FAST COMPANY 12/20/22 By Michael Shank From Amsterdam to Cleveland, cities are experimenting with tactics that bring community members into the conversation and empower them to make positive change. As more people migrate to urban areas at risk of climate disaster, cities are increasingly thinking and working outside the traditional […]
Author: Michael Shank
Indigenous People Need Real Compensation for Climate Change
NEWSWEEK 12/8/22 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Raul Grijalva As climate talks wrapped up at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) in Egypt this past month, the attending delegates agreed to make long-awaited history. For the first time, the United Nations adopted a pact to establish a “loss […]
Posting Property Against Hunting Should Be a One-And-Done Deal
VTDIGGER 12/06/22 RUTLAND HERALD 12/08/22 TIMES ARGUS 12/08/22 CALEDONIAN RECORD 12/15/22 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 12/20/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank, a resident of Montpelier. Here’s the only time I’ll ever utter the following phrase: Vermont should be more like Alabama and Arkansas, Tennessee and Texas, and Missouri […]
It’s Time for a Governor That Cares About Working Vermonters
BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 11/03/22 VTDIGGER 11/09/22 By Michael Shank This month, I was asked to investigate “Why this governor doesn’t care about working aged people?” And by governor, they meant Vermont Gov. Phil Scott. That was the question posed to me, verbatim. And while I had some initial thoughts in response […]
Bias Shows Up in Coverage of Vermont’s Political Campaigns
VTDIGGER 10/17/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank of Montpelier, who teaches in the graduate schools at New York University and George Mason University. Critiquing a political campaign without getting sidelined as sour grapes isn’t easy. There have been many drafts of this article, attempting to get […]
What New Job Titles do Cities Need to Tackle Climate Change?
REUTERS 10/11/22 By Michael Shank and Julia Peek Michael Shank is director of engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. Julia Peek is director of communications and mobilization at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. When tackling climate change, one may think of the usual suite of approaches in policymaking: regulation […]
Behavior Change is Critical to Reap Climate Benefits of Inflation Reduction Act
BENNINGTON BANNER 09/15/22 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 09/15/22 RUTLAND HERALD 09/17/22 TIMES ARGUS 09/17/22 By Michael Shank The environmental community scored a much-needed win recently in the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law last month. And, taken in context, much of that fanfare is warranted given the U.S. Congress was at a […]
Transition Talks: Transforming Polluter Cities to Become Carbon Neutral
Net Zero Technology Centre Podcast 09/01/22 Interview with Michael Shank, Ph.D., Director of Engagement, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Although cities account for less than 2% of the Earth’s surface, they are responsible for generating over 60% of global greenhouse emissions. Being the leading contributor to climate change, urban areas need […]
A Victim’s Plea for Criminal Justice Reform
VTDIGGER 08/24/22 BENNINGTON BANNER 08/29/22 TIMES ARGUS 09/03/22 RUTLAND HERALD 09/03/22 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 09//09/22 By Michael Shank When you’re a victim of gun-related violence, there’s never really an end to it. It keeps re-emerging, reminding you of the initial trauma it caused. It can live with you forever. The 300-plus […]
The Cash Incentives in the Climate Bill Are Only Good if People Actually Use Them
FAST COMPANY 08/24/22 BY Michael Shank Now that Congress has passed generous tax rebates for decarbonizing and buying EVs, the next step is getting people to decide to make the switch and take advantage of the money. The environmental community scored a much-needed win recently in the Inflation Reduction Act, […]