Sierra Club Climate Change Committee Meeting

The Austin Sierra Club Climate Change Committee will meet via Zoom at our regularly scheduled time, 6:30 PM, on April 6. Everyone is welcome, not just those on the Committee. You must join from your computer or smartphone. The Zoom access is via this link: https://zoom.us/j/5133069449 or click “Join a Meeting” and then enter the code 5133069449.

On a smartphone, go to your apps store and install the Zoom app. On a computer, it will download a small hidden app for you. Millions have used Zoom without trouble. If you’ve never used Zoom and want to work out any kinks ahead of time, join me at 3:00 pm on Monday, April 6 for a Zoom trial session. If you have difficulty, you can call me at 512-451-5985 and we’ll try to work it out then.

At our meeting, Victoria first will lead all who are willing in sharing about what the shutdown is like for us. In this period of physical isolation and anxiety, the last thing we need is personal isolation from one another.  We can hear and abide with each other and become a closer team by sharing our experiences.

Cyrus Reed will then talk about a recent success, the Austin Energy Plan that the Austin City Council passed on March 26 . Cyrus will discuss a few problems with the process and steps to increase input from a more diverse population next time. But he’ll also explain the innovative REACH strategy which cuts a lot of carbon pollution while we transition to ending all carbon pollution from electricity generation by 2035. Furthermore, if renewable energy and storage get cheap enough, we may be able to move that 2035 to an earlier date in the next Plan update. There will be ample time for Q&A.

Cyrus Reed is the long-time Texas state Conservation Director and current interim state Director of the Sierra Club. He has extensive experience working with our local and state officials on energy and conservation issues. Cyrus was also on the Working Group that helped craft the Austin Energy Plan.

Cyrus has a Ph.D. in Geography from the University of Texas at Austin, with a focus on water policy and the dispute over the Rio Grande water with Mexico. Prior to becoming conservation director, he served as Sierra Club’s lobbyist on energy and air quality issues during the 2005, 2007 legislative sessions, and directed the Texas Center for Policy Studies, an environmental policy and advocacy organization based in Austin, for five years. He is presently working on energy issues and their impacts. Cyrus has also worked as a journalist and has spent considerable time in Mexico, Costa Rica and Nicaragua.

After Cyrus speaks, we will talk about how and what the next steps for our Action Teams will be. We’ll update you on some initiatives that are on hold.

If you have any questions, you may email me, Bob Hendricks, at AustinSierraClub@gmail.com or call me at 512-451-5985.

This time you have to bring your own snacks.