Energy Innovation for a Clean Future - The Carbon Dividend Act and Alternatives

 The world is in a climate emergency and action is needed immediately! Carbon pricing is one measure that many experts and activists believe can be implemented quickly and can dramatically lower carbon emissions. But how does it work? Mary Garton, of the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, will discuss the role of national carbon pricing in achieving our emissions goals on the international, national, and local levels; the status of carbon pricing legislation right now; and how this type of policy mechanism can be a progressive way to help communities transition to a cleaner energy world. Missy Stultz, Sustainability and Innovations Manager at the City of Ann Arbor, will give us the local perspective, including upcoming city millages to fund the City’s goal of net zero emissions by 2030.

SPEAKERS

Mary Garton is a nurse and educator, now retired. She is involved in climate action at the local, state, and national levels, but focuses on at the national level. Ms. Garton has participated in 28 lobby meetings with 15 different members of Congress or their legislative aides, both on Capitol Hill and here in-district. She has been active with Citizens Climate Lobby for 4 ½ years, and believes, like they do, that the best way to fight one’s own climate anxiety is to actively work towards a viable solution.

 Dr. Missy Stults is the Sustainability and Innovations Manager for the City of Ann Arbor. In this role, she works with all city operations, residents, businesses, the University of Michigan, nonprofits, and others to make Ann Arbor one of the most sustainable and equitable cities in America and to implement the A2ZERO Carbon Neutrality Plan. Prior to joining the Ann Arbor city staff, Missy worked with cities and tribal communities around the nation to advance their climate and sustainability goals, including during her time as the Climate Director at ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability and as a consultant to philanthropic organizations. Dr. Stults has a PhD in Urban Resilience from the University of Michigan, a Masters in Climate and Society from Columbia University, and undergraduate degrees in Marine Biology and Environmental Science from the University of New England.

 Citizens' Climate Lobby is a grassroots, non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to create the political will for a livable world.  Thousands of volunteers across the country build respectful relationships with their members of Congress to advocate for effective national policies to address climate change, believing that bipartisan support is essential for creating durable climate policy.  CCL volunteers have been promoting a proposal called carbon fee and