The debate is over. Global warming really exists. In a report published in June of 2002 the US Environmental Protection Agency, under the Bush administration, concluded that “ greenhouse gases are accumulating on the earth’s atmosphere as a result of human activities causing global mean surface air temperature and subsurface ocean temperatures to rise… if greenhouse gas concentrations continue to increase, changes are likely to occur…” US Climate Action Report, Third National Communication of the USA Under the UN’s Framework Convention on Climate Change. Anyone who has seen pictures of what climate change is already doing in Alaska (with toppling utility poles due to melting tundra, out houses replacing multi- million dollar sewage treatment facilities which are now under water, forests wiped out by insects suddenly native in a warmer environment) knows what this can mean to our world as we know it.

It is incumbent upon all of us, as private citizens or government officials to look in our own backyard and see how we can help prevent global warming. According to a recent study released by the National Environmental Trust, New York ranks 9th among all US states for emissions of global warming pollution, emitting more than 97 developing countries. Those developing countries have a combined population of 641,056,700 compared to New York’s 19,047,800, which means that New Yorkers emit 34 times more carbon dioxide. We all can and must have a role in reducing that number. The use of energy in buildings alone results in the release of approximately 30% of the green house gases in the United States. That is a number over which we each have control.

Nor does it have to be expensive or difficult to make a contribution to this effort. New technologies have advanced a great deal, the costs of energy improvements are going down and the payback is getting shorter and shorter. Indeed, the support and financing available for such investments in many cases make them cost free. The New York Power Authority ( NYPA) will provide free energy audits and implement energy improvements for its customers at no up front cost; payments are made out of energy savings. The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) is disbursing tens of millions of dollar in various forms of assistance annually.

This issue is devoted to highlighting some concrete steps that can and have been taken to reduce energy consumption, increase efficiency and move towards locally generated renewable sources.

Edna Sussman

Update on FCWC Activities
By Edna Sussman, Executive Director

Energy
Energy issues surround us. There are so many factors simultaneously militating towards a focus on energy conservation and efficiency. Our renewed concern in the current political reality about our dependence on foreign oil, our outrage about the dangers posed by Indian Point, our dismay at the crossing of the Millennium Pipeline across our settled communities, our fear of global warming, and our need for a clean environment all mandate that changing the face of energy usage in this country become a number one priority.

At FCWC we have taken this important issue to heart and have taken action. In our letter delivered last February we asked that the county engage in energy audits of its facilities, that it become an Energy Star partner, set goals for energy reduction, buy energy efficient products and that it model energy smart conduct for the community. Following receipt of our letter, the county legislature Environment Committee began a self education process with presentations by experts on various forms of alternative energy. A newly constituted Energy Committee of the county legislature met for the first time in September. The County is now working with NYPA to identify energy saving projects for implementation. While there is some movement, much more needs to be done and we will continue to press for the necessary advances. The FCWC letter is available online at www. FCWC.org under the Issues page for September.

In conjunction with our efforts to move county government forward on this issue, we have also embarked on a public education campaign to encourage municipalities and individuals to participate in this effort. This newspaper edition and articles we have published and will continue to publish in the future, are intended to educate government and individuals as to the choices that can be made to advance us towards our goal of clean energy, independent of foreign sources. Thanks to the generosity of the Westchester Business Journal our articles also appear in that publication and so reach a broad business audience.

Energy efficiency and conservation are also a focus this year with the students we work with as part of Westchester Environment Student Council, the high school student council FCWC founded last year. The students are being trained to do behavioral energy audits at school and educated about the nature of the work that can be done at their school with the extensive NYPA and NYSERDA support now available for school energy audits and improvements. It is our hope that student advocacy will move many school districts to examine the possibilities and implement energy efficiency upgrades.

We welcome your participation in this important energy related effort. If you would like to help us get the message out or to work with us in your municipality please call us at (914) 422-4053 or e-mail fcwc@law.pace.edu.

The Hutch Trailways
Our conference entitled “ The Hutch: Putting the Park Back in the Parkway” was a great success. The effort to restore the trails that run along the parkway was launched, as all listened with excitement to ideas for the Hutch and to how the Hutch trail fits into what is going on in Connecticut and New York City and a planned East Coast Greenway which will run from Maine to Florida. More details about the conference will appear in our next issue.

Much remains to be done and citizen effort is always the best way to advance a local project. Please get in touch with us at FCWC at 422-4053 or FCWC@law.pace.edu if you would like to help with this effort.

HS Council Kicks off the Year
By Amy Parekh

Taking part in an international effort, Westchester Environment Student Council (WESC) students kicked off the school year by gathering at Read Sanctuary near Playland to take part in the annual Beach Clean up event. WESC, founded last year by FCWC, is a high school student group that provides opportunities for students to participate in environmental stewardship, advocacy and education.

Students came from all over the county, from Harrison, Hackley School in Tarrytown, Woodlands High School in Greenburgh, Hastings, Scarsdale, New Rochelle, Mamaroneck, Westlake High School in Thornwood, Thornton-Donovan school in New Rochelle, Yorktown and Blind Brook. We were thrilled to see several high school graduates who participated in WESC last year come back to join in the activity. In two hours the students had picked up 564 pounds of trash compared to last year's total of 459 pounds of trash which were accumulated over two days during this same weekend of International Beach Clean Up Day last year. The trash consisted of 410 food wrappers, 324 beverage bottles and 211 cups, plates, forks, knives and spoons, as well as a large variety of odd objects such as tires, tables, marine materials and fishing gear.

As the garbage was collected, the students carefully recorded what they found on detailed survey sheets. The information gathered goes to the American Littoral Society and then entered into an international database from which an annual report is generated. An analysis is done of the types of litter; the information is used as a public awareness tool to educate the public on trash at beaches and to help furnish sensible alternatives to creating so much waste.

Excited by the difference they made on the beach, the students are all looking forward to meeting each other and working together at the many other activities scheduled for the year. October 20th at Lenoir Preserve in Yonkers for the Training Retreat promises to be a phenomenal opportunity for students to learn about how to make a real difference in their school environments with training on pesticide reduction, toxic cleaning solutions and energy conservation and efficiency. Other planned activities are listed below. All high school students are invited to join WESC.

For more information on volunteer opportunities at the Read Sanctuary contact Jason at 967-8720.

For more information on WESC, please contact Amy Parekh at (914) 422-4053 or aparekh@law.pace.edu

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