The climate may be warming, but frugal is the new cool and the summit celebrates an amazing number of local initiatives being taken to save our planet and at the same time save money.

The Eastchester Green Summit initiative has its roots in an event held last September, when UN climate change expert Nikhil Chandavarkar, FRSA, spoke to a small invited audience in Bronxville.  It was inspired by the story of the Danish island of Samsø, widely regarded as the first community in the world to become carbon neutral.

The science of climate change is now proven regardless of what a few remaining sceptics may say.  We are seeing and hearing about the results almost every day.  Economic forecasts vary with the assumptions but again almost all agree ‘business-as-usual’ is not a serious option.  We must break our addiction to fossil fuels and imported oil.

To avoid irreversible damage, we need to factor in the hidden cost of carbon.  The EU is moving ahead with both a fuel tax and a ‘cap and trade’ market system.  President Obama is now introducing proposals at the Federal level.   Meanwhile another political battle is being fought between Western nations led by the USA and EU and the rising nations led by China and India.  In December 2009, the UN is organizing a meeting in Copenhagen to determine the next moves internationally to accelerate the limited progress made to-date by the 1992 Kyoto Protocol.

Using data from a 2005 study for Westchester County, it was possible to calculate the CO2 per capita consumption of fossil fuels in the area. While below the US average of 19.4 tons, it is still amongst the highest in the world.  A Bronxville and Eastchester resident produces an average of 13.65 tons of carbon emissions each year. Inspired by the Samsø model, the aim of the Eastchester Summit is to reduce our carbon footprint 80% by 2050.  This requires us all to change the way we think and behave.

The summit will provide information on:

·        Energy audits

·        Programmable thermostats

·        Eco-friendly gardening

·        EnergyStar appliances and consumer electronics

·        New high mpg cars

·        The science and politics of climate change

Keynote speakers include:

·        Nikhil Chandavarkar, UN expert

·        Robin Thompson, marketing consultant

For more information, contact Robin Thompson.