Climate Connection: A New Arena for Climate Action
Climate-concerned students and citizens have pressured universities, banks, and the Alaska Permanent Fund to divest from fossil fuels, thinking that investment in fossil fuel infrastructure must cease if the world is to remain less than 1.5 degrees C above pre-industrial temperatures. If fossil fuels remain in the ground, we avoid spewing more carbon dioxide into the air and oceans, warming the earth. Instead, we should invest in renewable sources of energy, diminish waste to conserve energy, and develop local economies. Progressive companies are switching to all renewable electricity, minimizing the carbon emitted by their transportation needs, building operations, and manufacturing, and decreasing their waste streams. These are the same efforts that we as individuals try to take to decrease our own carbon footprints. Corporations report these climate-protective measures publicly. But a new report illuminates that how corporate cash is invested is often more important than all the measures companies are taking to decrease their carbon footprints to net zero by 2050.
The research in the new report, https://www.carbonbankroll.com/, shows that some of the most responsible climate-conscious mega-companies have missed a huge component of their climate impact. The cash holdings of these companies get invested and the climate impacts of these secondary investments have been largely invisible to them and to us. For example, Microsoft’s cash holdings in banks and financed investments of $130 billion in 2021 resulted in carbon emissions that were comparable to all the cumulative emissions generated by manufacturing, transporting, and use of every Microsoft product in the world. For Alphabet/Google, Meta, and PayPal, the emissions generated by cash and investments exceed all their other emissions. Companies’ earnest accomplishments in lowering their carbon emissions are undermined by a misaligned financial system that channels hundreds of billions of corporate dollars into carbon-intensive sectors that fuel climate change. These powerful companies can bring pressure on the financial institutions that serve them to realign their investment priorities to stop global warming.
The corollary for us individuals is that our cash in the bank, if we are lucky enough to have some, also has a carbon footprint. Climate activist Bill McKibben reports that if you have $125,000 in the bank, the way the bank invests those monies produces more carbon than the average person emits in an average year in driving, air travel, cooking, heating, and embodied carbon in consumer goods. Now that we are able to estimate this aspect of our impact on the climate crisis, we need to begin moving our cash to climate-conscious banks that are investing in solutions to the climate emergency. McKibben has some suggestions: https://billmckibben.substack.com/p/your-money-is-your-carbon?s=r. Third Act, his new climate group for people over 60, is encouraging pledges of persons with credit cards from the 4 largest fossil fueling banks to cut them up en masse at the end of the year so that these banks notice that millions of us want them to join our efforts to keep the earth habitable.
Kay Kreiss, Transition Sitka
Volunteer Trail
Work Event Set
Sitka Trail Works will host a volunteer work party to maintain the Mosquito Cove Trail 9 a.m. Saturday, June 4, in observance of National Trails Day.
Participants should meet at the trailhead and take gloves, water and snacks for the three-hour event.
Chamber Invite:
‘Share Your Spark’
Businesses and residents can “Share Your Spark” by decorating storefronts and homes in red, white and blue to commemorate Independence Day, the chamber of Commerce says.
Community groups may choose to participate by cleaning up a stretch of road or local beach. Individuals or families could plant a tree or help their neighbors.
‘‘After you’ve ‘sparked,’ stop by and pick up your window or yard sign at the Chamber office,’’ staff members said.
To participate, submit address and a photo of the ‘‘spark’’ by Wednesday, June 29, to membership@sitkachamber.com or Facebook.com/SitkaChamber. ‘‘Sparks’’ will be shared throughout the month on the Chamber’s Facebook page.
A live prize drawing will be held July 6.
Kayaani Panel
Meets June 6
Sitka Tribe of Alaska’s Kayaani Commission will hold an open meeting 6:30 p.m. June 6 via Zoom.
The public is invited to attend. The Kayaani Commission is a group of community members and tribal citizens who are concerned with preserving and protecting plants and the traditional ways they are used.
Email Jeff.Feldpausch@sitkatribe-nsn.gov or call 747-7469.
14th Annual Sitka
Golf Tourney Set
The Sitka Chamber of Commerce will hold the 14th Annual Sitka Golf Tournament 8 a.m. June 18 and is inviting sponsorships and registrations.
Sponsorships still available include:
Score Card Sponsor, $1,000; Cart Sponsor, $750; Hole Sponsor, $500; and Par Sponsors, donations of cash or items for the golfer goodie bags.
To learn more about what benefits are included in each sponsor level go to sitkachamber.com for the links. Sponsorship deadline is June 6.
Registration is open for the tournament, and all skill levels are welcome. Form a four-person team or sign up solo and be placed on a team, the Chamber said. Golf carts are provided by the course and club rentals are available during registration.
Register by June 6 for a chance to win a hole-in-one prize of $100,000. The $75 registration includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart to rent for the day, and awards lunch sponsored by the Royal Caribbean Group.
Email membership@sitkachamber.com for more information.
Goeden Earns
Bachelor’s Degree
Joshua Goeden was among students honored during commencement ceremonies May 7 at the University of Jamestown, North Dakota.
Goeden graduated with a bachelor of arts degree while majoring in criminal justice.
The 2017 Sitka High graduate is the son of Chad and Kelly Goeden.
Life Celebration
For Julie White
A celebration of the life of Julie White will be 6-7 p.m. Saturday, June 4, at Halibut Point Recreation Area.
Julie was born June 4, 1968, and died Aug. 5, 2021, in Sitka.
Attendees can take a dish to share. Those with questions can call Emily, 907-723-8841.
