The Kennebunkport Climate Initiative (KCI) is a scientifically-based, non-partisan education organization aimed to help solve the climate crisis. The uniqueness of KCI’s approach is its focus on educating and empowering youth. KCI believes that the generation most at risk (the youth) will shift politics, stimulate solutions, and ultimately be agents of change. KCI’s vision is to create a cohesive voice at the grassroots level to push for climate friendly policy and action in this time of crisis.

The organization is headquartered in Kennebunkport, Maine, and was founded in part due to the major climate issues impacting the Gulf of Maine, which is warming faster than 99% of the world’s oceans. KCI knows that climate change has greatly impacted the intensity of disasters and believes that youth are key to solving the climate challenge because they influence and foster climate concern among their parents, communities, and decision-makers. KCI aims to educate, empower and activate 10 million youth by 2025. 

We are all facing futures impacted by climate change. But by bonding together we can decide what that future looks like. To learn more about KCI and get involved, head to www.kportclimate.org. 

The Diva wishes Jono Anzalone and his team the best of luck.

From USA Today: Florida crews are pumping wastewater into Tampa Bay to avoid a full reservoir breach: What we know..

Update: One more account from a FL newspaper: Is a 20-Foot Wall of Contaminated Water Possible in Florida? A worst-case scenario could send 20 feet of contaminated water flooding from the site, Acting Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said Sunday during a news briefing with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.

From CNN: 40% of Australia’s entire population under severe weather warnings covering an area the size of Alaska

We wish our Australian readers the best of luck.

From the WashPost: EPA dismisses dozens of key science advisers picked under Trump. The Biden administration says it needs to restore trust in the agency by “resetting” membership on two key science advisory panels.

The Positive Position: From Bloomberg: What Does It Take to Build Back Better? Ask FEMA. The U.S. federal disaster response agency has inadvertently become a major funder of local infrastructure projects.

The Negative Position: From Bookings, a related but more critical assessment: Are Federal Disaster Policies Making the Harmful Effects of Climate Change Even Worse?

Thanks to Chris Jones for the citations.

From the WashPost: Seeing the Future. The U.S. Government is terrible at forecasting.

The author makes the case for improving strategic foresight throughout the federal government. “Strategic foresight… involves envisioning alternative futures to better sense, shape and adapt to the one that is emerging.”

From the WashPost, Former Trump officials offer stark assessment of previous administration’s coronavirus response/

What makes this especially interesting is the speakers were key actors and not journalists.

From the Congressional Research Service this 28 page report on the Community Development Block Grants: Funding and Allocation Processes

From Politico: Where we are now: New York City after a year in the grip of pandemic. Much of New York is still waiting to recover and bracing for what could be permanent changes to the biggest city in America.

From the Guardian: Ban on US water shutoffs could have prevented thousands of Covid deaths – study. Researchers say half a million infections might have been stopped if more states had suspended disconnections during pandemic