We’ll start off with Announcements on current events… Tonite’s main program is CARBON CAPTURE – Monitoring, Safety, and Geologic Impact of Underground CO2 Injection, with Dr. Katherine Romanak.

Dr. Romanak is an expert in near-surface geochemical monitoring, safety, and environmental impacts of geologic carbon storage. She is currently a Research Professor at the Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, UT Austin. She has developed and implemented monitoring plans for at least six actively-injecting, large-scale CO2 storage projects dating back to 2007, and has pioneered a new environmental monitoring technique which has become the standard approach worldwide.

Dr. Romanak holds a B.S. in Geology from Southern Methodist University, an M.S. in Geology from UT Arlington, and a Ph.D. in Geology from UT Austin. She previously worked as a staff scientist at the Smithsonian Institution.

Whether you’re a seasoned environmentalist, a budding eco-warrior, or someone curious about the local climate movement, this event is for you. Get the unique opportunity to engage directly with major environmental groups, dive deep into pressing climate issues, meet new friends, and discover how you can make an impact right here in Austin.

– Sierra Club: Known for its grassroots approach, Sierra Club champions solutions that move us toward a clean energy future.
– AURA: Advocating for abundant and affordable housing and transportation options for all Austinites.
– Rethink-35: An initiative focused on reshaping urban infrastructure in sustainable and community-friendly ways.
– Inside Climate News: A Pulitzer Prize-winning non-profit news organization dedicated to covering climate change, energy, and the environment.
– Public Citizen: A champion of public interest, they work to ensure government accountability and fight for a healthier environment.
… and many more to be announced!

– Yoga Sessions: Find your center and reconnect with nature through our meditative yoga breaks. Suitable for both beginners and experienced practitioners.

– Art Builds: Showcase your creativity and passion for the planet by participating in collaborative art projects. Express yourself and be a part of something bigger.

– Games: Dive into fun and educational games that emphasize the importance of sustainability and climate awareness.

– Letter Writing to Elected Officials: Lend your voice to the cause by penning heartfelt letters to your representatives, urging them to prioritize our planet and its future.

Join us for a day of learning, collaboration, and celebration of our planet. Together, we’ll pave the way for a more sustainable Austin. Book your spot now!

We’ll have free food & drinks, music, and family-friendly activities for folks to enjoy while getting up to speed on a new campaign to bring the power back to the people.

During the event, we’ll discuss an update about the coal-fired Fayette power plant, what’s at stake with Austin Energy’s upcoming resource plan and clean energy plans in the Pedernales & Bluebonnet electric coops, share how you can inform the process, and pass along tips for saving money on utility bills. Come for a good time, and leave knowing how to get more involved in your community.

Zoom link: https://zoom.us/j/5133069449

At 7pm, we’ll start off with Announcements on current events… Tonite’s main program is Transit Forward and Project Connect, with Bill McCamley.

Bill McCamley is the Executive Director of Austin’s Transit Forward, with its mission to educate and engage fellow Austinites about transit as a whole, with a focus on Project Connect and light rail.

Bill joined Transit Forward in May of 2022. He has spent the better part of three decades in public service as an elected official, non-profit executive director, and state agency administrator. Bill holds degrees from New Mexico State University and a Master’s from Harvard Kennedy School. He spent six years as a New Mexico State Representative, more than two years as secretary of the New Mexico Workforce Department, and four years as a County Commissioner in Las Cruces New Mexico. He absolutely loves living in Austin.

Clean water, clean air, open spaces with healthy lakes, rivers and forests; sources of energy
that don’t pollute and never run out — all this should be the heritage we leave to future
generations. Environment Texas researches the issues to educate the public and win tangible
results for a greener future.

Luke Metzger has a B.A. from the University of Southern California and is a leading voice in
the state for clean air, clean water, clean energy and open spaces. Luke has led successful
campaigns to win permanent protection for the Christmas Mountains of Big Bend; to compel
Exxon, Shell and Chevron Phillips to cut air pollution at three Texas refineries and chemical plants; and to boost funding for water conservation and state parks.

The San Antonio Current has called Luke “long one of the most energetic and dedicated
defenders of environmental issues in the state.” He has been named one of the “Top Lobbyists
for Causes” by Capitol Inside, received the President’s Award from the Texas Recreation and
Parks Society for his work to protect Texas parks, and was chosen for the inaugural class of
“Next Generation Fellows” by the Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law at
UT Austin.

Luke, his wife, son and daughter are working to visit every state park in Texas.

We’ll start off with Announcements on current events… Tonite’s main program is Championing Coral Reefs, with Juli Berwald.

Coral reefs are a microcosm of our planet: diverse, interconnected, full of wonders, and threatened by our actions on land. Owing to their profound symbiosis with algae, coral are also responsible for the world’s largest green-powered construction project. Berwald’s most recent book, Life on the Rocks, is an inspiring ode to the reefs and the undaunted scientists working to save them against almost impossible odds, intertwined with her own daughter’s struggle with mental illness. She explores fighting battles with uncertain outcomes and the beauty of small victories.

Science writer Juli Berwald is a lifelong student of the ocean, obsessed with jellyfish, passionate about coral. She received her PhD in ocean science from The University of Southern California. Her work has appeared in National Geographic, Texas Monthly, The New York Times and more. She is the author of many science textbooks, Spineless – a science-memoir about jellyfish, and her latest book – Life on the Rocks: Building a Future for Coral Reefs. She lives in Austin with her husband and two children.

Find many of her articles and talks at www.juliberwald.com

We’ll start off with Announcements on current events… Tonite’s main program is Climate Restoration. Join Peter Fiekowsky, founder of the climate restoration movement, and his co-author, Carole Douglis, to hear how we can restore pre-industrial CO2 levels by 2050—by working with nature and with finance that’s already available.

Peter Fiekowsky, author of Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain the Human Race (2022), is an MIT-educated physicist and Silicon Valley entrepreneur and philanthropist with 27 patents. He has 30 years’ experience as a citizen lobbyist for poverty and climate issues, and over the past decade has been working to build the organizations required to ensure the survival and flourishing of humanity.

Fiekowsky’s mission is to leave a world we’re proud of to our children. To that end he has founded a number of organizations including the Foundation for Climate Restoration, Methane Action, Stable Planet Alliance, which is working to restore a sustainable population, and the interim Climate Restoration Safety and Governance Board.

Carole Douglis, co-author of Climate Restoration: The Only Future That Will Sustain the Human Race, is an award-winning journalist specializing in environment, climate, and international development. Her work has been published by the Atlantic, Psychology Today, and National Geographic Books, as well as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), UNICEF, USAID, NGOs, and research institutes. She enjoys sharing her skills through training others in clear writing and presentations. Carole holds a B.A. from Harvard University and an M.A. from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy—and is proud to be Peter Fiekowsky’s writing partner since 2019.

Get to know some like-minded neighbors, learn about how you can become more involved, and kick back at one of Austin’s most relaxed outdoor locations. Best friends (human and canine) welcome! We’ll talk about it all – hiking, climate change, and making a difference. With beer and food we expect to solve most of the world’s pressing environmental problems!

First round of appetizers are on us. See you there!
Parking is on the back side of the beer garden off 5th Street between Springdale and Spencer Ln.

45 minutes – When Did Climate Change Really Begin? by Bruce Melton based on article published in Truth Out

Glaciers have been retreating for centuries suggesting warming has gone on a long time. Early Anthropocene Hypothesis states that climate change did not begin with the dawn of the industrial age at the end of the 19th century, it began 7,000 to 8,000 years ago with the discovery of agriculture and clearing of forests for crops. This human-caused warming was then cancelled out by natural cooling that should have been occurring for the last 7,000 to 8,000 years until human-caused warming from fossil fuels went berserk.