KOLBERT

Elizabeth Kolbert, a staff writer at The New Yorker and author of a prize-winning book about the consequences of climate change, will be the first speaker Tuesday night for the University of Rhode Island’s three-month honors colloquium on global climate change.

Kolbert is scheduled to speak at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium at the Chafee Social Science Center at URI’s Kingston campus. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Kolbert is author of Field Notes from a Catastrophe: Man, Nature and Climate Change. In her talk she will provide a primer on climate change. She will explain the science of climate change, draw parallels with lost ancient civilizations, examine the politics surrounding climate change and offer personal stories about the people most affected.

In researching her book, Kolbert traveled to Alaska and Greenland and visited with leading scientists.

Her initial three-part series in The New Yorker won the 2005 National Magazine Award. Her book was chosen as one of the 100 Notable Books of the Year by the New York Times Book Review and it was given a 2006 Award of Special Merit by the sponsors of the annual Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment.

Kolbert has been a staff writer at The New Yorker since 1999. Before that she was a political writer for The New York Times. She has also written for The New York Times Magazine, Vogue and Mother Jones.

For the second Honors Colloquium event, “The Great Global Warming Hoax,” oceanography professors Rebecca Robinson and John Merrill will use documentary film clips to examine the debate over global warming. Their presentation will be on Tuesday, Sept. 16, at 7:30 p.m.

For more information, go to www.uri.edu/hc or call the URI Honors Center at (401) 874-2381.

Lobbyist moving to Roberts’ staff

Matt Auten, who for five years has been a fixture at the State House as a lobbyist for Environment Rhode Island and the Rhode Island Public Interest Research Group, is moving on to a new job, but staying at the State House.

Auten is joining Lt. Gov. Elizabeth Roberts as her senior policy analyst.

“As you may know, I had the opportunity to work extensively with Lt. Gov. Roberts on identity-theft legislation and energy-efficiency legislation during her tenure as a state senator and was always impressed by her work ethic, integrity and principles,” Auten said in an e-mail. “Rhode Island is currently faced with a number of serious interconnected challenges to our economy and our energy, transportation, health-care and education systems. I firmly believe Lt. Gov. Roberts is one of the leaders we need to help guide us through these trying times and challenges, and I am honored to have the opportunity to work on her staff.”

Old fishing gear can become fuel

An unusual program to help fishermen safely dispose of worn-out fishing gear will be unveiled tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. at Pier 9 in Newport.

Covanta Energy Corp., which operates waste-to-energy plants in Connecticut and Massachusetts, as well as around the country, is offering to accept nets and line and other debris at no charge for use as fuel in its plants.

The “Fishing for Energy” program is a partnership of the company and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and Schnitzer Steel Industries Inc.

U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse is scheduled to attend the news conference, along with Larry Mouradjian of the state Department of Environmental Management, Dave Westerholm of NOAA, Bonnie Spinazzola of the Atlantic Offshore Lobsterman Association and Christine McCoy of Covanta.

5-mile bike ride to follow river

You can join the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council on Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. for a five-mile after-work bike ride along the new paved off-road portion of the Fred Lippitt Woonasquatucket River Greenway. The ride will begin at Riverside Park on Aleppo Street, off Manton Avenue in Providence, and will go up Lyman Avenue in Johnston and will end back at Riverside Park. The ride is safe for children.

A paddle on Georgiaville Pond

On Thursday, the Woonasquatucket River Watershed Council is leading a canoe/kayak trip on the Georgiaville Pond in Smithfield. This easy paddle, from the historic Smith-Appleby House at the north end of the pond, will explore one of the hidden gems of the watershed.

Georgiaville Pond is a 90-acre pond with houses along some of the shoreline, a town park at the south end, and two islands with tall white pines on them. The trip will be a two-mile loop around the pond.

Eugenia Marks, of the Audubon Society, will talk about wildlife in this part of the watershed.

The council has some canoes and kayaks available, but participants are encouraged to bring their own. Life jackets and paddles must be brought by those using their own boats. A flashlight would also be useful.

A $10 donation is suggested for those using council boats. For those bringing their own boats, the council would welcome a donation.

For more information or to register, call Jane Sullivan at (401) 561-9046 or send e-mail to jsullivan atwrwcc.org. Advanced registration is required.

AMC plans potluck for new members

The Narragansett Chapter of the Appalachian Mountain Club will hold a potluck for new members on Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church on North Main Street in Providence.

Information will be available regarding the club’s fall hiking, climbing, conservation, paddling, camping, trail-building and bicycling plans as well as skiing and other winter activities.

Prospective members are especially welcome. Bring a dish to serve six to eight people; letters A-L bring dessert/fruit, letters K-Z bring heavy appetizers. Beverages will be supplied. There is no fee to attend and no obligation to join. Free parking is available at the church.

For more information, call Mary at (401) 647-7218 before 10 p.m. or send e-mail to mlb448@yahoo.com.

Fashion show set for Groundwork

Groundwork Providence will host Runway Earth, its seventh annual fashion show benefit, on Sept. 17, from 6:30 to 9 p.m., at Roger Williams Park Botanical Center. Featured will be local designers’ fashions made from recycled materials.

Runway Earth showcases local designers and celebrity models, including Miss Rhode Island USA 2008 Amy Diaz, House Majority Leader Gordon Fox and Thomas Deller, director of planning and development for the City of Providence.

All designs are created from reused materials. The show will include a live auction of top designs and a silent auction.

Founded in 1982 as Keep Providence Beautiful, Groundwork Providence is a private, nonprofit educational organization dedicated to building a cleaner, greener, safer, more beautiful city through environmental programming such as the Providence Neighborhood Planting Program, spring and fall cleanups, environmental job training programs and summer Green Teams.

Tickets are $35 in advance at www.groundworkprovidence.org, or $40 at the door.

For information, call (401) 351-6440.

Aquidneck summit to focus on energy

Aquidneck Island community leaders plan a daylong energy symposium Sept. 20 at Salve Regina University.

Spearheading the Aquidneck Island Energy Conference is a trio of agencies including Salve Regina University, Channing Memorial Unitarian Universalist Church and the Aquidneck Island Planning Commission. The steering committee also includes representatives from each of the three communities and Naval Station Newport.

The group’s goal is to provide information about sustainable practices for energy conservation in Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth and Naval Station Newport. According to the project’s leader, Don Mallinson, “We hope to bring the island communities together to identify opportunities to reduce our carbon footprint, achieve energy independence and explore new avenues for collaboration that will result in a healthier environment, lower energy costs as well as create new jobs.”

The event will include a keynote address by U.S. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, who is a member of the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, small groups to explore specific topics, and an exhibit area for vendors and nonprofit groups. Topics under consideration include green energy production, the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) green building program and the City of Cambridge Energy Alliance’s $100-million initiative to implement energy and clean energy generation throughout that city.

The public is invited. Registration will be from 8 to 9 a.m. A $10 donation will be solicited.

The Environmental Journal is a listing of brief news items about the actions of individuals, organizations and businesses that affect the air we breathe, the water we drink and the landscape that surrounds us. If you have comments or suggestions, please contact environment reporter Peter B. Lord at (401) 277-8036, or by e-mail at plord@projo.com or by writing him, care of the Providence Journal, 75 Fountain St., Providence, RI 02902.