Author: Michael Shank

What New Job Titles do Cities Need to Tackle Climate Change?

REUTERS 10/11/22 By Michael Shank and Julia Peek Michael Shank is director of engagement at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. Julia Peek is director of communications and mobilization at the Urban Sustainability Directors Network. When tackling climate change, one may think of the usual suite of approaches in policymaking: regulation […]

Transition Talks: Transforming Polluter Cities to Become Carbon Neutral

Net Zero Technology Centre Podcast 09/01/22 Interview with Michael Shank, Ph.D., Director of Engagement, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Although cities account for less than 2% of the Earth’s surface, they are responsible for generating over 60% of global greenhouse emissions. Being the leading contributor to climate change, urban areas need […]

A Victim’s Plea for Criminal Justice Reform

VTDIGGER 08/24/22 BENNINGTON BANNER 08/29/22 TIMES ARGUS 09/03/22 RUTLAND HERALD 09/03/22 BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 09//09/22 By Michael Shank When you’re a victim of gun-related violence, there’s never really an end to it. It keeps re-emerging, reminding you of the initial trauma it caused. It can live with you forever. The 300-plus […]

Examining the Environmental Impacts of Buildings in Vermont

BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 08/10/22 TIMES ARGUS 08/13/22 RUTLAND HERALD 08/13/22 By Michael Shank With Indonesian islanders suing cement producers for climate damages recently, buildings are getting much-needed attention for their carbon-heavy footprint. The built environment generates nearly 50 percent of annual global emissions, which is why efforts in Vermont to weatherize […]

Climate Activism Can’t Leave Out the Built Environment — It Generates Half of Emissions

THE HILL 08/05/22 By Michael Shank With Indonesian islanders suing cement producers for climate damages recently, buildings are getting much-needed attention for their carbon-heavy footprint. The built environment generates nearly 50 percent of annual global emissions. Yet, buildings hardly receive the climate activism commensurate with their impact – despite concrete […]

It’s Time to Cut the Emissions From Creating Our Homes and Offices

REUTERS 08/05/22 By Michael Shank Michael Shank is the director of engagement for the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance. With Indonesian islanders suing cement producers for climate damages recently, buildings are getting much-needed attention for their carbon-heavy footprint. The built environment generates nearly 50% of annual global emissions. Yet buildings hardly […]

Closing High-level Segment, Economic and Social Council Adopts Ministerial Declaration Reaffirming Poverty Eradication Indispensable for Building Resilient Societies

UNITED NATIONS 07/18/22 Against the backdrop of a highly uncertain global outlook, with rising food and fuel prices blunting efforts to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, the Economic and Social Council formally adopted the ministerial declaration of its high-level political forum on sustainable development today, reaffirming that poverty eradication is […]

Scott’s ‘Symbolic Bipartisanship’ Helps No One

BRATTLEBORO REFORMER 07/12/22 By Michael Shank Over the July 4th weekend, a resident of a town in Vermont posted a picture on social media of Governor Phil Scott walking in a parade and said that Vermont has a great governor, and that Scott is one of the good Republicans and […]