Next week, the EPA is holding hearings in Atlanta on the standards to reduce climate pollution from existing power plants announced in June. These unprecedented standards would regulate CO2 emissions from existing power plants. This plan is a necessary step in the move to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the country.

To show support for this historic action, the Sierra Club is organizing a regional rally at the EPA’s hearing on the new climate action at Woodruff Park in Atlanta on Tuesday, July 29, beginning at noon in Woodruff Park. The hearings will take place on July 29 and 30 at the Sam Nunn Atlanta Federal Center, Main Tower Bridge Conference Area, Conference Room B, 61 Forsyth Street, SW, Atlanta

Click Here for more info and to RSVP for the Sierra Club rally. We would like to see a huge turnout from GCCC to show overwhelming support for climate action by the EPA.

Need a ride? Let us know (info@georgiaclimatecoalition.org) and we’ll try to coordinate car-pools to the event.

Can’t make it next week? Click here for several ways to send a comment to the EPA.

Prefer ice cream? The Climate Reality Project will also be in Atlanta for the hearings and handing out free Ben and Jerry’s. Click here for info and locations.

Georgia River Network and Upper Oconee River Network are sponsoring EARTHFEST 2014 at Terrapin Brewery on Thursday, April 24th from 5:15-7:30pm. Come learn about upcoming events and ways to get involved from these eco-friendly local non-profits:

ACC Stormwater
ACC Leisure Services
Athens Farmers Market
Bike Athens
Broad River Watershed Association
Environmental Law Association
Georgia Bikes
Georgia Climate Change Coalition
Keep Athens Clarke County Beautiful
Oconee River Audubon Society
Oconee River Land Trust
SORBA
State Botanical Garden of Georgia
UGA EcoReach Club
UGA Environmental Health Sciences Club
UGA Office of Sustainability
UGA Students for Environmental Action
Upper Oconee Greenway Commission

RSVP at the Facebook Event Page

As an Earth Day celebration, the Georgia Climate Change Coalition we will host a Rally on April 22 from 5:30 - 7:30 pm at the Athens Clarke County Courthouse.

At “Earth Day Rally - Go Green ACC,” speakers will present and discuss a series of green initiatives that GCCC, our guests, and coalition partners would like to present to the Athens Clarke County Commission. (The priority initiatives will be drawn from the results of the GCCC 2014 Earth Day Survey, so take it now!)

One example: that ACC begin installing solar panels on their government buildings and structures - slowly but steadily - and serve as a “Go Green” model on energy use for our entire community.

There are other initiatives - yours and ours. Let us explore them on April 22. If you wish to speak (5-7 minutes worth) about your work and your priorities for “Go Green ACC,” please drop us a line at info@georgiaclimatecoalition.org .

Program by Rich Rusk, Secretary, Georgia Climate Change Coalition

Friday, February 21, 2014, 1:00 - 2:15 PM
River’s Crossing - 850 College Station Rd., Athens, GA 30602
1 session - $8 plus parking

Recently trained by Al Gore and his Climate Reality Project, Rich will blend Mr. Gore’s riveting and inspirational slides on climate change with his personal journey facing Vietnam’s carnage and his father’s role as secretary of state. “I learned how NOT to deal with Inconvenient Truths,” said Rich. An avid fly fisher and climate activist, Rich’s work with fellow Trout Unlimited fishers offers clues on rallying Americans at the grass roots. “Climate change threatens not only our trout and salmon, but the planet’s ecology and everything we hold dear in life.” Rich hopes to trigger vigorous discussion AND engagement.

Born in 1946, Rich joined the Marines after high school in D.C., studied political science at Cornell, then lived 14 years in Nome, Alaska where he fished for salmon, built houses, taught in Eskimo schools and co-founded a weekly newspaper. Moving to Athens in 1984 to co-author his dad’s memoirs (Dean Rusk), he married the former Janice Turner, did civil rights work and now focuses on climate change. Why? “Four kids and fly fishing.” Now active with Trout Unlimited, Sierra Club, 350.Org and the Athens-based Georgia Climate Change Coalition, Rich hopes to reach out to more conservative Americans. “To take global warming seriously, millions of our fellow citizens will need more than Sixties-era protest.”

For a guaranteed seat, pre-register at www.olli.uga.edu.