Volume 7, Issue 10
December 2025
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Musings from the President
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Submitted by George Lorefice (loreficegj@gmail.com)
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I hope you all had a Happy Thanksgiving. With all that’s going on in the world, I trust you found many reasons to be thankful for having your family and friends.
CCAA was founded 10 years ago by a small group of dedicated individuals: Peter Wirth, Chris Bolt, Carina Paton, Fred Zolna, Yvonne Chu, Sue Eiholzer and Bryant Brownell. We continue today with volunteers working to educate and push others to take action in the fight against climate change. Thanks to all of you who support and keep this organization going as we move into another decade of awareness and action on reducing our carbon footprint.
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Photo provided by Roseann Lorefice.
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On my recent trip (acknowledging high carbon footprint), I came away with an interesting observation. It is one thing to read about climate change and the melting glaciers; it is another thing to see these massive glaciers and witness their retreat and thinning. Patagonia is the third largest ice field after Antarctica and Greenland and of the 48 glaciers in Torres del Paine National Park, 47 are retreating at an accelerated pace and only one is stable. Everywhere we went the topic of climate change was openly and freely acknowledged and discussed. It is not a “hoax”; it is here and happening from pole to pole.
I have said before, the biggest threat to global warming is not CO2 but our federal government. The policies of this administration are causing the temperature to rise (and my blood pressure). Until they change, the earth’s temperature will continue to increase, the glaciers will melt and the oceans will rise. The solution is increasingly a political one. Until the politics change, no amount of evidence, science or common sense will prevail.
A glimmer of hope regarding single use plastics emerged on our Delta flight to and from Buenos Aires: paper cups (even for wine!); paper food containers and bamboo utensils were used! The only plastic was the large soda containers. Most hotels had switched to dispensers for soap, shampoo and conditioner, and paper or glass cups in the rooms. It can be done!
As we end this year and look to the next, I wish you Happy Holidays and joy in the New Year.
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I’ll tag my comments to those of the president since I, too, experienced the wonder of glaciers and penguins and Patagonia at its finest. An adventurous experience that leaves me in awe at the beauty and force of nature, a situation that I fear is in danger. I come away more convinced than ever that all our efforts with CCAA are so needed.
Articles in this issue of the newsletter continue to be a call for action and education. Please help us spread the word. Let it be a true effort on our part to give it our all and help make a difference.
Best wishes for safe and happy holidays to all.
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Submitted by Jan Kublick (jan.kublick@gmail.com)
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I’ve written this after COP 30 ended in confusion and disappointment, at least as depicted in the world press. There are reasons for this depiction, but I recommend the final dispatch from the COP in one of my favorite podcasts, Outrage and Optimism, for more nuanced and hopeful coverage by very knowledgeable experts. Check it out HERE.
In other international news, the U.S. administration continues to do everything to support planet damaging and the obsolete fossil fuel industry, denying Americans, for the time being, the new, cheaper and healthier clean renewable energy that the rest of the world is rapidly deploying at a fast scale. Renewable energy is now the cheapest way to make electricity and continues to get cheaper. The value proposition could not be simpler: build it and never pay for fuel again. For this, please listen to the most recent Volts podcast, an episode about the ‘inevitability of renewable electricity. Once again , just click HERE.
At the state level, the ambitious decarbonization goals written into law in the CLCPA, are being challenged by unanticipated increases in demand (see data centers, chip manufacturing, and cryptocurrency), not to mention climate-driven storm damage to the grid, and the increased need for air conditioning, otherwise known as climate adaptation.
The transition away from fossil fuels toward renewable energy, for decades the right answer for climate change, is now the right answer for clean and affordable energy as well. Unfortunately, the fossil fuel industry is spending millions in political lobbying in New York and many, many millions in bots and influencers to obscure the benefits of transitioning away from fossil fuels, all to make it politically difficult for Governor Hochul to implement the CLCPA, especially in this upcoming election year.
At the local level, the Micron project was green-lit by the County even as Micron has announced a several-year delay in construction. During that period and throughout the life of the project, efforts will be made by CCAA and many others in the climate community to have some of the enormous electrical demand of the project provided by new renewable energy, so the State’s renewable energy transition is less challenged by the project.
I wish everyone a wonderful Holiday Season and a Happy New Year. Next year will be crucial for the environmental community. Rest up!
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BIG NEWS! After 10 years of climate advocacy, CCAA is officially a 501(c)(3) nonprofit! Just a year after incorporating in NYS as a charitable organization, we’ve achieved this IRS designation – a huge step forward for our mission to fight climate change locally.
And, that means your donation to CCAA is now tax deductible. Please consider donating to help us educate, advocate and take meaningful local climate action. Please DONATE NOW.
ALSO, we’re excited to share that Climate Change Action and Awareness (CCAA) is growing our online community!
Follow our Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date on local events, volunteer opportunities, sustainability tips, and the latest climate news in and around Syracuse. It’s also a great way to connect with other community members who care about protecting our planet.
Your engagement helps spread awareness and strengthen our collective impact — every “like,” “share,” and comment helps amplify our message for a more sustainable future.
Thank you for being part of the CCAA community and for everything you do to make Central New York a greener, more resilient place. Click the buttons below to find our social media accounts.
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM
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Image provided by facebook.com.
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December 2025 | BEYOND PLASTICS. The most recent book written by Judith Enck with Adam Mahoney “The Problem with Plastic” will be published on December 2, 2025, from The New Press. It is available from the independent bookstore, Bookshop.org (an online bookseller that supports independent bookstores) or wherever you usually buy books and available in hardcover, ebook, and audiobook format.
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Submitted by Ethan Gormley, Citizen Action NY (egormley@citizenactionny.org)
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Governor Hochul is taking us backwards. She has delayed implementation of the carbon tax bill, delayed implementation of the All Electric Buildings Bill and agreed to President Trump’s plan to allow pipelines to cross New York State. In October, TIME MAGAZINE had named Hochul as one of its 100 Most Influential Climate Leaders of 2025 but in the past week alone she has walked back most of the climate progress she’s made as governor.
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That’s why thousands will march in Albany the day before Earth Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026. But join us as we prepare with a virtual launch on Monday, December 15, 2025. Join special guests Bill McKibben and Mark Ruffalo and representatives of Citizen Action of New York, Climate Defenders, Food and Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, NYPIRG, Seneca Lake Guardians and Third Act (NYC/Upstate). Register for the Zoom event HERE.
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Heat Pumps: The Sustainable Alternative
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Submitted by Kira Donegan, CCAA Intern (kiradonegan19@gmail.com)
Editor’s Note: You may have done all the right things to keep your home energy efficient. But if your HVAC system is getting older it may be costing you money. Check out this VIDEO to see how upgrading to a high-efficiency, all in one heat pump can keep your home comfortable year round while lowering annual energy cost and lessening your carbon footprint.
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As the temperature drops, we turn the heat, and fossil fuels, up. Heat pumps offer a solution. The rapidly emerging technology provides both cooling and heating, squashing reliance on natural gas (fossil fuel) furnaces. But what exactly is a heat pump you might ask?
Tom Goodfellow is a veteran developer in Syracuse, who’s made it his mission to switch to find sustainable alternatives, including heat pumps at his 1200 square-foot Victorian cottage in Wellesley Island, New York.
Goodfellow uses the Roommate model from Designline, chosen for its heating and cooling properties, used throughout spring, summer, and fall. Manufactured in Canada, the self-contained unit runs on 7.5 amps – a measurement for electric currents – which should be plugged into a 20 amp, or 120-volt, outlet which is the standard for North America.
This heat pump doesn’t require ductwork and that means you can install it yourself. “Which is a really neat thing about it. I didn’t need a technician to install,” said Goodfellow. “All it took was two 7-inch holes in the wall for the intake and exhaust, with everything inside the house”, a benefit compared to split models. For servicing, you can use any AC technician.
“It really looks like a small radiator on a wall. It’s not like the heads from the split systems that are up high in the house. It doesn’t look bad at all, and you can paint it into the wall so… it’s not as noticeable,” Goodfellow said.
His cottage has been adequately cooled and heated, with the unit allegedly able to maintain 100% heat until -5 degrees Fahrenheit. Of course, this is with proper insulation. Finally, heat pumps offer lower costs, with Goodfellow’s electric bills less now than with four air conditioners in the house.
“So, I believe that it actually saved electricity,” said Goodfellow. Overall, the unit cost $2,250.00, reasonable compared to a split system.
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Photos provided by Tom Goodfellow.
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CCAA Welcomes New Interns
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We are pleased to announce the new interns that have joined CCAA.
Julia Zehner, a senior at Le Moyne College, is on track to graduate with a B.S. in Environmental Science. She says, “I’m thrilled to be interning with CCAA, helping format the newsletter! In my free time, I enjoy hiking the beautiful local trails, trying new baking recipes, and going for runs. I also enjoyed working as an elementary substitute teacher, which gave me a chance to connect with the students, faculty, and families across the community. I’m excited to contribute to help CCAA expand its educational reach!
Nicole Ward is currently studying environmental science also at Le Moyne College. She is an advocate for a sustainable environment and enjoys being outside, especially while kayaking or cross-country skiing. She also regularly participates in volunteer work in the Syracuse community through Le Moyne College’s humanitarian service club.
You, too, can help CCAA.
We need students and volunteers with a variety of skills such as:
* Developing articles for both print and electronic media
* Marketing & using social media to get our message out to the community.
* Producing audio visual presentations
* Event planning
* Newsletter development – We are looking for an editor.
* Website development
* Graphic design skills
Interested? Contact Peter Wirth at pwirth2@verizon.net
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UPDATE: what’s happening…
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- Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) released to the public.
- Micron applied for permits
- Micron announced a two year delay in planning
- County and OCIDA approve Micron plans.
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FOCUS on The Finger Lakes Chapter of Climate Reality
This group includes inspired climate activists located in the Finger Lakes and Southern Tier regions of Central NY. We are working to unify climate activism over a widespread area, with plans to improve public awareness of the climate emergency and to actively promote the completion of the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) for our region and the Ithaca Green New Deal.
The Chapter also aims to reach out and work cooperatively with other active environmental, climate justice, and sustainability groups within the region. At the global level, we support and include working toward the Sustainable Development Goals of the United Nations: We welcome all trained Climate Reality Leaders living in our region as well as community members who are interested in participating.
Chapter email: fingerlakesgreaterregion.ny@gmail.com
Website: http://climaterealityfingerlakes.org/
CCAA is pleased to partner with this outstanding environmental group and will share in its Zoom review of the environmental book “Climate Change as a Class War: Building Socialism on a Warming Planet” by Mathew Huber, Syracuse University Professor in the Geography and the Environment Department. Thursday, December 4, 2025. 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.
While socialism might seem like “pie in the sky” 80% of NYS renewable electricity is generated by a publicly owned, not for profit corporation, NY Power Authority which constructed two hydro plants in the 1950’s – one near Niagara Falls and the other near Massena on the St. Lawrence river.
Even if you are not able to read the book feel free to zoom into this event and listen to the discussion. Here’s the LINK.
THANK YOU to CNYSolidarity which featured CCAA in its most recent online newsletter. An introduction such as this which explains our mission and focus helps us to reach out to the community and attract like-minded members and volunteers.
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Yellow fever and dengue cases on the rise in South America. Surging cases of yellow fever and dengue in South America highlight the growing assault on people’s health from the climate crisis, with infectious diseases spread by mosquitoes and deadly heat also now pushing into temperate regions such as Europe, experts have warned at the COP30 climate summit. More information is available HERE.
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December 4, 2025. 7:00 – 8:00 p.m. Virtual Book Discussion. “Climate Change as a Class War: Building Socialism on a Warming Planet” by Mathew Huber, S. U. Professor. THIS IS OUR MONTHLY MEMBER MEETING. Dr. Huber will join in the discussion. JOIN HERE.
December 9. 2025. 12:00 p.m. – 1 p.m. Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (ASAP) Act Teach In. A Zoom event sponsored by Third Act. The ASAP Act increases rooftop and community solar in NYS, makes it cheaper to build and brings more jobs, savings and renewable energy to our state. Learn about the success of these small solar projects, why we need more and how you can take action. Register AT THIS LINK. December 11, 2025. 5:30 – 7:00 p. m. Energy Literacy Workshop. Manlius Library, 1 Arkie Albanese Ave. Manlius. Learn how to use your home’s energy wisely this winter with this workshop sponsored by Energy Smart CNY. Everyone will receive a kit valued at $40. A light dinner & cocoa will be served. Registration required. Use this LINK.
December 15, 2025. 7 p.m. A Zoom event. Hochul Mobilization Launch Join special guests, Bill McKibben and Mark Ruffalo, along with Citizen Action of New York, Climate Defenders, Food and Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, NYPIRG, Seneca Lake Guardian and Third Act (NYC/Upstate ) for this virtual launch of the Deadline Hochul mass climate mobilization of thousands to march in Albany just before Earth Day on Saturday, April 18, 2026. Register HERE.
December 16, 2025. Holiday Party. 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. at the Seneca St. Brew Pub, sponsored by the Manlius Watershed Stewards. Come for holiday fun and meet members of the MWS who are keeping an eye on the waterways in Manlius and educating the community on what watersheds are and their impact on the surrounding land.
SAVE THE DATE: April 17, 2026. Symposium on Energy in the 21st Century. Syracuse, NY. Hosted by Energy21, it will be held at the Gateway Event Center at SUNY ESF and will feature discussions on energy sustainability, renewable energy, grid resiliency, and energy justice. Attendees can participate in person or virtually via a Zoom option.
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NEW REPORT: Governor Hochul stalls climate action amid a $15 million fossil fuel blitz. A new report finds that fossil fuel companies and utilities have been lobbying since 2021, boosting their influence by 52% and stalling clean-energy and affordability policies. While polluters protected their profits, New Yorkers saw higher bills, repeated rate hikes, and delays on climate action. You can read the report HERE.
ENERGY. We talk about energy a lot these days, where it comes from, how it’s produced, etc. Here’s an opportunity to learn a bit about “embedded energy” …..CHECK IT OUT!!
NYS All Electric Bill Rollback. Want to know more about its effects? Check it out by listening HERE.
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Help CCAA’s Mission : Purchase a t-shirt
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Need an extra holiday gift for someone? This CCAA t shirt is the perfect fit for everyone. AND, it helps spread the word that we all need to do something to help our climate issue!
From the beginning, CCAA has focused on its mission to inform and educate the public about the need to protect our environment in the face of climate change. Our organization sponsors events that bring this goal to the public. But we need your help.
Volunteers offer time and energy but the reality of the costs of providing materials, sponsoring attendees at conferences, attending tabling events, maintaining our website, etc. have mounted and so we’re reaching out to you. Can you help?
Purchasing a CCAA t shirt not only supports our efforts but promotes more awareness every time you wear it. It’s available online at THIS SITE.
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Image provided by Michael Lorefice
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NY Renews Youth Committee Opportunity
NY Renews is a coalition of over 300 organizations fighting for climate justice in New York State. Currently, we’re focusing on a budget campaign demanding NY State invest $15 Billion in the budget this year for climate justice.
Within NY Renews, the Youth Committee is a space mostly for high school and college age individuals. We’re moving towards bi-weekly trainings followed by community organizing to support our campaigns. Joining the youth committee is a great opportunity to level up your organizing, learn about campaigning, and get involved in the climate justice movement.
We meet every other week with additional time on projects for those interested. If you are interested, please fill out the sign-up form so we can get more info about your interests and experiences (it’s not competitive). We would love to hear from you!
Here’s the form to sign up!
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We encourage you to follow our social media accounts to support CCAA and stay up to date on other environmental news.
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CCAA OFFICERS
President: George Lorefice (loreficegj@gmail.com)
Vice President: Peter Wirth (pwirth2@verizon.net)
Secretary: Reena Tretler (reena.tretler@gmail.com)
Treasurer: Van Cleary Hammarstedt (vanjonch@gmail.com)
COMMITTEE CHAIRS
Education: Ken Johnson and Jim Doherty
Legislative: Jan Kublick
Membership: Ken Johnson
Micron: Jan Kublick and Sonia Kragh
Newsletter: Roseann Lorefice
Sustainability: Sonia Kragh
Newsletter Committee
Publishing and Design: Yvonne Chu and Annalena Davis
Editor: Roseann Lorefice
CCAA Interns: Kiran Hubbard, Maddy Bloom, Julia Zehner, Nicole Ward
Technical Advisor: Gavin Landless
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Copyright © 2025 Climate Change Awareness & Action, INC., all rights reserved.
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