{"id":14500,"date":"2020-08-04T15:50:54","date_gmt":"2020-08-04T19:50:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/?p=14500"},"modified":"2020-08-04T15:50:56","modified_gmt":"2020-08-04T19:50:56","slug":"towards-an-equitable-net-zero-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/towards-an-equitable-net-zero-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Paving the Way Towards an Equitable, Net-Zero Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"
Photo \u00a9<\/em> Rishi Jain.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Last week the Massachusetts House passed our priority climate bill, An Act creating a 2050 roadmap to a clean and thriving Commonwealth <\/em>(H.4912)<\/a>. The bill includes critical language highlighting the role of natural and working lands in reaching net zero emissions, as well as protections for frontline communities. This action brings us one step closer to making an equitable carbon neutral future a reality. Here\u2019s why: <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Don\u2019t Have to Wait for Technology <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Climate solutions already exist all around us. Take a look outside your window, and you\u2019ll probably see a critical tool that\u2019ll help ensure we can reach net zero carbon emissions by 2050. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s right. Nature is an indispensable ally in our collective climate fight. Not only does nature make us more resilient to climate impacts like heat, floods, and droughts, it also can help us prevent some of the worst impacts altogether.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forests, farms, and wetlands, for example, soak up rampant carbon dioxide like a sponge \u2013 removing excess greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change from our atmosphere. This removal process, along with limiting the burning of fossil fuels, is a climate mitigation strategy: it addresses the crisis at its roots by reducing the net amount of emissions that remain in the atmosphere.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Climate Mitigation and a Net Zero Carbon Future Go Hand in Hand <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Natural climate solutions are crucial mitigation tools for reaching our 2050 net zero goal. It\u2019s up to us to make sure that we urgently utilize them to tackle climate change.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As amended, the 2050 Roadmap<\/em> bill makes natural climate solutions a priority for achieving carbon neutrality statewide. It requires the state to measure the carbon stored by and released from natural and working lands across Massachusetts, and create a plan for increasing those absorption levels while reducing carbon emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Safeguarding Our Future for People and Wildlife Alike <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The amended 2050 Roadmap<\/em> bill also formalizes a definition of environmental justice, which will help ensure equitable access to future environmental decision making. Environmental injustices and climate impacts are disproportionately harming<\/a> low-income communities and communities of color, and the bill establishes long overdue protections to address these disparities.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We Have a Part to Play in our Collective Climate Fight <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Mass Audubon is dedicated to boldly acting on climate change so that we can protect both our communities and our wildlife. As one of the largest conservation nonprofits in New England, we see the value of nature<\/a> firsthand every day, especially in solving the climate crisis.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019ve been advocating<\/a> for the 2050 Roadmap<\/em> bill all session, and we\u2019re excited to see it making progress. Right now, we\u2019re thanking legislators that supported it, and you can, too<\/a>. Next, the bill will head to a conference committee where we\u2019ll continue pushing for its passage. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We don\u2019t have time to wait. Our future is one we must work to protect right now \u2013 and nature can help us pave the way towards equitable carbon neutrality. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week the Massachusetts House passed our priority climate bill, An Act creating a 2050 roadmap to a clean and thriving Commonwealth (H.4912). The bill includes critical language highlighting the role of natural and working lands in reaching net zero emissions, as well as protections for frontline communities. This action brings us one step closer to making an equitable carbon neutral future a reality. Here\u2019s why:  We Don\u2019t Have to Wait for Technology  Climate solutions already exist all around […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":126,"featured_media":14502,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2,178],"tags":[18,355,150,358,357,356],"class_list":["post-14500","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-advocacy-2","category-climate","tag-advocacy","tag-climate-advocacy","tag-climate-change","tag-environmental-justice","tag-natural-solutions","tag-success-story"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2020\/08\/1185rishijain4121.jpg","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p3t87A-3LS","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17459,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/february-climate-champions-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":14500,"position":0},"title":"February Climate Champions Update\u00a0","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"February 8, 2023","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Champions\u202fis a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate change\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2023\/02\/Ipswich-River-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17354,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/december-climate-champions-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":14500,"position":1},"title":"December Climate Champions Update","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"December 6, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Champions is a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Kevin Izzo Selfie","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/12\/Kevin-Izzo-750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17221,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/climate-champions-fall-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":14500,"position":2},"title":"Climate Champions Fall Update","author":"Hillary T.","date":"October 10, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"This spring, we launched Climate Champions, a grassroots network of volunteers working together to speak with one collective, powerful voice. 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Here\u2019s what happened on the federal and state level and what this means for our efforts to meet our advocacy campaign goal of securing $1 billion in new public funding for nature and climate.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 In just the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"pic of the state house and a sign in front that says change","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/08\/statehouse.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":17282,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/november-climate-champions-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":14500,"position":4},"title":"November Climate Champions Update","author":"Mass Audubon","date":"November 7, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Climate Champions is a Mass Audubon grassroots volunteer program to advocate for policies that advance nature-based climate solutions. With training from policy experts, Climate Champions advocate for local and state policies that help achieve the state\u2019s goal to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 and\u202freverse negative health impacts of climate\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Advocacy"","block_context":{"text":"Advocacy","link":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/category\/advocacy-2\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg?resize=525%2C300&ssl=1 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2022\/11\/Diane-Juhas750.jpg?resize=700%2C400&ssl=1 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":14913,"url":"https:\/\/blogs.massaudubon.org\/yourgreatoutdoors\/paris-agreement-whats-next\/","url_meta":{"origin":14500,"position":5},"title":"Leaving the Paris Agreement: What\u2019s Next?","author":"Rishya N.","date":"November 11, 2020","format":false,"excerpt":"Mass Audubon Ipswich River wildlife sanctuary \u00a9 Jared Leeds Born from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change\u2019s\u00a021st summit, the Paris Agreement pledges to keep global temperature rise below\u00a02 degrees Celsius.\u00a0This agreement\u00a0was pivotal, demonstrating international dedication to collectively reducing and mitigating the effects of climate change. 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