Decatur Kickoff of Statewide Global Warming Town Hall Series Is Huge Success
Attracts Much Attention from Local Residents, Legislators and Media
About 80 Decatur residents showed up June 24 to hear a nationally known climate change expert and two local legislators discuss global warming and how to solve the problem at an IEC-sponsored town hall meeting at the Decatur Public Library. The two-hour public forum, “Climate Change: How Does It Affect Decatur?” featured a presentation by University of Illinois Atmospheric Science Professor Don Wuebbles and appearances by State Reps. Bob Flider and Bill Mitchell.
The Illinois Environmental Council Education Fund (IECEF) and Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) are seeking a Membership Coordinator.
Responsibilities:
• Manage membership development program, including maintaining member database and overseeing membership mailings.
• Serve as point person for relationships with member organizations.
• Engage in outreach and organizing, including travel throughout Illinois.
• Support and maintain statewide activist network.
• Assist with other...
Global Warming Goes Local at Town Hall Series Around Illinois
Community Groups, Legislators and Experts to Meet with Local Voters
Soaring asthma rates. Skyrocketing gas prices. Shifting gardening zones. They’re all related to climate change.
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) is providing a forum to discuss how these diverse problems are connected to global warming and what Illinois residents can do to help solve them at a series of town hall meetings around the state this summer.
The first in the series, “Climate Change: How Does It Affect Decatur?” will take place Tuesday, June 24, at 6:30 p.m. at the J...
95th Illinois General Assembly Adjourns With Little to Show in 2008
As the dust settles from what turned out to be a long-winded and unproductive legislative session, the Illinois Environmental Council has been assessing the progress made (or damage done) on some 60 pieces of legislation it’s been tracking throughout the last six months. Unfortunately, only four environmental bills eventually got passed, and only one of those originated from the environmental community. It was a do-nothing session right down to the wire, and much important legislation got...
Illinois Clean Cars Act Idles in the House as Poll Shows 90% of Illinois Residents Want More Fuel-Efficient Vehicles
With gas prices at well over $4 a gallon as the summer travel season looms, Illinois residents want cleaner, more fuel-efficient cars even if they cost more, according to a recent poll, but legislation that could make such vehicles available has stalled in the Illinois House.
In a recent statewide poll conducted May 22 by InTouch,* a remarkable 90% of people surveyed said they support legislation pending in Springfield that would require automakers to produce cars that would pollute less...
Report Shows Billion-Dollar Benefit in Clean Cars Legislation
If lawmakers pass the Illinois Clean Cars Act currently under debate in Springfield, the state’s drivers will see fuel cost savings of approximately $1.24 billion annually above and beyond savings from the federal Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) program, according to a new report by Environment Illinois that was released at a press conference April 14. The federal CAFE program raises the average miles per gallon for the nation’s car fleet to 35 by 2020, while the Illinois Clean Cars Act...
Illinois House Passes Bill for Mercury Thermostat Collection
House Bill 5348, sponsored by Rep. Naomi Jakobsson, passed the House unanimously today. The bill creates a program to collect and recycle mercury containing thermostats. Last year Illinois banned the sale of new mercury thermostats, and this bills addresses the problem of thermostats that are currently installed in homes and other buildings.
Each mercury thermostat contains as much as 3 grams of mercury, enough to contaminate a 60 acre lake and all of its fish. The Illinois EPA estimates...
In a show of force not seen in years, about 150 citizen lobbyists converged on the state’s capitol April 2 to speak to their legislators face-to-face about global warming and other environmental concerns. Organized by the IEC and member groups including Faith in Place, Sierra Club and Environment Illinois, Environment Day at the Capitol revived an old tradition and was a huge success.
Upon arriving in Springfield, the volunteers were trained in the basics of lobbying and then split up...
New Coalition Says Illinois CAN Reduce Global Warming
Cleaner Cars Will Pave the Way
The Illinois Climate Action Network -- Illinois CAN -- a new broad-based coalition of environmental, conservation and faith organizations aimed at combating global warming, debuted April 1 with a Springfield press conference calling for clean cars legislation.
The Illinois Clean Cars Act (HB 3424 / SB 2238) would significantly benefit both the environment and the health of the state’s residents. Modeled after California’s Pavley Law and similar laws in a dozen other states, the Act sets...
Illinois Environmental Council Announces 2008 Priority Issues and Honors Legislators with Top Voting Records in 2007
The Illinois Environmental Council (IEC) outlined a policy agenda for tackling five critical environmental issues, including a new focus on global warming, and took stock of...
