Canada’s Student Energy, plus SailGP–the world’s first climate positive sport. Indigenous women demand financial institutions stop extraction investing, and listeners’ call to action!
Canada’s Student Energy, SailGP, Indigenous Women Demand Financial Institutions Stop Extraction Investing, Listeners’ Call To Action
CANADA’S STUDENT ENERGY
Student Energy is a Calgary-based, global youth-led organization whose mission is to empower the next generation of leaders accelerating the transition to a sustainable, equitable energy future. The group launched with its first Student Energy Summit in 2009, and has since built up a network of 50,000 young people from over 120 countries.
Student Energy collaborates with governments, companies, and organizations to facilitate meaningful youth engagement and mobilize resources to support youth-led energy solutions.
The group recently announced two big initiatives. The first is Student Energy Ventures, a direct-to-youth funding model that breaks down traditional barriers to clean energy entrepreneurship and clean energy project development. To kick start the program, Student Energy welcomed Prairies Economic Development Canada (PrairiesCan) as a lead supporter of the initiative, providing a federal investment of CAD$500,000 to enable a series of youth-led clean energy projects across Western Canada.
The second is the Global Youth Energy Outlook. Student Energy is developing the first ever global report that outlines what young people from around the world want to see in their ideal energy future, and we’d like to hear from you! Visit bit.ly/SE-GYEO to participate in a short survey – you’ll have a chance to win a full bursary to attend the next International Student Energy Summit, or one of several cash prizes.
You just have to be a young person between the age of 18-30. Why does Student Energy matter to us? Generational impact. Its alumni have gone on to develop and implement renewable energy technologies, run for political office, advise the United Nations, and work with the largest energy companies on the planet to push for a clean energy future.
DEEPER DIVE: Student Energy, GYE Survey, “Beyond Climate Change”
SAILGP, CLAIMS TO BE THE WORLD’S FIRST CLIMATE POSITIVE SPORT
SailGP is a global sailing league co-founded by Larry Ellison, co-founder, CTO, and former CEO of Oracle. Its mission is to be carbon positive. SailGP says it has removed over 50,000 tons of CO2 from the atmosphere. This is the equivalent of taking almost 11,000 cars off the road for a whole year.
Sailing is powered by nature (sun, wind, water), but SailGP says the marine industry is lagging behind the auto industry in terms of sustainability and innovative tech because fewer people own boats, which means there are fewer consumers to lobby for sustainable practices.
Each SailGP season includes 8 races across the world, with a prize of $1 million for the winners. The next race will be may 14th-15th ?? in Bermuda. SailGP calculated its “carbon positive” status through “an initial carbon inventory, subsequent action plan, and pretty laborious carbon tracking and external auditing by an independent third party.” SailGP races also utilize robotic buoys instead of using gas powered boats to mark the course.
Why does the work of SailGP matter to us? It’s a role model for the sailing community and marine industry. SailGP sailing tests the latest tech under pressure (much like the electric car industry) Earlier this year, the same league put on the SailGP Impact competition which rewards teams and athletes for positive environmental and sustainable actions parallel to the main sailing competition–including merchandise, tech, and reduction of single use plastics.
INDIGENOUS WOMEN DEMAND FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS STOP INVESTING IN EXTRACTION
Indiginous women, as part of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network, discussed how to hold financial institutions accountable for fueling climate change through investments in the extraction industry at an event held last month in NYC.
President Biden has banned the import of Russian oil, which raised gas prices in the U.S. In response, he enacted the defense production act to give the government avenues to support mining on U.S. soil. But the Women’s Earth and Climate Action network says more extraction in the U.S. isn’t going to help in the long run in the fight against climate change.
And they’re correct.
Instead of that short-term, reactive approach, the group says Indigenous people have some answers to help combat climbing change, because they know how to symbiotically live with the environment. They say big corporations should be consulting them. Said one spokeswoman, “We already have systems in place that will protect us and the world.”
As reported before by The Climate Daily, the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network is a solutions based group engaging women worldwide in policy, advocacy and action against climate change. It was founded on the concept that women are disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis, yet are simultaneously vital leaders in local and global solutions. That, in the face of the escalating climate crisis, and the devastating impacts of environmental and social degradation on the Earth and our diverse communities – the voices, actions, solutions, and leadership of global women on the frontlines of climate change must be recognized.
Which is why the proposals of the Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network matter to all of us.
DEEPER DIVE: Grist, WeCan International, NYT, Whitehouse.gov
THE CLIMATE DAILY LISTENER CALL OUT CHALLENGE
Recently, one of our listeners shared her story of how listening to the climate daily helped her deal so well with her climate change overwhelm, that she got out and started working with the local community based group. Then she challenged us to ask you all to share any stories you might have of how listening to the climate daily might have inspired you into action, so we can share them with the world.
Remember, we’re all about sharing stories of people taking positive action to combat climate change. And that’s you listeners. You can hit us up on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter at #wetheclimate or Jeffrey at The Climate dot org or Maude at The Climate dot org, too.