Happy Dog Takes on COP26

Published: Feb. 3, 2022, 12:30 a.m.

b"According to John Mitterholzer\\\\'s calculations, if Ohio were its own country, we would be the 26th largest greenhouse gas emitter on Earth. As Ohio\\\\'s only delegate from the civil society sector to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) in Scotland last November, this statistic was top of John\\\\'s mind.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nIn the last several years, Lake Erie has experienced destructive and toxic algae blooms, shutting down municipal water systems for major Ohio cities--putting both marine life and humans at risk. Microplastics are invading our food chains. Unseasonable, and more intense storms are battering Ohio towns. John notes that the world must see a 40% or greater reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 to avoid triggering catastrophic climate change.\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nWhat does Ohio need to do to step up to address these challenges? And what is Ohio\\\\'s role in the global fight?\\\\r\\\\n\\\\r\\\\nJohn Mitterholzer is the George Gund Foundation's program director for Climate and Environmental Justice, the current co-chair of the Climate and Energy Funders Group, and an active member of the Environmental Grantmakers Association. Join us in-person at the Happy Dog in Gordon Square as we discuss his experiences at COP26 and what opportunities and challenges are ahead for Ohio to become carbon free."