To fight extreme heat and make the community more resilient to climate change, Columbia, MO, is using a Show Me the Heat community science project to collect heat index data and inform climate action planning and heat responses.
Topics: local leadership, climate leadership, bright ideas
To ensure the All-In Sustainability and Climate Action Plan is implemented and has impact, Clark County takes a more proactive, inclusive and data-driven approach to community and stakeholder engagement.
Topics: local leadership, climate leadership, bright ideas
One image that represents the perils of our planet is that of a landfill. Look closely and you will see food that could have been composted, plastic and paper that should have been recycled, and loads of items that could have easily been reused or repurposed. In addition, landfills are one of the largest sources of methane, a greenhouse gas that is causing climate change.
Devens, MA, has a different vision. Thanks to the nonprofit Devens Eco-Efficiency Center and The Great Exchange program, on average 30,000 pounds of resources are diverted from landfills every year.
Topics: infrastructure, local leadership, climate leadership, equity, bright ideas
We have a "brief and rapidly closing window of opportunity to secure a livable and sustainable future for all."
“We've reached the now-or-never point of limiting warming to 1.5C.”
Those were the dire warnings from the IPCC’s (Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change) most recent reports. Although the language was stunning, this was not the first alarm bell to be sounded – but it’s one of the last before it’s too late: “IPCC reports take about seven years to compile, making this potentially the last warning before the world is set irrevocably on a path to climate breakdown,” reported The Guardian.
How do we keep from being paralyzed with fear or denial?
The key is to take action. But not just any action.
Topics: local leadership, climate leadership, climate science
Topics: infrastructure, local leadership, climate leadership, equity, bright ideas
We hear a lot about turnover in local governments, but for more than two decades with the City of Cambridge, MA, John Bolduc bucked the trend. During that time he also became an icon in the world of local climate action planning.
He joined Kim on her SAS Talk podcast recently to reflect on his career, Cambridge's many achievements, the importance of cities showing bold leadership, and what he sees on the horizon.
Topics: local leadership, SAS Talk Podcast, climate leadership
We are keeping busy with a packed APA NPC agenda, including leading one workshop and presenting during a Speed Share. If you didn't come to San Diego (man you're missing some gorgeous weather!) or missed these sessions, you don't want to miss out on all the juicy knowledge and practical tools we shared.
Topics: local leadership, APA, climate leadership
Topics: local leadership, climate leadership, bright ideas, buildings, electrification
Heat pump coaches in Concord, MA, help meet a climate goal:
getting homeowners to transition to efficient heating and cooling
“Why You (and the Planet) Really Need a Heat Pump.” We saw this headline the other day and our minds went to KLA client Concord, MA.
Like many communities sifting through data to identify the biggest-bang-for-your-buck ways to slash greenhouse gas emissions, getting more residents to switch to heat pumps emerged for Concord as a top strategy. But the process of transitioning a heating or cooling system to a new fuel source – plus choosing the right equipment and installer -- can be daunting for people. To begin with, don’t assume that heat pump technology and the benefits are common knowledge. In fact, a recent survey done by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC) found that 50% of Massachusetts residents do not know what heat pumps are.
So it wasn’t surprising that in Concord the uptake of heat pumps to meet climate action goals was happening too slow and needed a nudge.
That nudge comes in the form of a coach.
Topics: community engagement, local leadership, climate leadership, bright ideas
A key but often overlooked strategy for local climate action plans is a training program for city/town/county employees to raise awareness of climate challenges and solutions among an important audience.
That wasn’t lost on KLA client San Antonio, which included “educate and empower all residents with knowledge to address climate change in the community and at the workplace” as a strategy in their Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. And they’ve already made good on that promise through a robust and ongoing employee training program.
For a city that employs 13,000 people, leading by example can make a big dent.
Topics: community engagement, local leadership, climate leadership, bright ideas
