Climate Education & Action Committee (CEAC)

3rd Annual Morgan Hill Earth Day Festival

Our 3^rd annual Morgan Hill Earth Day Festival on Saturday April 20, 2024 is set to be another fantastic success. We are pleased to be partnering with the City of Morgan Hill, and are grateful to all of our members who are working diligently on the creation, promotion and production of this community event.

The variety of businesses and non-profits who participate in our Earth Day Festival make this day a fun way for all ages to learn more about caring for our endangered environment. From the popular Fleurs plant sale to Bike Therapy’s “bike clinic” to the electric cars, food trucks and lively activities for children, there will be something to engage all attendees.

You’ll enjoy live entertainers, door prizes, and learn more about caring for Mother Earth from a variety of dedicated experts on the topic.

SAVE THE DATE: Saturday, April 2o, 2024 for another amazing Earth Day Festival!

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There is a well-established link between climate change and gender inequity. Women and girls are disproportionately more likely than men to suffer adverse effects of climate change through increased rates of miscarriages, homelessness, sexual violence, trauma and death.

Based on these indisputable facts, the mission of the CEAC is to advance gender equity for women and girls through Climate Education and Action. When we improve the lives of women and girls, we improve the lives of all.

Climate Education
- get educated on carbon and how it affects our climate
- learn about economics, innovations, renewable energy and more
- discover how women and girls are disproportionately affected
- find other organizations with similar goals and what they do

Climate Action
- search out other organizations with similar goals and learn from what they do
- learn the most effective ways to get involved
- push for legislation focused on the climate crisis

‘‘CODE RED” That’s the warning coming from the IPCC (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) Unless there are “immediate, rapid, and large-scale reductions in greenhouse gas emissions” we will not be able to keep climate warming to 1.5 degrees centigrade or less.

That means more melting ice, higher sea levels, more heatwaves and other extreme weather. What follows are greater impacts on food security, health, the environment, and sustainable development. Women and girls will see the greatest impact as they populate the areas that are most vulnerable.

While some may feel powerless with this ominous scene of the future, Morgan Hill AAUW members, having activism in their blood, feel empowered to take it on. From women’s suffrage, civil rights, pay equity and more, we don’t back away from a challenge.

Climate News & Ideas

Your Home

Save Money With Lower Utility Bills

BayREN is working to create an energy efficient Bay Area. Learn how to create energy-efficient homes and buildings. Bay REN’s advisors will guide you through upgrades and rebates every step of the way, at no cost.

Home and Building Electrification

Our group has met recently with Debbie Mytels from FossilFreeBuildings.org. We also discussed with Tanya Carothers, head of environmental services in Morgan Hill, how our committee can get involved in moving Morgan Hill closer to decarbonizing existing homes and buildings. While all new buildings are now required to be fully electric, older homes and building are not. It is these structures that continue to be the source of methane (natural gas) causing our planet to continue to warm. The city is open to our getting involved and, thanks to Debbie Mytels from Fossil Free Buildings, we will have experienced volunteers to work with. See Morgan Hill’s Climate Plans.

Heat Pumps

A major step in converting to all electric is replacing your gas furnace with a heat pump. Watch a youtube video on how they work. Learn how to take advantage of rebates and tax credits.

California Policy Updates

California has committed to selling only electric vehicles by 2035.

Plant a New Tree Every 11 Days

Imagine using your internet searches to help capture carbon. You can take action today and switch your default search engine to Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees. For every 45 searches you make, Ecosia’s team plants a tree where it’s both needed and will thrive. Your search result quality won’t change at all, but your impact will. The average person makes four searches each day. At that rate, you could be responsible for a tree being planted every 11 days.Imagine the difference that could make. Now, multiply it by the 100 people you can influence online–spread the word. Make your internet searching carbon negative by clicking here.

CLIMATE ACTION & EDUCATION RESOUCES

We are collecting and adding to a list of resources for you. These include both information on what you as an individual can do and ways you can engage with your elected officials to effect change.

CLIMATE ACTION & EDUCATION RESOUCES

The more we learn, the more we realize that there are things that can be done and how we are able to contribute. Our reality goes from ignoring the problem because it is so daunting, to one of expanding our knowledge and sharing it with others. Get involved, expand your mind, make new friends, and be part of the solution!

This is an active committee, meeting once or twice a month at a member’s home or on zoom. Meetings are all composed of an education component and an action component. Actions, such as our annual Earth Day Festival and interaction with city staff, are focused locally. To get involved or provide resources to this AAUW Morgan Hill public policy initiative, please contact Margaret at climate@aauwmh.org.

AAUW Climate & Education Committee Annual Earth Day Festival

See below for photos from our 2nd annual Earth Day Festival. We enjoyed live entertainers, had loads of fun giving away colorful spring flowers and other prizes, and we valued all that we learned about caring for Mother Earth from a variety of dedicated experts on the topic.