Our grassroots efforts have been keeping the climate conversation alive in Harrisonburg since 2008.
Action
From showing up at rallies to promoting solar energy, CAAV volunteers continuously take a stand for climate change resilience in our community and beyond.
Advocacy
Support for climate-saavy legislators and legislation that reduces our use of fossil fuels is critical to our mission.
News + Events
Stay informed by signing up to receive our regular roundup of climate-related news drawn from a wide range of reliable sources. Subscribe to our Community Events calendar of local environment-related programs.
Top photo by Matt Schmachtenberg for JMU’s The Breeze
Bulletin Board
Things going on we want you to know about!
On Thursday, November 21 from 5-6:30PM at Pale Fire Brewery in Harrisonburg, local Climate Reality Leader Steve Gardner will give a presentation for the Climate Reality Project’s 24 Hours of Reality: Truth in Action. Hosted by the Climate Action Alliance of the Valley and the Shenandoah Group of the Sierra Club, with thanks to the generosity of Pale Fire Brewing Company.
Join solar energy enthusiasts from across Virginia for the Virginia Solar Congress, a free public conference on all things solar, hosted by our partner organization, Solar United Neighbors! Whether you are a long-time supporter of solar energy, completely new to solar, or somewhere in between – this event is for you!
2019 Virginia Solar Congress Saturday, November 16, 2019 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. William and Mary School of Education 301 Monticello Avenue Williamsburg, VA 23185 RSVP here to attend
The Virginia Solar Congress is a free public conference that brings together solar supporters from across the state to learn and discuss the current solar landscape and future for solar energy in Virginia.
The day will include a series of presentations about solar technology and policy topics as well as ways to get involved with helping to grow solar in Virginia.
This event is FREE and open to the public – everyone is welcome to attend. This event is free an open to the public – everyone is welcome to attend! Breakfast and lunch will be provided for all attendees.
Politics and Policy On Monday the Trump administration filed the paperwork with the U.N. to officially withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement, which cannot occur until Nov. 4, 2020. In response 24 state governors pledged to uphold the agreement. At The Atlantic, Robinson Meyer attributed the withdrawal to Trump’s belief in “carbonism.” Ahead of President …
24 Hours of Reality Presentation by Steve GardnerThursday, November 21 | 5-6:30pmPale Fire Brewing Co.217 S Liberty St, Harrisonburg You’ve seen the headlines. You know the climate crisis is devastating the Earth. You want to know what we can do. What you can do. You’re not alone – and we think it’s time for answers. …
Politics and Policy Following weeks of violent protests in Chile, President Sebastian Piñera said the country would not host the COP25 climate summit in December. The next day, Spain offered to host the meeting in Madrid. A new report from the European Environment Agency said the EU is nearly on track to cut greenhouse gas …
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Driven mainly by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, Earth’s climate is changing.
Evidence from diverse sources confirms climate change.
Atmospheric temperature reconstructions show that current warming is unprecedented within the span of human civilization.
Oceans are warming.
Glaciers are melting.
Sea level is rising.
The Arctic ice cap is shrinking, the ice is thinning, and its nature is changing.
Although East Antarctic ice is increasing, West Antarctic ice is decreasing much faster.
Weather is getting more extreme.
Ecosystems are changing more rapidly.
Evidence for the role of CO2 as the main cause of climate change is very strong.
Earth’s temperature is stabilized and regulated by the greenhouse effect.
The major greenhouse gases (GHGs) are CO2 and water vapor.
Water vapor is responsible for 50% of the greenhouse effect, but its life in the atmosphere is short because it condenses as rain and snow. CO2 is directly responsible for 20% of the greenhouse effect, but its indirect effect is much larger. Because it does not condense, it stays in the atmosphere for a very long time, thereby influencing the water vapor content and regulating Earth’s temperature. It is Earth’s thermostat.
The level of CO2 in the atmosphere is increasing because of the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas).
Satellites show a reduction in outgoing (i.e., cooling) radiation leaving Earth at the wave-lengths associated with CO2 and other GHGs.
Land-based sensors show an increase in incoming (i.e., warming) radiation from CO2 and other GHGs consistent with their increased concentration in the atmosphere.
We must release less each year tostabilize Earth’s climate.
Compost your kitchen scraps at the downtown community Compost Drop-off bins! Drop-offs can be made anytime year round at the bins’ permanent spot on the edge of the gravel parking lot at S. Liberty and Warren Streets within sight of the Turner Pavilion and Municipal Building. See images below. In addition, learn more about what and how you can compost by dropping your compostables off at our Saturday Harrisonburg Farmers Market station, April-October.
Drop off compostables here at your convenience.
Anyone is welcome to drop off kitchen scraps to these 65-gallon Black Bear Composting bins at anytime. Your compostables can be dumped directly from another container or placed in a paper bag, paper box (remove any plastic tape and/or plastic labels) or BPI-certified compostable “plastic” bag.
Compostable bags to line containers for ease of collecting your scraps are available at the bins site and at the Market Compost Drop-off Station or Market Info counter during Market hours.
