, and enjoying the great outdoors with their friends and family. Public lands managers have relied on the previous executive orders to protect water quality, ensure wildlife have space to roam, and preserve high-quality recreation opportunities for everyone,” said John Robison, public lands and wildlife director at the Idaho Conservation League. “If agencies no longer have to minimize the impacts of motorized recreation to water quality, wildlife, and other recreationists, we are in danger of degrading the very values of our public lands that draw us there again and again. In the end, everyone will be worse off.” 

“Loud engines stress wildlife, displacing them from feeding and breeding areas. Tire damage speeds erosion and harms ecosystems,” said Chris Bachman, Conservation Director at the Yaak Valley Forest Council. “Vehicle tires and undercarriages carry seeds into forests and grasslands, disrupting natural systems and food resources. The Roadless Rule has been rescinded, and every effort is being made to weaken the Endangered Species Act. Now this? This administration appears determined to cause significant harm to our public lands at every turn.”

“As we see in nature, balance needs to be our rule. More and more we are seeing the scales of regulation be tipped wildly in one direction, towards extraction and deregulation of public lands,” said Allison Weber, Policy Director for Friends of the Inyo. “We support the protection of ecosystems and species, and we know that regulation of various activities on public lands are necessary to achieve that goal, to obtain balance between natural and recreational values. Deregulating recreation like OHV use ultimately leads to degradation of the landscapes and the routes themselves, followed by additional labor and money by our public lands agency staff to restore them to working order. If we want to all enjoy these landscapes for years to come, we are moving in the wrong direction.”

“This executive order puts America’s wild places at risk by prioritizing motorized vehicle access over the protection of wildlife, clean water, and public lands. For decades, commonsense safeguards have helped land managers balance motorized recreation with conservation and other types of recreation, ensuring that public lands remain healthy and accessible for everyone,” said Athan Manuel, Director of Sierra Club’s Lands Protection Program. “Eliminating responsible motorized management threatens fragile habitats, increases damage to sensitive landscapes, and undermines the experiences of people seeking quiet recreation in nature. America’s public lands belong to all of us, and future generations deserve the chance to experience wild and thriving places. Instead of weakening protections, we should be strengthening our commitment to conserving the natural heritage that makes these lands so special.”

“For decades off-road vehicles have had an outsized impact on BLM-managed lands and that’s especially true today as faster and louder vehicles blanket the landscape,” said retired BLM Director Jim Baca. Baca served as BLM Director from 1993-94. “ORVs harass wildlife, degrade streams and destroy cultural sites, and are generally a nuisance to other public land visitors. BLM has struggled mightily to control this use and its job has only gotten harder under Trump’s second term as career BLM personnel have been fired and the agency’s budget decimated. Trump’s latest Order – undoing Nixon and Carter-era Executive Orders that directed BLM to ‘minimize’ the impacts these vehicles have on public lands and resources – is only going to make BLM’s job harder at a time when it needs to be doing more than ever to rein in this activity.” 

“Without proper management, off-road vehicles tear up vegetation, disrupt wildlife, damage streams, and lead to conflicts among recreational users,” said Thomas Delehanty, attorney at Earthjustice. “President Trump is discarding the long-standing, common-sense framework for managing off-road vehicle use to cater to a narrow set of interests. Our public lands, streams, and wildlife will pay the price.”

Background

In response to the growing use of dirt bikes, snowmobiles, all-terrain vehicles, and other off-road vehicles (ORVs), and corresponding environmental damage and conflicts with non-motorized users, Presidents Nixon and Carter issued Executive Orders 11644 and 11989 in 1972 and 1977, respectively. These executive orders require federal land management agencies to plan for ORV use to protect resources and other recreational uses. Specifically, the executive orders require that, when designating areas or trails available for ORV use, the agencies locate them to: 

(1) minimize damage to soil, watershed, vegetation, and other resources of the public lands; 

(2) minimize harassment of wildlife or significant disruption of wildlife habitats; and 

(3) minimize conflicts between off-road vehicle use and other existing or proposed recreational uses of the same or neighboring public lands.

### 
The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance (SUWA) is a nonprofit organization with members and supporters from around the country dedicated to protecting America’s redrock wilderness. From offices in Moab, Salt Lake City, and Washington, DC, our team of professionals defends the redrock, organizes support for America’s Red Rock Wilderness Act, and stewards a world-renowned landscape. Learn more at www.suwa.org. 

The post President Trump Revokes Executive Orders Protecting Public Lands from Unmanaged Motorized Recreation  appeared first on Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance.

This factsheet shows that Ontario can easily accommodate enough solar and wind installations to meet the projected provincial demand for electricity in 2050.  These options will be lower cost and faster to deploy than new nuclear. Read the factsheet

The post Does Ontario Need New Nuclear to Keep its Lights on in 2050? appeared first on Ontario Clean Air Alliance.

By: Katie O’Reilly, Sierra Magazine Some have nicknamed it “Keystone Light.” But this fossil fuel pipeline, if it becomes a reality, would not be small by comparison.  If approved, the newly proposed expansion of the Bridger Pipeline through Montana would transport 1,047,000 barrels of tar sands oil—a heavy crude that’s among the most environmentally destructive …

The post Bridger Pipeline Is the Latest Attempt to Revive the Keystone XL “Zombie Project” appeared first on Montana Environmental Information Center - MEIC.