import wixWindow from 'wix-window'; import wixLocation from 'wix-location'; function open_Lightbox(){ let query = wixLocation.query; var goto = query.name; wixWindow.openLightbox(goto); } $w.onReady(function () { open_Lightbox(); });
top of page
Energy, Environment, and Climate Justice Workshop
Energy, Environment, and Climate Justice Workshop

Wed, May 14

|

Library

Energy, Environment, and Climate Justice Workshop

Join us in the Library for a seven-part series on climate and environmental justice, exploring global and local impacts and actions. Monthly sessions meet on the second Wednesday at 7:30 pm from October to May. All are welcome to attend any session.

Time & Location

5 more dates

May 14, 2025, 7:30 PM – 9:00 PM

Library, 404 Concord Ave, Belmont, MA 02478, USA

About The Event

A seven-part series that will pose and address core ethical and spiritual questions, including:


How do we understand justice in three different issue areas--energy, environment, and climate, not only in the US but also across regions globally?


How do the different forms of justice, from procedural and distributive to restorative (or corrective), help to illustrate the injustices with regard to energy, environment, and climate, and point to just policy responses?


Discuss complementary principles – the polluter pays, protecting future generations, ensuring subsistence rights, responsible use of the atmosphere’s absorptive capacity


How are US federal and state governments responding to energy, environment, and climate injustices? What more needs to be done in Belmont, Massachusetts, and the US as a whole?


What are the broad global and specific regional emerging effects of global warming on peoples and societies, especially with regard to justice?


What are the justice implications of global warming for vulnerable groups in the Amazon, Sub-Saharan Africa, and South Asia?


 How are communities, societies, and global organizations responding to these implications?


How do responses to injustices in Belmont, Boston, and Massachusetts compare with those of other cities and states?


What might we consider doing as individuals or as an FCB community? 



You do not have to attend all sessions; each session stands alone. The classes will meet on the second Wednesday of each month; Jan. 8, Feb. 12, March 12, April 9, and May 14. The first two sessions are on the 3rd Wednesday of October and November.



Course plan for the seven meetings --- In the spirit of UU principle 7 – Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, (To discuss - How does principle 1 - “The inherent worth and dignity of each individual” relate to principle 7) The reason for 90-minute meetings is to emphasize discussion over presentations, e.g. presentations of 30 minutes with 60 minutes for discussions



1. What are Energy, Environment, and Climate Justice (and injustice) from the local to the global? Dave Deese: Energy – poverty; racism; de-colonialization; just transition; Environment – racism; vulnerable communities; divestment, keep it in the ground, regulating the production, transport & use of fuels; Climate - intergenerational equity, intragenerational equity, common but differentiated responsibilities, collective responsibility for ensuring vulnerable countries and peoples have the right to develop



2. The US Issues, Problems, and Corrections – local to national


Illustrative recent actions – 2021 Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and Chips and Science Act, 2022 Inflation Reduction Act with Justice 40 Initiative & Justice Advisory Council


Key justice steps for Belmont, Boston, and Massachusetts


Brian Kopperl (invited) to address Belmont; Downing Cless (invoted) to explain 350.org and the state of Mass; David Deese to outline key national challenges & steps taken



3. The Global South (Less and Least Developed Countries) Issues, (beginning with global health implications of uneven global warming) Programs, and Responses Guest - Professor/Dr Phil Landrigan



3. Regional responses-Brazil & the Amazon


Indigenous peoples’ rights, preferences, & responses


Guest- Angelo Gurgel, MIT (Brazilian agricultural economist)



4. Regions-Sub-Saharan Africa


Protecting & advancing women & girls’ progress in education, health, employment Guest – School of Public Health, Harvard University



5. Regions—South Asia


Sustaining coastal peoples & communities


Guest – from India to address climate migrants and refugees



6. Responses—Global Programs and Efforts from networks of cities to the UN Climate COPs (including migration and refugees). David Deese



  1. Issues & responses— We are individually, decarbonizing our building, Belmont, Boston, Mass, and New England


Guest – Faythe Beauchemin, School of Education, Boston College


 


How do we teach our children and grandchildren about our and their relationship to nature and the environment? How about the use of energy and natural resources?


David Deese: Making energy decisions that promote core justice principles—availability, affordability, due process, open access to information and participation


Core climate principles—sustainability over the long term, intergenerational equity, intragenerational equity, common but differentiated responsibilities


Global per capita entitlement tax, global carbon tax, global carbon auction market, minimum subsistence rights worldwide


The known steps to a net zero future


What are the three to five steps we each might take that will have the greatest climate outcomes, e.g. take one fewer long-distance flight/year?

Share This Event

bottom of page