The Climate Agenda: Let's have a tough conversation

We're hosting a panel of climate and sustainability experts at our book club next month ... Hear about climate solutions from the people involved ... Regent steps down as chair amidst UA turmoil.

It wasn’t too long ago that Tucsonans watched ribbons of fire wind along mountain ridges in the Santa Catalinas night after night. 

The Bighorn Fire of 2020 was a jarring reminder that wildfires are, unfortunately, a fact of life in Southern Arizona. It’s also a reminder that if we want to deal with wildfires we need to understand them and how we got to this point. 

Since our launch, we’ve been partnering with the Community Foundation for Southern Arizona and Tucson Tome Gnome to host a book club, choosing books about people working to fix problems, effect change and build community.

We’ve discussed both fiction and nonfiction books, but our best-attended discussion was November’s meeting about Matthew Desmond’s “Poverty, by America.” The meeting drew more than 65 attendees and included a pre-discussion panel of experts who talked about intergenerational poverty in Pima County and some of the solutions being explored by the city and county.

The crowd size told us that our community cares deeply about issues that impact their lives and our community and they want to hear from the people at the frontlines. So, we decided to tackle another important topic and bring in some experts to help provide some context.

Climate change seemed like a natural fit, given the variety of local efforts underway to combat Tucson’s summer heat, increase shade equity and integrate sustainability projects into the infrastructure.

And since our next book club is days after the Tucson Festival of Books, we decided to pick a selection written by a presenting author so community members had the chance to hear from that person themselves before we discuss the book.

We decided on John Vaillant’s “Fire Weather: A True Story from a Hotter World,” a New York Times Top Ten Book of the Year and finalist for the National Book Award in Nonfiction. You can hear John talk about the book and writing process during three panels at the festival on March 9 and 10, where he’ll also be on hand to sign autographs.

“Fire Weather” walks readers through the intertwined histories of North America’s oil industry and the birth of climate science, and offers an inside look into the devastating effects of modern forest fires.

Wildfires are a common occurrence in Southern Arizona, so we’re excited to see what we can learn from Vailiant’s book. And from each other, when we discuss the book on Thursday, March 14.

But before we discuss the book, we’ll be hearing from a trio of local climate and sustainability experts, including the University of Arizona’s Molly Hunter, who serves as the Science Advisor to the Joint Fire Science Program, a national interagency program dedicated to funding research related to wildland fire. Molly previously held faculty positions at the University of Arizona and Northern Arizona University, where she maintained an active research program in fire ecology and management.

We’ll also have Ojas Sanghi, a UA student studying computer science and future earth resilience. Ojas is the Tucson Co-Lead for the AZ Youth Climate Coalition, Vice President of UArizona Divest and a commissioner on the City of Tucson’s Commission on Climate, Energy, and Sustainability.

Rounding out our panel is Sonoran Institute CEO Michael Zellner, who has 30 years of experience building award-winning collaborations for global organizations, including The Nature Conservancy, Dow Jones & Co., and Euromoney. The Sonoran Institute works to connect people and communities with the natural resources that sustain them, focusing on water and rivers in the West

All of them are working hard to understand the scope of which climate change affects our lives and find sustainable options for moving forward. Caitlin will moderate the panel, and while organizers are still finalizing the list of questions, we look forward to hearing their thoughts about the most pressing issues and promising solutions related to climate change and sustainability.

Caitlin has had a great time at our five previous book clubs, talking to attendees, fielding story ideas and learning from other community members. If you haven’t been to one yet, this is your chance!

And this is an especially good time to join us, because we’re taking steps to make sure “Fire Weather” is more readily available to attendees. We’ve heard the cost of new-release hardcover books can be a barrier for some people in the club, so to try to reduce that burden, the Tucson Agenda, CFSA and Tucson Tome Gnome have directly purchased nine copies of the book to raffle off.

One of those books has been earmarked for Tucson Agenda subscribers and we’ll be raffling it off to a lucky winner, who will be announced in Tuesday’s newsletter. To enter, just comment on this post by 6 p.m. Monday with a climate or sustainability effort that you think is, or would be, a good fit for Tucson or a book you think we should discuss at an upcoming meeting.

CFSA also partnered with the Pima County Public Library and provided a $500 grant for the library to purchase additional copies of the book, so make sure you check the library first.

We’re excited to be able to offer a forum to bring community members together to talk about these important issues and we’re happy that they’ve been so well-received.

But there’s always room for more! The event is free and refreshments are provided, but make sure you RSVP in advance.

Changes on the board: KJZZ's Camryn Sanchez reported yesterday morning that Gov. Katie Hobbs was exploring whether she can expel members of the Arizona Board of Regents, with a focus on removing Chair Fred DuVal. Hours later, the regents said in a news release that DuVal was stepping down as chair of the board. He remains a regent until his term ends in January 2026.

"It's imperative that we move away from the heat of rhetoric and politics and refocus on addressing the genuine challenges facing our institution," DuVal said. "By resigning as board chair, I want to do my part to create space for collaborative efforts toward real solutions.”

Don't need a crystal ball: Tucson and Pima County officials are watching with concern as the Border Patrol drops off hundreds of migrants at a transit center in San Diego, straining resources there. Federal funds recently ran out for humanitarian efforts there and the same is about to happen here at the end of March. Tucson City Manager Mike Ortega pointed to the situation in San Diego in a memo this week, calling it "our near-term reality."

Doomed to fail: The Arizona Senate passed a bill that would give local law enforcement the equivalent of federal immigration authorities, Arizona Public Media's Danyelle Khmara reports. The bill echoes SB1070, Arizona's infamous immigration law from 2010. Unlike back then, Arizona’s governor is a Democrat who opposes these types of measures. Hobbs already said she would veto the bill.

Heading to Israel: Tucson-area state Rep. Alma Hernandez is leading a group of 17 lawmakers on a six-day trip to Israel next week, the Arizona Republic's Mary Jo Pitzl reports. They plan to visit with the families of Israelis held hostage by Hamas. Hernandez said the trip is educational, not a recreational junket, and won't interfere with the ongoing legislative session. Tucson Democrats Nancy Gutierrez, Consuelo Hernandez, and Chris Mathis will join Hernandez on the trip. The trip is paid for by a New York-based nonprofit itrek. 

Dirty deeds: A Tucson-based property company and another that operates in Tucson are among those Attorney General Kris Mayes says engaged in an alleged rent-fixing scheme, the Tucson Sentinel’s Paul Ingram reports. Tucson’s HSL Properties and Greystar Management Services took part in a scheme using RealPage to artificially inflate prices for residents of Phoenix and Tucson, which Mayes said contributed to historic increases in rent costs.

Puff piece: UA news releases usually focus on the research and accomplishments of the university, often with the name of the person who wrote it. In a break from that, the UA News staff put out what appears to be a public relations band-aid this week showing state lawmakers praising UA President Robert C. Robbins. It didn't have a byline, just "University Communications." But it did include their "set the record straight" mantra.

We have a paid subscriber perk coming on Monday. It's a follow-up to the story we wrote last week about Tucson lawmakers and their lack of bills still in play. If you want to upgrade to a paid subscription before then, hit that button!

Farm fundraiser

Tucson Village Farm is hosting a fundraiser tomorrow to build and support its new Animal Education Center. The Barnyard Trot is an “Amazing Race” style 1-mile adventure course around the farm, with 12 activity stations that promote healthy living. Participants will meet goats, sheep and chickens and learn why they’re an important part of the farm. There will be prizes for winners, best-dressed participants and most spirited team, and raffle tickets will be available for sale. The registration fee (discounts are available for teams) covers a pancake breakfast and raffle entry and race participation isn’t mandatory. The event runs from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Register and learn more about the event here.

Map those weeds

The Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum and Watershed Management Group are hosting a weed mapping event in Tanque Verde Creek on Sunday from 8:45 to 11 a.m. Arundo donax is an invasive species of wild reed that takes over riparian habitats in the Sonoran Desert. Participants will use the Wild Spotter app to map reed locations, with the information being used for early detection and rapid response efforts. Volunteers will caravan to the workshop location and should bring a charged smartphone with the Wild Spotter app installed and a quart of drinking water. Find more information or to sign up volunteer here.

From trash to treasure

The San Xavier Kiwanis Club will be at the Ward 6 plastics collection site from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. every Thursday in March, starting on March 7. They’ll assist with a drive-up drop off system that will allow attendees to stay in their cars while volunteers collect their single-use plastics. Last week was the city’s first double-digit tonnage collection week since the “pilot” program started in August 2022, with donations topping 13 tons. Half of that came from the Ward 6 drop-off site, according to Councilman Steve Kozachik. The city is working to open its first ByFusion facility, which converts single-use plastics into construction-grade blocks, with about 1,800 plastic bags making up a single 22-pound ByBlock. In the meantime, plastic is being sent to ByFusion’s Los Angeles facility for processing. 

Harvesting how-tos 

The Watershed Management Group is hosting virtual and in-person greywater harvesting workshops in March. Attendees of the virtual session on Thursday, March 7 (from 5 to 7 p.m.) will be introduced to potential opportunities to use greywater in landscaping and learn best practices, while also taking a virtual tour of the group’s Living Lab greywater features. Instructors will also talk about maintenance needs for a low-cost, simple-to-install system and the qualification and application process for the Tucson Water Greywater Incentive Program. The in-person class on Thursday, March 14 will cover the same information with a focus on installing a greywater laundry to landscape (L2L) system. The washing machine can be a consistent source of greywater irrigation for landscaping while helping to support hydro-local living. Learn more or register for the in-person session here.

Weed removal and wildflowers

Take a day trip to Picacho Peak with the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum on Sunday, March 10 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Stinknet is an exotic and invasive species that is spreading like wildfire in the Phoenix area. Volunteers will help remove young stinknet plants for a few hours at the state park while learning how to identify different species of wildflowers in one of Southern Arizona’s wildflower hotspots. Transportation is included and participants will meet at 904 W. Grant Avenue before loading into vans and making the trip to Picacho Peak. Gloves and tools will be provided and volunteers are asked to bring a sack lunch, water in a reusable bottle and a hat. Learn more and register here.

Celebrating trees

Tucson’s annual Tree Festival and Climbing Championship returns to Reid Park on March 15 and 16 and is co-sponsored by the Arizona Community Tree Council, City of Tucson and Tucson Clean and Beautiful. Arborists will take part in the climbing competition from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both Friday, March 15 and Saturday, March 16 to simulate the challenges they face in their daily work. The festival will take place Saturday, March 16 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and includes exhibit tables, vendors, food trucks and activities for the whole family. Learn more about the event and sign up to get involved here.

Upcoming meetings

• City of Tucson Citizen’s Water Advisory Committee - Wednesday, March 6 at noon

• Oro Valley Water Utility Commission- Monday, March 11 at 5 p.m.

• Tucson-Pima County Bicycle Advisory Committee- Wednesday, March 13 at 6 p.m.

• Complete Streets Coordinating Council - Wednesday, March 27 at 5:30 p.m.

We have a running story list for future editions of the Climate Agenda, but we’d love to hear your ideas. Send those to caitlin@tucsonagenda.com.