I want to add to this thread as I only now got time to read it. If you are like me and left it in your inbox to read later as it was too long to read on the go, I encourage you to go back and read it. I find it so encouraging to know that we as a town are trying to do our part. Change comes in many small steps. >From reading this email from the Climate Action team I can only guess how many hours they have put into researching this! Thank you, Sue and members of the team! Your work makes a great difference! I have made changes over the years because of your research and encouragement and I know many of my friends have done so too. Gratefully, Ursula
On Tue, Feb 15, 2022 at 10:16 AM Climate Action < [email protected]> wrote: > The global climate crisis has us all wondering what we can do now and for > the next generation. The great news is that, as a town, we are not > powerless. Lincoln is going to develop a Climate Action Plan that will > address climate change on many levels! > > > > Massachusetts is legally committed to net zero greenhouse gas (GHG) > emissions by 2050 and a 50 percent reduction from 1990 levels by 2030. That > means we in Massachusetts must cut our use of fossil fuels by about one > third in eight years, a drastic reduction in the use of natural gas, oil > and propane to heat and cool houses, to run our cars, trucks, and buses, > and to generate electricity. > > (See https://malegislature.gov/Laws/SessionLaws/Acts/2021/Chapter8) > > > > For the last year, volunteers from Climate Action Lincoln, a subcommittee > of the Green Energy Committee, have been learning about climate plans from > our neighboring towns. All of them—Lexington, Concord, Carlisle, Weston, > Arlington, Cambridge, Acton—have comprehensive plans and most have > Sustainability Managers. We have also met with 12 Town boards and > committees to hear about their efforts. > > > > While Lincoln has done a lot to protect the environment, become more > energy efficient, and reduce GHG emissions, there is more we can do > together as a community. > > > > We are pleased to announce that Jennifer Curtin, Assistant Director of > Planning and Land Use, will support our efforts. She is working to secure > grant funding for a consultant to lead Lincoln through development of a > Climate Action Plan. > > > > A Climate Action Plan will address the interconnected issues of the > climate crisis: > > - Electrification with renewable energy to reduce GHG emissions > - Mitigation and adaptation to climate impacts > - Ensuring environmental justice and supporting vulnerable populations > - Safeguarding public health > - Creating sustainable and resilient infrastructure > - Protecting and regenerating ecological systems, including back > yards, forests, open space, farms, and wetlands. > > > > A Climate Action Plan will also coordinate and recommend municipal, > commercial, and residential actions. It will address the built environment, > transportation, energy production, waste, and land use in Lincoln. > > > > Town-wide participation is critical to developing a Climate Action Plan > that will achieve results, not just sit on a shelf or a website! In > Lincoln, actions by residents will be crucial to the success of a plan as > Lincoln has very small commercial and municipal sectors. The process of > developing a plan will include: > > - Visioning: Engagement of all residents and stakeholders in town > - Data: Energy use, GHG emissions, carbon storage > - Analysis: Vulnerable populations, housing, infrastructure, > transportation > - Goals: Align with state and federal goals; interpret for residents > - Implementation: Timelines, accountable parties, measurement > - Financial implications: for the Town budget > > > > As the Town works to secure funding for the plan, Climate Action Lincoln > would like to engage residents. To join our group, receive updates on our > progress, or arrange a presentation for your organization, please contact > us at [email protected] or reach out to one of our members: > > > > Sue Klem, Chair > > Roy Harvey > > Emily Haslett > > Staci Montori > > Lynne Smith > > > -- > The LincolnTalk mailing list. > To post, send mail to [email protected]. > Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. > Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/ > . > Change your subscription settings at > https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln. > >
-- The LincolnTalk mailing list. To post, send mail to [email protected]. Search the archives at http://lincoln.2330058.n4.nabble.com/. Browse the archives at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/private/lincoln/. Change your subscription settings at https://pairlist9.pair.net/mailman/listinfo/lincoln.
