Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Network
Welcome..
The Hudson Valley Climate Solutions Network is an informal group of educators, advocates, strategists, opinion leaders and citizens committed to scaling up the solutions identified in Project Drawdown, educating adults and young people, and connecting important campaigns throughout the region.
“Project Drawdown is the world’s leading source of climate solutions. It is shifting the larger global conversation on climate change from “doom and gloom” to a sense of opportunity, possibility, and hope for the future.” https://www.drawdown.org/
The Climate Solutions Presentations
Choose One of These Presentations by Knowledgeable Hudson Valley Residents to Support your Climate Change Programming.
Click here for a list of presentations available.
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To book a program, contact the presenter directly.
Their contact information can be found following the program description.
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The Climate Solutions Presentations
Creating Climate Courage
Facilitator: Sean Dague Citizens Climate Lobby
Touches on past economic transitions, climate change impacts in the north east, a visioning exercise on what a decarbonized world looks like, then diving into policy with the Energy Innovation and Carbon Dividend Act (federal bill HR763) it’s impacts in getting us to 90% emissions reduction by 2050, and how to create climate courage in ourselves and our representatives to pass meaningful legislation.
Contact: 845.401.0719, sean@dague.net
Audience: Adult
Program Length: 1 hour (45 min content + Q&A)
Location: Hudson Valley region
Fee: None
Reversing Global Warming: Introduction to Drawdown
Facilitator: Joseph Montuori, Sustainable Putnam, Chappaqua Central Schools
Participants will learn the concepts and opportunities of Project Drawdown, a new science-based paradigm that will reverse — not just slow down — global warming by 2050. Drawdown is a book, a website, and a movement. Learn more at Drawdown.org. All are welcome.
Contact: 845.612.6029, josephmontuori@gmail.com
Audience: Adult
Program Length: 2 hours
Location: Putnam County
Fee: None
Reversing Global Warming: Drawdown and the Road Map to Empower Your Community
Facilitator: Melissa Everett, Sustainable Hudson Valley Executive Director
Project Drawdown is a comprehensive yet accessible point of entry into a newly energized movement to reverse global warming over a generation. The Exponential Climate Action Road Map is a companion tool that tells us how much progress humanity needs to make, year by year. Drawdown is a NY Times bestselling environmental book, a movement, and an expert network that supports creative action in our communities and workplaces. The situation is serious – and so are we! “Game over?” asks Drawdown. “No! Game on!” This presentation outlines the Drawdown solutions, the Road Map pathway, and the tremendous range of actions already underway in the Hudson Valley that you can get involved in.
Contact: 845.514.8567, everett@sustainhv.org
Audience: Adult
Program Length: 1.5 – 2 hours
Location: any
Fee: Donation requested, flexible
Drawdown: Create
Facilitator: Melissa Everett, Sustainable Hudson Valley and Dorna Schroeter, Biomimicry Institute
A special presentation and conversation on the power of Project Drawdown to generate creative climate solutions and foster the creative process that builds a productive movement. The 100 scientifically vetted climate solutions of Drawdown alongside the essential timeline provided by the Exponential Climate Action Road Map, and then discuss two key dimensions: the communications strategy of engaging the imagination, and the design strategies offered by the emerging practice of biomimicry.
Contact: Melissa Everett 845.514.8567, everett@sustainhv.org
Dorna Schroeter 845.332.9954, dornaschroeter@gmail.com
Audience: MS, HS, Adults
Program Length: 45 – 60 minutes
Location: Hudson Valley region
Fee: Negotiable
Biomimicry: Using Nature Brilliance to Solve Human Problems
Facilitator: Dorna Schroeter, Retired Coordinator, PNW BOCES Center for Environmental Education, Sustainability and Biomimicry Educator
Do you know the connection between a $100 bill and a beetle? If not, come learn about Biomimicry and how scientists, engineers, designers, and even the fashion industry are studying nature’s best ideas and mimicking them to solve problems they are facing! Biomimicry will be part of many jobs that today’s children will have when they are adults! Participants will participate in a game that asks them to match organisms with bio‐inspired products. Actual bio-inspired products, currently available on the market, will be used in the presentation and available to examine.
Contact: 848.332.9954, dornaschroeter@gmail.com
Audience: 5th grade – adult
Program Length: 60 – 75 minutes
Location: Putnam, Dutchess, Ulster, Green, Columbia Counties
Fee: Negotiable
Schools As A Springboard For Climate Action
Facilitator: Krystal Ford, Schools for Climate Action, Youth Climate Summits
An overview of the different ways we can use schools to address climate change: Passing Climate Change resolutions, hosting youth climate summits, and getting schools to make the commitment to 100% renewable energy. Real life examples of what’s been accomplished at the Garrison Union Free k-8 school
Contact: 845.214.5441, krystalv@gmail.com
Audience: MS, HS, Adults
Program Length: 45 – 60 min
Location: Hudson Valley region
Fee: Negotiable
Strengthening STEM education for a Just Transition
Facilitator: Gregory I. Simpson, Ph.D., Learning for Life Solutions LLC
Creating future economic opportunities for middle and high school students means encouraging creativity, harnessing passions and strengthening their STEM skills. This three-hour workshop and dialogue encourage and empowers students to see themselves in the complexity of climate change in two ways. The first as drivers of innovation and creative solutions. Second as confident leaders armed with the tools to access the knowledge, they need to solve any environmental or ecological challenge they choose. The primary goal is for participants to understand the education system more broadly and from where they sit and to help students chart a collective path to planetary security.
Contact: 347.579.6648, gsimpson@L4Lsolutions.com
Audience: Parents and students (MS, HS)
Program Length: 1 – 3 hours
Location: Ulster County
Fee: Negotiable
Young Voices for the Planet Adult & Youth Programs
Facilitator: Lynne Cherry, Young Voices for the Planet
Lynne Cherry is a best selling, award-winning children’s book author/illustrator of such classics as The Great Kapok Tree and A River Ran Wild, a climate communicator and the producer/director of the award-winning Young Voices for the Planet films, now on PBS. Lynne founded YVFP with the knowledge that youth, who will bear the brunt of climate disruption, can inform and influence their peers and their communities.
Youth Program: Young people students are likely seeing youth successes in the news and asking, “What can I do to make a difference?” Though they may be too young to vote, like the role models in the films, young people students can change minds, change laws and change the world with your guidance. Learn to unleash their power and creativity through the YVFP films and Curriculum – and especially the YVFP ACTION plan.
Adult Program: Lynne speaks about the psychology of climate messaging and how, as an environmental children’s book author/illustrator, she realized the importance of teaching with hope rather than doom and gloom. She will introduce “motivated avoidance” and positive messaging, the pedagogy of the YVFP for the Planet films exemplified in Albert Bandura’s research on social modeling.
Contact: 202.657.9497, youngvoicesforplanet@gmail.com
Audience: ES, MS, HS, and adult
Program Length: 45 minutes – 1 hour
Location: Hudson Valley
Fee: negotiable
Lessons From Nature: Informing Business, Planning, And Life
Facilitator: Jodi Smits Anderson
An education and work session to understand some of the simplest, yet most powerful, lessons from Nature’s many millennia of self-education. Big ideas such as resilience, diversity, essence of place, redundancy and more can help you to plan your green building project, your business strategies, or your approach to working, playing, and living.
Contact: 518.229.3215, greenerjsa@gmail.com
Audience: Kids to adult
Program Length: 45 minutes – 2 hours
Location: Albany County…and some beyond
Fee: travel and negotiable
Communication to Create Better Outcomes
Facilitator: Jodi Smits Anderson
So often we tackle problems without understanding them, and in doing this we create new problems with our ill formed solutions. Learn how to engage a group to discover more about the issue at hand, understand the systemic, nested systems, and co-create powerful and long-lasting solutions that are truly needed. Includes simple word usage shifts to process changes for meetings. Applicable to planning groups, designers, teachers, communication.
Contact: 518.229.3215, greenerjsa@gmail.com
Audience: Kids to adult
Program Length: 45 minutes – 2 hours
Location: Albany County…and some beyond
Fee: travel and negotiable
The Cynical Optimists Guide to Resilience
Facilitator: Jodi Smits Anderson
What does this all means? Let’s talk about the core principles of resilience and how to create this long-term foresight in every decision, each project. Simple concepts. Some humor included.
Contact: 518.229.3215, greenerjsa@gmail.com
Audience: Teen to adult
Program Length: 1 hour
Location: Albany County…and some beyond
Fee: travel and negotiable
What’s NYS Up To Regarding Climate?
Facilitator: Jodi Smits Anderson
An overview of NY state work on sustainability, resilience and GHG emissions reductions. How we are leading, and the effort it takes. This talk will include an overview of NY state endeavors including resources for use by the general public.
Contact: 518.229.3215, greenerjsa@gmail.com
Audience: Can be geared to MS through adult. Well suited for municipalities, town boards, etc.
Program Length: 1-2 hours
Location: Albany County…and some beyond
Fee: travel and negotiable
Breaking Down Barriers to Clean Energy:
Making Solar Easy & Affordable for All New Yorkers
Facilitator: Kris Hrycun, SunCommon
Learn how solar works, what it looks like and the diverse clean energy options available to New Yorkers such as: Community Solar Arrays, Home Energy Storage, Solar Canopies in addition to residential and commercial roof and ground mount systems.
Contact: 845.475.4065, kris.hrycun@suncommon.com
Audience: Adult or kids (can modify discussion as needed and provide educational learning kit to demonstrate
Program Length: 1 – 2 hours
Location: Dutchess County (Contact me for SunCommon referrals to host in Albany Capital District, Greene, Columbia, Ulster, Orange and Rockland Counties!)
Clean Energy Stock Market Investing
Facilitator: Tom Konrad, Ph.D., CFA. AltEnergyStocks.com
Stock market tips from a seasoned clean energy investor and author. Content can be customized to audience.
Contact: 845.493.0312, tom@altenergystocks.com
Audience: Adult
Program Length: 1+ hours
Location: Ulster County
Fee: Negotiable/ Sliding scale
Making Renewable Energy and Efficiency An Economic Driver for Your Town
Facilitator: Tom Konrad, Ph.D., CFA. AltEnergyStocks.com
Innovative municipal strategies that cost nothing and/or help your municipality’s bottom line.
Contact: 845.493.0312, tom@altenergystocks.com
Audience: Adult
Program Length: 20min-2 hours
Location: Ulster County
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