Each month, Natural    Awakenings magazines across the country take a practical look at the latest natural approaches to wellness and sustainable living. We interview national experts we think you’d like to meet and provide inspiring articles on how they are working to maintain a healthy environment. This month, we’re pleased to highlight green initiative organizations working to keep our local environment safe and healthy. All of them can use your financial support and volunteer services.

350 Pensacola

The number 350 stands for climate safety: to preserve a livable planet, scientists tell us we must reduce the amount of carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, in the atmosphere from its current level of 400 parts per million to below 350 ppm. 350.org is a global climate movement with online campaigns, grassroots organizing and mass public actions coordinated by a global network active in 188 countries. That movement is rising from the bottom up all over the world, and is uniting to create the solutions that will ensure a better future for all.

350 Pensacola provides local support for the global 350.org campaign. The group works along the Gulf Coast to bring people together in an effort to make the safe upper limit of 350 ppm of CO2 in the atmosphere a reality by offers lectures, discussion courses, workshops and other activities to encourage people to examine their personal values and habits and develop strategies for acting on their commitment to a healthy Earth and sustainable future.

350 Pensacola also hosts and organizes community events such as Moving Planet Pensacola, Climate Impacts Day, the annual Cool the Panhandle Funky Bike Fest and Hands Across the Sand. 350Pensacola.org

 

Clean Energy Fest

350 Pensacola was recently awarded a Foo Foo Festival grant to host a Clean Energy Fest from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., November 14, to celebrate the organization’s vision of a clean energy future with live music, food, fun activities and a juried/themed art exhibition at the historic Sacred Heart Hospital Building. The popular regional folk duo Sassafras and other local music groups will perform, and clean energy displays will showcase the present and future potential for clean energy in our community.

An exhibition, The Future of Energy, asks artists to showcase an energy future such as wind, solar and  people power in all genres of art and design. Artwork for this innovative exhibition will be judged by artists and designers from the Gulf Coast professional art community, university faculty and clean energy initiative leaders. FooFooFest.com

 

Don't Frack Florida

This statewide initiative of organizations works collectively for support from local municipalities. Their resolution supports proposed legislation providing a statewide ban on hydraulic fracturing, acid fracturing and well stimulation performed for the purpose of exploration or production of oil or natural gas in the state of Florida. One of the partners, Food and Water Watch (FoodAndWaterWatch.org), lists cities and counties that have signed on.

With Escambia County leading the charge, Northwest Florida is moving toward having the counties east of Escambia sign on: Santa Rosa County, Okaloosa and Walton. It is important that the public and elected officials know the economic, environmental and public health impacts associated with fracking. Don't Frack Florida is providing educational forums and working on a workshop for Santa Rosa County. Visit EarthEthics.us to check for upcoming meetings. 

 

Earth Ethics

Earth Ethics was created to address issues along the Gulf Coast specific to Northwest Florida. The nonprofit legislative and educational arm of Earth Ethics, Earth Action, specializes in grant research, writing and administration, ecological assessments, on-the-ground implementation of restoration and stabilization projects and environmentally based outreach and education, social issues and smart growth practices. Earth Ethics is comprised of public and private stakeholders, and the majority of projects are funded through grants or donations. EarthEthics.us

 

Gulf Coast Energy Network (GCEN)

The Gulf Coast Energy Network is a nonprofit coalition of business, government and environmental leaders that promote the efficient use of energy and water resources to benefit consumers, the environment and economic growth. It supports energy efficiency as a cost-effective energy resource, promotes the use and expansion of alternative forms of energy and advocates for energy-efficiency policies that minimize costs and lessen greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the global climate.  GCEN

 

Northwest Florida Estuaries and Watersheds Program

The estuary program was started by the Nature Conservancy. Resolutions have been signed in Escambia County, Santa Rosa County, Bay County, Gulf County and the cities of Milton, Gulf Breeze and Pensacola to obtain support for Northwest Florida estuaries and watershed projects that will establish programs for the conservation management, restoration and protection of seven estuaries: Perdido, Pensacola, Choctawhatchee, St. Andrew, Apalachicola, Ochlockone and St. Marks.

The project includes four major components: comprehensive updates to watershed management plans for each of the region’s major watersheds; design and permitting of priority projects; project implementation; and monitoring. RestoreTheGulf

 

Pensacola Bay Green Drinks

Every month, people meet up at informal sessions known as Green Drinks, a local chapter of Green Drinks International. It’s a lively mixture of those from the environmental field, non-governmental organizations, academia, government and business that talk about their perspective ideas, jobs and whatever else they want. It’s a great way of catching up with people with the same interests and making new contacts. Everyone invites someone else, making Green Drinks an organic, self-organizing network.

For more information, email Mary Gutierrez at [email protected].

 

Pensacola’s Slow Ride

The slow ride was begun to celebrate the bicycle. Monthly Saturday rides begins at 10 a.m. at Ride More Bicycles, 59 East Gregory Street, in Pensacola and last about an hour-and-a-half. Like-minded cycling people get together to explore the quiet, scenic streets of Pensacola’s many historic neighborhoods.

The rides are led by well-known Pensacola cyclist and long-time bike commuter Christian Wagley, and certified cycling instructor Timothy Bustos. Minors from 10 to 16 must be accompanied by an adult and wear a helmet. Participants receive information about bicycle laws, safety tips and bicycling skills. 

 

Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE)

The Florida PACE funding agency was designed to encourage local governments to subscribe to its statewide, uniform program, rather than pursue purely local efforts that would likely not be able to achieve the economies of scale achievable by the agency. This subscription approach creates markets with little or no cost to local treasuries. 

Escambia County is subscribed to the fastest-growing PACE program in Florida; the E|VEST commercial financing program for energy efficiency, renewable generation and wind-hardening improvements to benefit property owners and increase construction jobs countywide. That means county commercial property owners have immediate access to financing for improvements providing hurricane protection, energy savings and increased property value. PACE

 

West Florida Regional Planning Council (WFRPC)

Originally formed as the Pensacola-Escambia County Regional Planning Council in 1964, the WFRPC has grown to encompass seven Northwest Florida counties and their municipalities. By 1980, the WFRPC district as it exists today was complete and it encourages citizens throughout the region to become involved in the planning process and actively markets many of the programs it undertakes.

Beyond transportation, land use and environmental planning, WFRPC is involved in resource management, hurricane studies, ride-sharing programs, bicycle programs, preparation of county base maps, review of census materials, hazardous materials programs, hazardous waste programs and preparation of comprehensive plans. WFRPC