Author: Kalpana Sutaria

We Need to Reduce the Use of Plastic

On By Kalpana SutariaIn RecyclingLeave a comment

Re: October 1, 2023 Letter to the Editor, “Recycling plastic is not enough and incinerator is not and answer”

I totally agree that we need to reduce the use of plastic. It requires love and care of people on this planet who suffer from pollution. Plastic waste degrades the environment instead of enjoyment of nature. Simple actions below can reduce plastic pollution right away.

  • Carry your own bottle of water. Plastic bottles are ubiquitous in board rooms and conference centers.
  • Take reusable bags when you go for any shopping.
  • Carry reusable containers to avoid Styrofoam boxes for take-out food from restaurants.
  • Avoid using plastic plates, straws, spoons, and knives.

According to Bloomberg, a Virginia-based Trex Co. turns plastic from drop off programs for plastic into decking material and lumber. A few companies are willing to pay higher costs to use recycled plastic. According to its executive David Heglas, “all the claims the companies are making are just greenwashing.”

Reduction of plastic is our best option for better air quality.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Published by the Austin American-Statesman (without the Bloomberg paragraph)

October 8, 2023

Reading

LTE Under Consideration: Inflation Reduction Act’s First Anniversary

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Inflation Reduction ActLeave a comment

This summer, we have experienced record breaking heat with drought conditions affecting all lives including the trees. It is particularly trying for children’s activities. We can do something about it now so that the children can enjoy a better environment.

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was signed into law by President Biden last year. It has encouraged investments in clean energy manufacturing projects creating upward of 170,000 jobs. There are rebates and tax credit available for homeowners to take advantage of solar panels, energy efficiency and electric appliances.  We need to tell our state leaders to get this benefits for Texans since federal dollars must pass through the state. Other “red” and “purple” states are already taking advantage of federal dollars.

With massive clean energy investment possibilities in the IRA, we can lower harmful emissions, improve air quality and health, have respite from the heat and benefit of new jobs for workers.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Austin Metro Chapter, Citizens’ Climate Lobby

Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman

August 2023

Congressman Lloyd Doggett Responds: Guarantees for Those Who Work Outside

On By Kalpana SutariaIn CCLATX, HealthLeave a comment

Kalpana Sutaria, Media Team leader for Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin Metro Chapter, conveyed her concerns to Congressman Lloyd Doggett about protecting outdoor workers from escalating heat conditions resulting from climate change. She shares his response below:

“Thank you for your recent communication advocating guarantees for those who work outside the right to water breaks and shade. I am pleased you raised this issue.

With over 100 of my Democratic colleagues, I have urged the Department of Labor to quickly implement the Occupational Safety and Health Administration workplace heat standard proposed in 2021. This standard would ensure adequate heat-conscious treatment of workers by requiring water breaks and access to medical treatment. You can see this letter here. I have also sponsored legislation that would ensure construction workers have access to the breaks they need to cope with extreme heat. The bill is H.R. 785 and if passed it would guarantee at least one fifteen minute paid rest break every four hours.

Every worker deserves a water break, and it’s outrageous that extreme Republicans like Governor Abbott are banning protections from extreme heat at the local level. I welcome your continued guidance on this and other important issues. You can follow my work and share your priorities through survey responses by subscribing to my email list. Follow me on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @RepLloydDoggett, and email me at Lloyd.doggett@mail.house.gov.”

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin Metro Chapter

July 29, 2023

To read Kalpana’s original article on this topic, on Voices of Austin, follow the link.

We Need Federal Rules to Protect Outdoor Workers

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Global WarmingLeave a comment

Re: June 25 article, ‘Outdoor workers need increased protection’

It is sadly true that as Austin gets warmer with worsening climate, there are consequences for outdoor workers in construction, agriculture and postal work. As a project manager working on City of Austin building projects, I have experienced the hot conditions firsthand at job sites. We ensure that contractors working on city projects provide a 10-minute shade and water break once every four hours. Signs are posted in English and Spanish.

But Governor Abbott signed a law upending protections for workers directly impacted by summer heat. These workers construct infrastructure and buildings and grow food for Texans in the brutal heat. Is just 10 minutes of respite not acceptable to Abbott? Last year 279 people died because of heat in Texas.

Contractors and owners who care for workers are providing protections regardless. OSHA must act promptly to enact federal regulations to protect outdoor workers from heat exposure and illnesses.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin

Published in the Austin American-Statesman

July 2, 2023

Austin, Texas USA

LTE Under Consideration: We need resilient infrastructure and global climate plan now

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Texas LegislatureLeave a comment

Re: November 10, Op-Ed “We need resilient infrastructure and global climate plan now”

Thanks to representative Zwiener for co-founding the Texas House Caucus on Climate, Environment and Energy Industry and getting 30 members to join. We need such lawmakers to honestly look at the facts on climate change crisis and take action for health and well- being of their constituents.

The response of the Texas Legislature to the problems of the electric grid during and after the winter storm Uri, has been nothing but disheartening.  Loss of 210 lives, $80 billion plus dollars in damages and unbelievable suffering of Texans was not enough for the Legislature to take strong action. The state climatologist John Neilsen-Gammon has reported that Texas is vulnerable to a wide range of natural hazards, most of which are weather and climate events.

Yes, we need resilient infrastructure, that will figure climate change as part of planning, and that will reduce harmful emissions by transitioning to cleaner sources of energy.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin

Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman

May 2023

Earth Day 2023

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Earth DayLeave a comment

We all deserve to breathe clean air and drink clean water. There is nothing partisan about it. It was because of concerns about clean air and clean water that the Earth Day tradition began. Thousands of students and other groups fought against oil spills, pollution from factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, species extinction and loss of wilderness. The first Earth Day was celebrated on April 22, 1970. Republicans and Democrats, rich and poor, urban and rural dwellers, farmers, business and labor leaders came together demanding better environment.

By the end of 1970, the United States Environmental Protection Agency was created and the U.S. Congress passed environmental laws including the National Environmental Education Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act and the Clean Air Act and in 1972 it passed the Clean Water Act. These laws have saved lives, improved air quality and health.

For two decades, concerns about increased use of coal, oil and gas were raised by not only NASA’s climate scientists but by ExxonMobil’s own scientists. Increased use of coal, oil and gas added pollutants including carbon dioxide (CO2) in the air. In 1988, Dr. Hansen testified in the U.S. Congress expressing concerns of global warming. By 1990, Earth Day was globally celebrated by nations for global action. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, human activities have produced 40 percent more atmospheric concentration of CO2, from 280 ppm to 414.7 ppm in 2021. Carbon dioxide emissions reached record high in 2022.

Seventeen out of eighteen warmest years have occurred since 2001 according to NASA.

As concentrations of CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions increase in the atmosphere, extreme weather events have intensified, our climate has destabilized and pollutants and pollen counts have gone up. Austin is known for problems of pollen allergies throughout the year. Pollen allergies have become much worse with increase in CO2, warmer temperatures and tail pipe emissions resulting from traffic congestion. Austin had 25 “Ozone Action Days” in 2022 which tops the combined total for past eight years. Short term measures like reduction in use of gasoline powered vehicles, equipment and manufacturing and long term measures like transitioning to cleaner energy sources are needed to reduce warming and ground level ozone. People suffering from pollen allergies feel the effects of ground level ozone along with increase in pollens from ragweed, grass, mold, trees and other pollutants. Sneezing, headaches, post nasal drainage and general sense of tiredness are the symptoms that I suffer from, even after taking appropriate measures.

Texas is a leader in oil and gas production. A non-profit group, Carbon Mapper has detected methane leaks near drilling sites in Texas. Methane has more than 80 times the warming power of CO2 for 20 years after its release. Methane emissions cause 25% of global warming today. Lack of enforcement of permitting rules on oil and gas operations continue to add to global warming by releasing methane into our environment.

Texas faces many water issues including groundwater pollution, aging infrastructure, drought and flooding. Abandoned oil and gas wells are polluting Texas farms, ranches, and underground water. Texas Railroad Commission (TRCC) which oversees orphan wells in Texas, has reported 140,000 inactive wells. Until these wells are plugged, water contamination is likely to get worse affecting health of humans and cattle.

Clean air and clean water are critical and so are reductions in polluting emissions. There are policy proposals introduced in the U.S. Congress to transition towards clean energy sources but we need a political will and bipartisan approach to drive this transition for improved quality of life for all.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin

April 20, 2023

LTE Under Consideration: Ask lawmakers to support policies to promote clean energy to reduce CO2 emissions

On By Kalpana SutariaIn CO2 EmissionsLeave a comment

Re: March 3, 2023 article, “Carbon dioxide emissions reached a record high in 2022”

Scientist Charles Keeling started taking measurements of atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) at Mauna Loa every day since 1958. His laboratory provided a continuous record showing the upward trajectory. Consumption of fossil fuels drives up the CO2 emissions every year. The only exception was in 2020 due to reduction in travel during the Pandemic.

Once added, CO2 stays in the atmosphere for 300 to 1000 years. CO2 emissions reached a record high in 2022 despite increase in solar and wind power generation. CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions block the heat from escaping causing global warming. Climate scientists have shown how warming intensifies extreme weather events which devastate our lives and livelihoods in different ways. Allergies and pollution have affected me greatly.

Ask your lawmakers to support policies to promote clean energy to reduce CO2 emissions. It indeed is a monumental task but sorely needed to improve our health and wellbeing.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens’ Climate Lobby Austin

Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman

March 2023

LTE Under Consideration: Adaptation decisions and financing adaptation increasingly essential

On By Kalpana SutariaIn Inflation Reduction ActLeave a comment

Re: February 19, 2023 article, “How climate change can impact your finances?”

As climate impacts accelerate, adaptation decisions and financing adaptation become increasingly essential to all communities, developed or developing countries. Property damages from hurricanes, floods, droughts, sea level rise, hail, wind, tornadoes and wildfires can devastate families when insurance companies are not able fully cover them. People with means could manage to withstand damages and even support funds that use environmental, social and governance factors. Others have to rely on government help.

Inflation Reduction Act passed by the U.S. Congress has allocated funding if our state would take necessary steps. It would expedite electrification, fund climate-smart agriculture including conservation and reduce Methane to help lower harmful emissions that intensify climate disasters impacting our finances.

We want state leaders to phase out fossil fuels subsidies and invest in clean energy instead of punishing financial institutions who support such transition. Our leaders can and should improve finances of Texans by addressing climate change.

Kalpana Sutaria

Project Manager, City of Austin and Member, Citizens Climate Lobby Austin Chapter

Submitted to the Austin American-Statesman

February 2023