Once the Pennsylvania legislature finally adjourned, PennFuture’s staff (most of them, anyway),

armed with video cameras and simple instructions (“use the tripod”), recorded a message of

thanks to you, our supporters.

Some joined with others to send their thanks; some expressed their gratitude individually; some

talked about the work we do; some talked about their New Year’s resolutions; and some simply

said “thank you.” (And some were too fast for our videographers, and managed to avoid our

cameras!)

What we lack in video skills, we more than make up in our commitment and dedication – and the

firm knowledge that you make all our work possible.

Thank you so much for your support in 2011.

PennFuture President and CEO Jan Jarrett with a thank you message for your help on Marcellus Shale drilling legislation – and the road forward.

On April 3, PennFuture hosted our annual global warming conference called "Clean Energy for a Cool Pittsburgh" at Duquesne University's Power Center. The event featured a number of local experts and business leaders in the fields of renewable energy, alternative transportation and green buildings, examining the ways that Pittsburgh-area organizations and businesses are succeeding at new ventures and new approaches that reduce Pennsylvania's contributions to climate change.

This podcast features U.S. Representative Mike Doyle (D- PA 14), who spoke about the fight in Congress to combat climate change, and the prospects for change in the near future. He also introduced one of the other featured speakers at the event, Kate Gordon, vice president for energy policy at the Center for American Progress in Washington, D.C.

Representative Doyle’s comments include his family history in Pittsburgh and the impact of global warming on area industries, and how combating climate change will improve both the economy and the environment. Doyle opened his presentation with his one magic answer for cutting the gridlock in Washington on global warming.

To learn more about how you can join PennFuture's efforts to cool Pennsylvania's contributions to global warming and to promote and develop our reliance on clean, renewable energy options, visit our website. There you can also make a donation that supports our continued leadership on these issues. If you're in the Pittsburgh area, sign up for our Black & Gold City Goes Green campaign and track how your actions are helping to cut carbon and unhealthy air pollution.

Philadelphia has made extraordinary progress since 2007, when PennFuture and 130 other community, faith, environmental, business, and union organizations declared that the City of Brotherly Love could be the Next Great City if everyone worked together to create cleaner, safer & healthier neighborhoods.

To do that, the Next Great City Coalition (NGC) challenged all candidates for Philadelphia mayor to commit to 10 commonsense action steps that would improve the city. Since then, the coalition and Mayor Michael Nutter have accomplished nearly all the action steps outlined.

On St. Patrick's Day 2011, the Coalition launched Next Great City 2 -- bringing candidates for Philadelphia City Council into the NGC fold. This time, all City Council candidates are being asked to commit to 5 additional action steps.

This video podcast features that Campaign launch, which was held at the Academy of Natural Sciences, which is home -- as you will plainly hear -- to an African parrot who added its two cents to the event.