Published September 6, 2019
MELROSE – Do you have what it takes to help your community reduce greenhouse gas emissions and get to net zero?
Join Melrose staff and Melrose Climate Action volunteers at the annual Victorian Fair on Sunday, Sept. 8 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Main and East Foster streets to learn more about the importance of your community’s net zero plan, and find out how you and your neighbors can start your journeys as Melrose’s net zero heroes. Learn more by visiting their Victorian Fair booth and by visiting mapc.org/resource-library/planning-for-net-zero-by-2050.
With technical support from the Metropolitan Area Planning Council (MAPC), Melrose as well as Arlington and Natick are embarking on a planning process to identify the bold and impactful actions each community will need to take in the next 30 years to dramatically reduce the levels of greenhouse gas emissions released each year. Over the next year and a half, MAPC will work with each municipality to establish greenhouse gas emissions inventories and local net zero action plans.
MAPC is the regional planning agency serving Melrose and 100 other cities and towns in Greater Boston. Their mission is to promote smart growth and regional collaboration.
According to MAPC, science makes clear that we must cut greenhouse gas emissions by half in the next 10 years and reach net zero in the next 30 years, or face irreversible harmful effects to our planet. Achieving net zero means reducing greenhouse gas output to the point where any remaining emissions can be offset by capturing and storing carbon and relying on renewable sources of energy.
“We are thrilled to see more and more cities and towns across the MAPC region committing to the bold actions necessary to reduce their carbon footprint,” said Cammy Peterson, Director of Clean Energy at MAPC. “Through this project, and our Zero to 101 Initiative, we hope to make it possible for communities of all sizes and capacities to develop actionable plans to meet these ambitious goals.”
“The citizens of Melrose are really excited to get started on this planning process. The community has been very supportive of our sustainability initiatives over the years and we can’t wait to roll up our sleeves and get to work on another important project with MAPC,” said Martha Grover from the Melrose Office of Planning and Community Development. “And working with Natick and Arlington at the same time is such a fantastic learning opportunity for us.”
MAPC’s work with the three municipalities is supported by a planning assistance grant from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs (EOEEA), with matching funding from the City of Melrose, the Town of Arlington, the Town of Natick, and MAPC, with support from the Barr Foundation.
Through this process, MAPC will also identify robust strategies for local net zero plans and develop a suite of public resources, including Massachusetts-specific guidance on developing greenhouse gas inventories.
For any questions regarding the planning assistance grant funded project, contact Megan Aki, MAPC Clean Energy Analyst II, at maki@mapc.org.
To learn more about how to get involved with the Melrose Climate Action committee, contact Martha Grover at mgrover@cityofmelrose.org or at 781-979-4195.
