Expand People's Understanding of Issues Related to Climate Change and Energy
Goal
The goal of the Forum is to expand people's understanding of issues related to climate change and energy. We explore how these issues impact our lives – and what actions we can take to address these issues.
How Does It Work?
The Climate and Energy Forum was started in 2017 by a coalition of Bainbridge Island groups working on climate change. We ask our speakers to present for 20-30 minutes and reserve the rest for questions and discussion from the community. We work to identify actions we can take as individuals and as a community to address climate change. All of the Forums are free to the public.
Past Forums
We have held over 30 Forums since 2017 on a range of topics. We have held an Electric Car Fair that attracted over 300 people. We had a session on climate legislation with our local, state, and federal representatives including Governor Inslee that was attended by over 150 people. We had a session on local energy solutions from local experts to help us transition away from use of fossil fuels as our primary energy source. A listing of all the Forums and selected recordings will be available in the near future.
Current Status
We have had several virtual Forums since March 2019 and are planning to start the virtual Forums again in November 2020.
Who Are the Hosts?
The local groups hosting include: Climate Action Bainbridge, EcoAdapt, Sustainable Bainbridge, and Citizens Climate Lobby.
Past Topic/Speakers
2017
Bainbridge Island Climate Impact Assessment (November)
- Christine Rolfes, State Senator
- Val Tollefson, Mayor Bainbridge Island
- Lara Hansen Eco-Adapt
Electrification of Transportation (December)
- Bill Moyer, Solutionary Rail
- John Clausen, Kitsap Transit
- Matt Von Ruden, Wash. State Ferries
2018
Climate Change through a Social Justice Lens (January)
- Running-Grass, Three Circles Center
- Kim Powe, Puget Sound SAGE
- Hodan D. Hassan, Got Green
- Sapna Sopori, IslandWood
Carbon Fee and Dividend Legislation (February)
- Mike Kelly, Citizen’s Climate Lobby
The Myth of Natural Gas: Fossil Fuels and Greenwashing (March)
- Tarika Powell, Sightline Institute
Rethinking Transportation (April)
- Lief Horwitz, COBI Multi-Modal Committee
- Erika Shriner, Climate Action Bainbridge
Future Energy Challenges (May)
- Jonathan White, Peninsula Light Company
- Amy Grice, Peninsula Light Company
Climate Voters Guide (October)
- Demi Allen, BI SAFE Mobility Levy
Local Businesses Combat Climate Change (November)
- Tony D’Onofrio, T & C Markets
- Els Heyne, Bay Hay and Feed
- Jonathan Davis, Davis Studio
Climate Change and Faith Communities (December)
- Perchlik, Cedars UU Church
- Blessing, Grace Episcopal Church
- Shonie Seni Kanada, Buddhist Temple
- Brown, Methodist Church
- Kathleen Alcala, Kol Shalom
2019
Making Sense of Climate Change (January)
- Lara Hansen, EcoAdapt
- James Rufo-Hill, City of Seattle
- Gary Lagerloef, Climate Scientist
- Michael Cox, CCAC
Green New Deal (March)
- Mike Kelly, Citizens Climate Lobby
- Brian Anderson, Climate Action Bainbridge
100% Clean Energy for Bainbridge Island by 2040 (April)
- Randal Samstag, Consulting Engineer
- Jason Wilkinson, McLennan Design
- Joe Deets, Sunergy Systems
A Climate Savvy Bainbridge Island: Preparing for the Effects of Climate Change (May)
- Lara Hansen, EcoAdapt
- Stacey Nordgren, Foresight Partners Consulting
- James Rufo-Hill, City of Seattle
YOUTH v. GOV: Young people sue governments to save their future (June)
- Andrea Rogers, Our Children’s Trust
- Gabe Mandell, Plaintiff in WA State lawsuit
- Charlotte Larson Freeman, BHS student
Drive Electric Kitsap (September)
- Matthew Metz, Coltura
Carbon Offsets: Good, Bad, and Maybe (November)
- Derik Broekhoff, Stockholm Env. Institute
Climate Action Plan: Community Meetings (December)
- Climate Change Advisory Committee
2020
Climate Change Legislation (January)
- Jay Inslee, Governor
- Derik Kilmer, US Representative
- Christine Rolfes, State Senator
- Joe Deets, BI City Council
Investing in a Time of Climate Change (March)
- Jodi Neuman, Trillium Asset Management
COVID-19 & Sightline Institute’s New Strategies on Climate Change (April)
- Alan Durning, Sightline Institute
How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint (May)
- Ted Larson Freeman, Citizens Climate Lobby
- Michael Cox, Climate Action Bainbridge
From Date to Dialogue: Confronting the Challenge of Climate Change (June)
- Heidi Roop, Climate Impacts Group