The first episode of Change the Climate is now online, and features an interview with Tom Crawford, President of the Thurston Climate Action Team (TCAT). Tom gives a brief history of TCAT, and talks about TCAT’s latest project: a Coordination Grant to work with organizations in Thurston County that are taking action on climate change. This project was kicked off at the South Sound Climate Action Convention in April. The keynote speaker at the Convention was a 17-year old student, Aji Piper, who is one of the youth plaintiffs suing the Federal Government for violating their constitutional rights to life, liberty, and property because of it’s affirmative actions that cause climate change.

Tom also talks about the Regional Climate Action Plan that Olympia, Tumwater,  Lacey and Thurston County is developing. TCAT’s Carbon Free Thurston Campaign is encouraging the cities and county to develop a strong plan, with robust goals and targets, and with accountability and responsibility for implementing it.

TCAT supports the statewide Initiative 1631 that calls for a fee on fossil fuels. Tom describes how the funds will be invested in clean energy, healthy forests, clean water, and support for disadvantaged communities.

Volunteers are still needed to get enough signatures to put the initiative on the ballot.

Change the Climate is hosted and produced by Ed Ericsson from the Olympia Chapter of Citizens’ Climate Lobby (CCL). The program is being shown on TCTV Channel 22 every Monday (6:30 pm), Tuesday (7:30 pm), and Friday (3:30 pm) in June and can be seen on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ep7sUOjv8RA