BENNINGTON BANNER 06/19/23 MANCHESTER JOURNAL 06/19/23 RUTLAND HERALD 06/21/23 TIMES ARGUS 06/21/23 By Michael Shank Most cities that consider themselves environmental leaders have developed climate action plans that articulate how they’re reducing emissions, adapting to climate impacts, and promoting circularity and equity. Vermont cities, like Burlington and Montpelier, have done […]
Times Argus
There’s a Fossil Fuel Gold Rush Happening in Ukraine. It’s Endangering Ukraine’s Future
NEWSWEEK 05/04/23 RUTLAND HERALD 05/12/23 TIMES ARGUS 05/12/23 VTDIGGER 06/21/23 By Michael Shank There’s a looming threat facing Ukrainians, and it’s not Russian; it’s American. There’s a “fossil fuel gold rush” currently underway by American energy companies exploiting Russia’s war in Ukraine for gain. Under the guise of “liberating” Ukraine […]
How Cities are Getting Hyper-Local to Solve the Massive Challenges of Climate Change
CALEDONIAN RECORD 04/14/23 BENNINGTON BANNER 04/14/23 TIMES ARGUS 04/20/23 RUTLAND HERALD 04/20/23 VTDIGGER 05/16/23 By Michael Shank Cities around the world are increasingly investing in new approaches to engage communities in the co-creation of climate action and policymaking. There are several remarkable shifts happening across city ecosystems at the Carbon […]
Key posts in local government can help to tackle climate change
BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 02/23/23 VTDIGGER 02/28/23 TIMES ARGUS 02/17/23 RUTLAND HERALD 02/17/23 BENNINGTON BANNER 02/23/23 By Michael Shank and Julia Peek When tackling climate change, one may think of the usual suite of approaches in policymaking: regulation and incentives to ramp up renewables, electrify our buildings and transportation, weatherize our homes, […]
Municipal Approach to Climate Action
VTDIGGER 01/16/23 RUTLAND HERALD 01/21/23 TIMES ARGUS 01/21/23 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 01/23/23 MANCHESTER JOURNAL 01/23/23 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank, a resident of Montpelier, who is director of engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and teaches sustainable development at New York University. As more people migrate […]
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 […]
Examining the Environmental Impacts of Buildings in Vermont
BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 08/10/22 TIMES ARGUS 08/13/22 RUTLAND HERALD 08/13/22 By Michael Shank With Indonesian islanders suing cement producers for climate damages recently, buildings are getting much-needed attention for their carbon-heavy footprint. The built environment generates nearly 50 percent of annual global emissions, which is why efforts in Vermont to weatherize […]
Phil Scott, Dems and Bipartisanship
Rutland Herald 07/09/2022 Times Argus 07/09/2022 By Michael Shank Over the Fourth of July weekend, a resident of a town in Vermont posted a picture on social media of Gov. Phil Scott walking in a parade and said Vermont has a great governor, Scott is one of the good Republicans […]
Pinpoint Our Real Problem — Our ‘Suicidal War on Nature’
VTDIGGER 06/15/22 RUTLAND HERALD 06/18/22 TIMES ARGUS 06/18/22 By Michael Shank This commentary is by Michael Shank of Montpelier, director of engagement for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and an adjunct faculty member at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and George Mason University’s Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution. Shank recently […]
Extreme Weather, Global Changes Violate our Property Rights
VTDIGGER 10/01/21 RUTLAND HERALD 09/28/21 TIMES ARGUS 09/28/21 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 10/01/21 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Raul Grijalva This commentary is by U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., chair of the House Natural Resources Committee, and Michael Shank of Montpelier, communications director for Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and an adjunct faculty member at […]