The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates from November 30th to December 12th. Representatives from the nearly 200 participating countries made history when they agreed to transition away from fossil fuels. This came after COP28 president Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber received backlash for claiming there was “no science” behind the push to phase-out fossil fuels. Senior Policy Analyst Courtney Federico was at COP28, and she joins Esty Dinur to explain what was accomplished and what wasn’t.

Then, 350 Wisconsin co-Executive Director Emily Park joins the show to explain the issue behind an agreement ahead of the Dane County Board of Supervisors. She says that the Dane County Board of Supervisors will be voting on December 18th and 21st on a Joint Use Agreement (JUA) with the National Guard to use Truax Field. The JUA’s terms currently absolve the National Guard, the federal government, and the state government from liability or responsibility for cleaning up future PFAS contamination. Emily urges that the agreement as written could leave Madison residents saddled with contaminated drinking water and the financial burden of clean up.  

You can learn more at Dane County PFAS Fight for Fairness Alliance. A comment form is available for people to quickly email their Dane Supervisor. You can look up your specific Supervisor here.

Courtney Federico is a Senior Policy Analyst on Energy and Environment team at American Progress.

Emily Park is the co-Executive Director of 350 Wisconsin, a grassroots climate justice organization. Emily organizes around issues related to climate justice, fossil fuel resistance, energy equity, water and air quality, and just, sustainable food systems

Photo by Philip Myrtorp on Unsplash

 

Did you enjoy this story? Your funding makes great, local journalism like this possible. Donate here