Working to convene a coalition that centers BIPOC-led organizations and frontline communities, the goal of 30x30 is to protect 30% of U.S. lands and water by protecting priority lands critical to climate solutions and providing connected wildlands and waters where wildlife, plants, and people thrive.
Sierra Club Maine is hiring a 30x30 Campaign Planning Intern who will be responsible for supporting the Chapter’s 30x30 campaign work, including planning and coalition building. This position will work with our national organizers, chapter staff, and chapter volunteers to ensure effective grassroots organizing strategy that is aligned with our campaign goals and values and that we practice the Jemez Principles and center organizational Equity Values within the organizing work.
Learn more and apply here by February 5th!
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Environmental Priorities Coalition
2023 Priority Bills
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Sierra Club Maine is a proud member of the Environmental Priorities Coalition
(EPC), a coalition of nearly 40 environmental, conservation, and public health organizations which work together to determine a common agenda of priorities each legislative session. For the 131st Legislative Session, the EPC has established the following 7 bills as priorities for the coalition. You can read more about each bill on the EPC website:
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Tribal Sovereignty - “Passing sovereignty legislation will restore the Wabanaki Nations’ inherent rights to self govern, including restoring their jurisdiction over their lands and waters.”
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Environmental Justice Definitions and Framework - “Creating a legal framework that defines environmental justice (EJ), requires state agencies to meaningfully engage EJ populations, and incorporate equity and EJ considerations into decision making.”
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Offshore Wind Procurement - “Directing phased competitive offshore wind procurement that maintains stipulations for responsible development, investments in research and environmental monitoring, equity and inclusion practices, and labor protections including project labor agreements (PLAs) and labor peace agreements (LPAs) will support efforts to bring clean offshore wind energy to Maine and create thousands of good-paying jobs in the process.”
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Expanding Endangered and Threatened Species Habitat Protections -
“Expanding the circumstances in which the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), the state’s primary environmental permitting agency, consults with the Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (DIFW) on strategies to avoid and minimize impacts to endangered and threatened species habitat will protect Maine’s wildlife and biodiversity. DEP is currently required to consult IF&W only for development larger than 20 acres; this statutory change would change the threshold question to whether the development area includes ET species habitat areas.”
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Establishing a Forest Advisory Board - “Establishing an advisory board that reflects a wide range of perspectives and expertise to highlight the value of forests in addressing the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss, counterbalance the powerful forest products industry, and help achieve better forest practices and healthier forests.”
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The Maine Trails Bond - “Investing in the design, development, and maintenance of trails statewide will expand and promote outdoor recreation activities for Maine people.”
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The Pine Tree Amendment - “Adding the Pine Tree Amendment to Maine’s constitution will secure the right to clean air, clear water, and a healthy environment for all Maine people. This form of amendment has been proposed and adopted in Pennsylvania, Montana, and New York, and is being brought forward in other states as well.”
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The Big Bad Banks and You: A Day of Action
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The largest four banks in the United States–Citi, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Bank of America–are the largest funders for fossil fuel expansion in the world. This needs to stop. Banks need to prioritize investment in sustainable energy projects!
Third Act, a group of people over sixty determined to address the existential climate crisis we are facing, is organizing a national day of protest. The Sierra Club has signed on to support Third Act in its action. Mark your calendars! There will be a rally at Chase Bank and Bank of America in Monument Square in Portland on March 21, 2023 at 3pm organized by Third Act Maine.
Other groups will be joining in as well. Members of Maine Youth Action, Veterans for Peace, Center for an Ecology-Based Economy, Peace Action Maine, and other groups will be marching and chanting, demanding change. To indicate interest in joining Third Act Maine or to be on the mailing list for more info about the rally, email ThirdActMaine@gmail.com.
Change is possible. Last month, HSBC, Europe’s largest bank and the 13th largest financier of fossil fuel exploration, announced it will no longer finance new oil and gas fields. That decision was made because of shareholder pressure. We want the four big banks here in the USA to follow HSBC’s lead. Join us on March 21st!
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Calling all Photographers!
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Calling all photographers! Sierra Club Maine is seeking photos from across the state to feature in our marketing materials. From social media posts to our annual impact report and more—your photo could be featured! Professionals and amateurs alike are encouraged to submit images of Maine landscapes, nature, and wildlife. Submit your photo here.
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Green Tip of the Month:
Give Your Clothes a Second Life
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Help close the loop on textile waste by recycling your worn out or unwanted clothing, bedding, towels and beyond! Companies like Boody are partnering with textile recycling services to make it easy to donate, recycle, and upcycle textiles. Doing so reduces waste and keeps textiles out of landfills.
"Have a t-shirt past its prime? A towel the dog ruined? Skinny jeans you never wear? We’ll take them all! Gather them up and order your Second Life Bag (which is compostable and biodegradable). These items are about to find their next chapter."
Do you have a green tip that you would like to have included in a future newsletter? Please share it with us here!
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Donate Your Old Car, Boat, Motorcycle, or RV
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Donating an old car, boat, truck, motorcycle, or RV to Sierra Club Maine has a lasting impact on our work advancing climate solutions, advocating for clean air and water, and keeping our wild places wild. Donating is easy and someone will come to you to pick up your donation for free. Simply call 855-337-4377 or visit sierraclubfoundation.careasy.org
and make sure to designate your donation to “Sierra Club Maine.”
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Here are some of the meetings and events we have coming up. We hope to see you soon!
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Mondays at 4:30pm: Legislative Team Meetings (February 6th, 13th, and
27th)
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February 10 at 9am: Coffee & Climate: Being Bird Friendly & Bird Safe
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Coffee & Climate is a monthly speaker series on Zoom, hosted by City of Portland Sustainability Office and City of South Portland Sustainability Office
, which breaks down sustainability or climate topics with the help of guest speakers. Programming includes sustainability in the arts, aquaculture, plastics, environmental justice and more! February’s topic is “Being Bird Friendly & Bird Safe” with Maine Audubon and Portland Society for Architecture.
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February 14 at 11:30am: Transportation Team Meeting
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Join our team and ensure a clean and just transportation future for Maine!
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February 15 at 5pm: Equity, Inclusion and Justice Team Meeting
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Help incorporate equity, inclusion and justice principles into the chapter's work.
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February 21 at 11:30am: Clean Energy Team Meeting
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Join our team and ensure a clean and just energy future for Maine, specifically focused on renewable energy development!
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March 1 at 5pm: Conservation/30x30 Team Meeting
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Learn how you can protect Maine's woods, water, and wildlife.
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