Creation Care Mom

For the last fours years, NPR has dedicated a week to showcasing how local communities are moving forward with climate solutions no matter the federal political environment. This year was May 18-24th. You can find all of their stories here: https://www.npr.org/series/1199537689/climate-week

This year’s stories cover a wide range of topics and locales. How Portland, OR is using a retail tax to fund climate action to help their most vulnerable. How Utah communities have banded together to work towards getting more renewable energy projects built in their state. In Britain, beavers are reducing flooding that has intensified due to climate change.

Most stories are less than 10 mins to read or listen to, and if you get on a role, you can continue on to read the stories from the past 3 years. Each year has had different themes. Last year’s focus was housing and in 2024 the focus was food.

The best part of these kinds of events is that the focus is on what is currently happening, what difference it is making, and where it could go from here. Rather than doom and gloom. These are hopeful stories. Stories of positive change.

I don’t know about you, but in the world of climate change, it can be easy to lose hope. Especially in the USA, we have seen a lot of backtracking in the last year that has left us feeling disappointed to depressed. But good news is out there. Sometimes we just have to look for it!

On another note, New York joined a handful of state (including Utah) in legalizing plug-in (balcony) solar. Improving access to renewable energy for renters and apartment dwellers. This can help reduce electric bills and free up space on transmission lines as more people produce power on site. Super excited that another state has joined this movement and excited to see where this is taken up next.