Holy cow, it’s September already. Even though I’m not in school anymore and my kids aren’t even in school anymore, it still feels like such a transitional time of year to me. But there are other reasons for that sense of change in the air of course. People have returned from summer vacations, the days are shorter, the mornings and evenings are cooler (thankfully), football has started, etc. In all kinds of ways, the relative slowness of summer is coming to an end, and it's time to pick up the pace and get back in action, full time, whether that’s in school, at work or, most importantly of course, advocating for the environment!

That’s why it's a great time of year to have a big kick off event for a new season of environmental action, and that’s exactly what we are going to do. Join us on September 19 at Parkville Market in Hartford for Connecticut Climate Fest. We will have music (a live DJ!), food and drink (Parkville Market has 22 family-owned restaurants and 3 bars!), art (Night Fall puppets, chalk art, a photo booth and face painting!), and inspiring speakers (a keynote from creative changemaker Kat Morris, talks from other environmental activists, and poetry!). We will also be celebrating the launch of Climate Week (more on that below) by bringing together community organizations and sustainable small businesses that are making a difference across Connecticut. It should be a fun way to rally around our causes in community with each other as we launch into the busy end of the year. For more details, read Julianna Larue’s Climate Fest article. You can also RSVP to Connecticut Climate Fest here to let us know you’re coming.

Connecticut Climate Fest is timed to coincide with the broader annual event known as Climate Week (September 20 to 27). Climate Week originated in New York City in 2009 to focus attention on climate change during the annual United Nations General Assembly and in advance of the UN Climate Change Conferences. It has evolved into the world’s largest annual climate event, a global summit meant to drive environmental action, showcase sustainable solutions, and influence policy. With Climate Fest we hope to raise the profile and impact of Climate Week in Connecticut and highlight other events that will be taking place in Connecticut during the week. One of those is Building People Power for Environment Justice: A Connecticut Climate Week Community Gathering. This gathering, which will take place on Monday, September 21, is being presented by Integrity Acts and features two of our Sierra Club staff members as speakers at the event. It will include a conversation among local environmental justice leaders who are organizing for cleaner air, healthier neighborhoods, and more accountable environmental decision-making across Connecticut. And check it out, it will also involve an interactive, murder mystery-style investigation inspired by real environmental justice issues (that’s right).

Another Sierra Club Connecticut Climate Week event will be the Hartford Capitol Area System Climate Walk, which will take place on Saturday, September 26, and will seek to raise awareness about the Capitol Area System (CAS), a state-owned methane gas plant that heats and cools over a dozen state and privately owned buildings. CAS needs updating and replacing, and the Sierra Club is urging our state government to lead by example and commit to a fossil fuel-free, 100% renewable solution. We’ll meet at the CAS plant at 490 Capitol Avenue and walk along a route that passes by each of the buildings on the CAS loop, stopping along the way to discuss the pollution being caused by CAS and the available options for a renewable solution. Oh, and those who join us should look out for appearances of Night Fall puppets on the route as well (just as a heads up).

For more on climate change causing fossil fuel infrastructure in Connecticut, see Sena Wazer’s rather alarming Compressor Station Update in this newsletter (and find out what we are doing about it and how you can be involved in the fight).

Of course, one of the main causes of climate change is carbon emissions from transportation, so we need to transition to electric vehicles as quickly as possible. For a comparison of BEVs and PHEVs and an update on the status of available rebates in Connecticut, check out Beva Nall-Langdon’s article.

Lastly, I think you will enjoy Conservation Organizer Jhoni Ada’s Ask Jhoni column, in which she answers questions about our Remington Woods conservation success story, black birding, and other ongoing conservation programs.

With that said, it’s time for all of us to get back to work, school, advocacy, football, or whatever.

Hope to see you at Climate Fest!

With solidarity and care,

Mike Ungaro

Chapter Chair of Sierra Club Connecticut

PS: Go Giants!