Paterson Signs Executive Order to Reduce New York’s GHG Pollution

The Eagle received the following press release:

Governor David A. Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24 setting a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050.

The Executive Order also creates a Climate Action Council with a directive to prepare a draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change, as well as identify the extent to which such actions support New York’s goals for a clean energy economy.

“Climate change is the most pressing environmental issue of our time. By taking action, we send a signal that New Yorkers will do our share to address the climate crisis and we will do it in a way that creates opportunities for innovation and entrepreneurship to flourish,” said Governor Paterson. “One way we will achieve this goal is by focusing our efforts on a clean energy economy that will create jobs for New Yorkers.”

Governor Paterson has already taken a number of steps to address the climate crisis in New York through innovative, cost-effective policies and programs such as the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI), stricter automobile greenhouse gas emission standards and the “45 by 15” program for expanding efficiency measures and renewable energy. State programs and incentives are working in concert with federal efforts to increase the use of clean energy technologies and to promote emission reductions.

Future climate change will impose significant economic burdens on New York. Heat-related mortality in the New York City metropolitan region could increase by 47 to 95 percent when compared to 1990 levels. New York’s public drinking water supplies may also be compromised by changes in temperature and precipitation. In addition, a warmer climate will adversely affect the state’s crucial dairy production and crops, including grain, apples and potatoes, resulting in a potential increase in the cost of food.

Though it is anticipated that reductions in greenhouse gas emissions will be paramount, the Climate Action Plan will also include adaptation measures that will safeguard people, the environment and our infrastructure from expected climatic changes.

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Electronics Recycling in Gowanus

Through Sept. 30, from 10 a.m.–3 p.m, drop off your used electronic equipment for reuse or environmentally safe recycling, at 88 Ninth St. in Gowanus. For more information, e-mail john@valiant-ny.com or lberrios@perscholas.org.

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Stimulus Funds Given to 'Green' Downtown Brooklyn Buildings

U.S Representatives Ed Towns, Yvette Clarke and Michael McMahon recently announced that the United States General Services Administration (GSA) — an independent management agency of the federal government — has awarded the two historic federal Brooklyn buildings more than $62 million in Recovery and Reinvestment Act (stimulus package) funds: Brooklyn General Post Office and Emanuel Celler U.S. Courthouse.

Read Eagle writer Liz Tung's report here.

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Though CUE is Gone, its Programs Live On

When the Center for the Urban Environment (CUE) abruptly closed its doors earlier this year, questions swirled about the fate of the organization’s educational programs, accumulated from more than 30 years of service.

One such program is CUE’s “Green Brooklyn ... Green City” conference, the fate of which was unknown after the closing of the organization, until now.

The Council on the Environment of New York City (CENYC) recently announced that it would be taking over the conference, which will take place on Sept. 24, from noon to 6 p.m. at Brooklyn Borough Hall.

The mission of “Green Brooklyn ... Green City” is to allow people to learn first-hand about from local experts about the many ways New York City is creating a more sustainable future. The event is the largest of its kind in Brooklyn and instructs attendees about actions they can personally take to lower their own environmental impact.

It will be the fifth year for the event, which last year had more than 60 exhibitors and 10 workshops. This year will be scaled down a bit, with four workshops, says CENYC spokesperson Amanda Gentile. She noted that the reason for less workshops is to "ensure maximum attendance rather than have two running concurrently." There will be exhibitor tables and also on-site recycling and composting.

While topics for all the workshops haven’t been decided yet, one will be about climate change, another about greening your office, and another on food and the importance of buying locally, Gentile noted.

New this year is a daylong sculpture-building demonstration where artist Derick Melander will make sculptures from textiles collected for recycling.

Most importantly, “We’re trying to make this as close to zero waste as possible,” said Gentile. Which means exhibitors won’t be giving out brochures or promotional items. Booths will be more interactive, she added, with attendees signing up for e-news alerts instead of collecting paper materials.

Because the event is on a Thursday, it will run concurrently with the Borough Hall Greenmarket.

“The 5th Annual Green Brooklyn ... Green City conference is a great opportunity to connect city residents with the tools they need to take direct action to improve the environment,” said CENYC Executive Director Marcel Van Ooyen.

“CENYC is known for being a roll-up-your-sleeves kind of organization between our work in community gardens, Greenmarket farmers markets, service learning programs for youth, and grassroots recycling outreach,” he continued. “What better way to dig in than to bring together residents, government agencies, non-profits and green businesses to learn and partner around green initiatives across the city.”

“Green Brooklyn ... Green City” will be a part of NYC Climate Week, which is a week designed to gather business and government leaders from across the world to discuss climate change. The week is from Sept. 21 to 25, 70 days before the UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen.

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Brooklyn Children’s Museum Is Awarded LEED Silver

The Eagle received the following press release: Rafael Vinoly Architects’ expansion of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum, located at the intersection of Brooklyn Avenue and St. Marks Avenue in Crown Heights, has been certified LEED Silver, making it New York City’s first LEED-certified museum.

In addition (as the Eagle has previously reported), it has been awarded a 2009 Building Brooklyn Award in the “Institutional” category from the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce’s Real Estate and Development Committee.

The museum was founded in 1899 and expanded on its current site in 1977. In 1999, it began to seek ways to increase capacity and to create a new public presence for the 21st century. Rafael Vinoly Architects has achieved this by creating a distinctive L-shaped, two story structure that differs from its context in color as well as physical form, yet remains welcoming and deferential to the museum’s existing built fabric.

The plan doubles the museum’s space to 102,000 square feet and is expected to expand its annual visitor capacity from 250,000 to 400,000. The architecture of the new building is compelling and inviting to children, its glittering envelope of 8.1 million yellow ceramic tiles creating a landmark attraction.

Two stories of new construction integrated with the existing structure add a spacious lobby, exhibition galleries, classrooms, a library, a café, a gift shop, and administrative space. Child-friendly features include low-level handrails and porthole windows. Whenever possible, construction utilized rapidly renewable and recycled materials.

The museum is the first in New York City to employ geothermal wells for heating and cooling purposes. “The design of the Brooklyn Children’s Museum is a force for shaping the creativity of young minds,” says Rafael Vinoly. “Its expanded presence in the neighborhood elicits a visceral, instinctive response in children that’s exciting to see.”

Photo by Chuck Choi

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Clearwater Lecture Tonight

Tonight at 7 p.m. at the Waterfront Museum in Red Hook (290 Conover St.), Captain Samantha Heyman and Captain/Shipwright Nicholas Rogers of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater will present "Celebration of the 40th Anniversary of the Launching and Restoration of the historic Hudson Sloop Clearwater."

Launched in 1969 after years of fundraising by singer Pete Seeger, the Clearwater sails the Hudson river, hosting public tours and school groups. The historic vessel's purpose is to educate about New York's waterways and the environment.

Next week, from July 30 to August 2, the Clearwater will be docking in Red Hook. For more information about the lecture or the ship, visit www.waterfrontmuseum.org or www.clearwater.org.

Photo courtesy of the Hudson River Sloop Clearwater.

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Enviromedia Mobile Tours Brooklyn

This summer the Enviromedia Mobile, the "traveling nature and maritime museum on wheels," has been touring Brooklyn. On Saturday it visited Governors Island, and on Sunday it visited IKEA/Erie Basin Park. This photo was taken at Erie Basin Park, and shows Urban Divers members preparing a tipi for the day’s "Urban Trekker Tour 2009." The festival featured a variety of environmentally oriented activities, including an eco-cruise, birds of prey demonstration, catch-and-release fishing, live underwater video exploration and eco activities under the tipi.

Upcoming festival dates are: August 30 and September 27 at Governors Island, August 16 at Valentino Park, August 15 and September 13 at IKEA/Erie Basin Park, and July 26 at Bensonhurst Park. For more information about each day, visit www.urbandivers.org.

Photo by Mary Frost

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