Calendar
Dr. Karoline Mueller will speak.
“Restoring natural vegetation, such as forest, is currently the best option at scale for removing CO2 from the atmosphere, and must begin immediately to be effective within the required timescale of reaching net zero emissions by 2050. The livestock sector, having largely displaced natural carbon sinks, continues to occupy much of the land that must be restored.†(1)
“The scientific world is very aware of the intersection between food choices and their effects on both climate and human health. Michael Clark at the University of Oxford said: “Continuing to eat the way we do threatens societies, through chronic ill health and degradation of Earth’s climate, ecosystems and water resources.”
In this presentation, we will look at the way different food choices impact our planet negatively and why the same food choices also contribute to chronic illnesses that threaten societies through the high burden of personal suffering and staggering health care costs.
Although different groups give vastly different estimates of the effect of food choices on climate crisis, the very conservative number in the FAO report, Tackling Climate Change Through Livestock(2), comes to 14.5% of total greenhouse gas emissions. This roughly equals the number for all transportation contributions. Other estimates include future land usage changes that will provide additional carbon sinks and increase the positive effect drastically.
The 2015-2020 USDA Dietary Guidelines stated: “About half of all American adults—117 million individuals—have one or more preventable chronic diseases, many of which are related to poor quality eating patterns and physical inactivity.†While official publications(3) use the ‘reduce saturated fat’ as code for reducing animal products, many medical doctors and scientists send a clear message that choosing health-promoting vegetables, fruit, legumes, and whole grains, while omitting animal products, leads to good health outcomes.(4, 5)
Our choices can open the door to a win-win outcome.
For more information contact, Nan Hildreth at 713-504-9901 or NanHildreth@riseup.net
H-GAC’s Parks and Natural Areas Summit and Awards Ceremony will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Friday, February 14, 2020, at H-GAC Conference Room B, Second Floor. The Summit will include presentations on trends and topics related to parks and natural areas.
The event will also include the annual Parks and Natural Areas Awards recognition ceremony. These projects serve as models for planning and project implementation for parks and natural areas in the region. Projects will be honored in three categories: Planning Process, On-the-Ground Projects Over $500,000, and On-the-Ground Projects Under $500,000.
A light breakfast will be served. Registration and breakfast begin at 9:00 a.m., followed by topic speakers at 9:30 a.m. The awards program will begin at 10:30 a.m. and will be followed by networking until noon.
Agenda
9:00 a.m. Â Â Registration and Breakfast
9:30 a.m.   Presentation – Claire Hempel, Design Worskshop, Equity In Parks
10:00 a.m. Presentation – Katie Coyne, Asakura Robinson, TBA
10:30 a.m. Parks and Natrual Areas Annual Awards Ceremony
11:30 a.m. Networking
The Parks and Natural Areas roundtable serves as a forum for discussion of issues related to parks and natural areas and promotes the Parks and Natural Areas awards program. The roundtable facilitates information exchange and planning efforts between various stakeholders and collaborators to protect and preserve parks and natural areas across the region.
Raise funds for the Lawther-Deer Park Prairie Education Program, honor Susan and Peter Conaty, participate in auctions, and test your prairie knowledge with this fun program.
Join the Parks and Natural Areas (PNA) Roundtable on Monday, March 9, from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at H-GAC Conference Room A, Second Floor.
Attendees will learn about the Nature and Eclectic Outdoors’ Healthy Outdoor Communities initiative and Exploration Green, an award-winning parks and natural areas project in the region. They’ll also discuss the time and date for the spring field trip.
The PNA Roundtable meets the second Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November and is open to anyone interested in participating.
Local and state officials are seasoned professionals in crisis response. Yet, the array of risks they face–cyber attacks, severe weather and domestic terrorism–are challenging the conventional wisdom of crisis management. Adapting to the new normal of disasters demands a renewed approach. At this event, Route Fifty will explore how Houston in the wake of repeat disasters is assessing its future risk, planning for the challenges ahead and renewing its spirit of resilience.
Confirmed Speakers:Â
- Marissa Aho, AICP, Chief Resilience Officer, Office of Mayor Sylvester Turner, City of Houston
- TaKasha L. Francis, Director, Department of Neighborhoods, City of Houston
- Michael Dailey, Chief, Outreach Programs Branch, Region VI, Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency)
- Alison Hare, MIA, Community Resilience Officer, Office of Public Health Preparedness & Response, Harris County Public Health
- Jeffry Evans, Meteorologist in Charge, National Weather Service, Houston/Galveston, TX
- Kyle Shelton, PhD, Deputy Director, Kinder Institute for Urban Research, Rice University
Drink up the benefits of water conservation and learn how to build a rain barrel at home.
EVENT CANCELLED.
UHCL’s College of Education would like to invite you to the STEM conference, “STEM Innovations and Impact on Educational Communities” on Saturday, April 4, 2020. This conference will bring together leading experts and researchers from around the Greater Houston Area to focus on topics that impact K–12 STEM education. Educators will present what they are doing including hands-on activities, research, and programs as each relates to STEM. Participants will attend break-out sessions and tour some of the research facilities located at University of Houston-Clear Lake, along with earning 7 CPEs for attendance.
Climate Solutions for Texas, a local initiative of AIChE’s Climate Solutions Community is co-hosting a Climate Solutions Symposium with the Engineering, Science & Technology Council of Houston. Join us.
Lone Star College – Kingwood celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Earth Day with a special lecture called “Microplastics in the Galveston Bay Watershed: The Big Impacts of Tiny Pollution†presented by Theresa Morris, Gulf Program Coordinator, Turtle Island Restoration Network-Gulf of Mexico. The event is being held at Lone Star College – Kingwood, 20000 Kingwood Drive, on Wednesday, April 22, 2020 from 12:00 – 1:00 pm in CLA 112. Following the lecture is the LSC-Kingwood Seed Library Opening: Share Seeds for Food Sustainability. It is being held in the Learning Commons Building at 1:30 pm.  Please feel free to donate vegetable garden seeds for the new seed library. ​
On May 18, Kinder will offer the same great program spotlighting Stephen Klineberg and his transformational Kinder Houston Area Survey, along with insights from Rice University and community leadership. Proudly, they will also honor Rev. William A. Lawson for his many years of service to Houston and its people. All will be offered online for our entire community to enjoy freely, safely and comfortably.
Registrants will receive instructions via email on how to access the program closer to the program date.
11:30 a.m. Digital Registration
2020 Kinder Houston Area Survey and other materials made available to access online and download
12:00 p.m. Lunch-Out Program
Grab your lunch, and from the comfort of your preferred location, explore findings from Stephen Klineberg’s 39th Kinder Houston Area Survey, with insights from Rice University President David Leebron, Houston Education Research Consortium Director Ruth N. López Turley, and Kinder Institute Director Bill Fulton. The Lunch-Out will also honor Rev. William A. Lawson for his 60+ years of service to Houston and its people.