How municipalities can respond to climate change
Over its long history, Vermont has seen its share of challenges. From deforestation to droughts to flooding, our landscape has shown its strength and ability to recover. But our people have also shown resilience in the way we come together to address our problems. Climate change isn’t new. It’s been around for quite a while, and the historical problems, like flooding and drought, are worsening. But these days it all feels a little different— the problems are coming at us all at once, and the severity of their impacts are all the more apparent. Now more than ever, Vermont communities are planning for our climate future, by putting infrastructure for resilience in place and also in devising new systems that adapt to our rapidly changing reality.
Much of the recent action on climate has been at the state policy level, but Vermont’s Climate Action plan identifies strategies and actions that municipalities can engage in to prepare and respond to a changing climate. Please join us for this exciting conference to learn more about what you can do! Register Here.
We are thrilled to announce that Taj Schottland (Trust for Public Land) and Zoe Richards (Burlington Conservation Commission) will be providing the keynote address, which will touch on the following:
There is a growing movement of towns and cities across the country that are turning to nature-based climate solutions that are rooted in three climate-action objectives: improve community resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere, and address long-standing structural inequities that have resulted in low-income and historically disenfranchised populations being disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. This work is being led by a coalition of NGOs, researchers, and municipalities working together over the last three years to pilot new approaches, document benefits, and build the capacity of others to use nature to deliver climate action. This talk will explore the latest science behind nature-based climate solutions, share resources and lessons learned from a network of cities advancing nature-based climate strategies, and highlight how Burlington, Vermont’s largest city, is doubling down on nature-based climate action to reduce emissions, improve public health, and create a more equitable and resilient city.
Other workshops include; Intact Freshwater Systems Build Climate Resilience (Jon Groveman and Karina Dailey, VNRC), Peeling “resiliency” like an onion (Ben Rose, VT Emergency Management), Developing a Municipal Climate Toolkit: Expanding Your Town’s Capacity to Tackle Climate Change (Marian Wolz Climate Action Office at the Agency of Natural Resources), Using BioFinder to Learn about Climate Resilience (Jens Hilke, VT Fish & Wildlife Department), VT Climate forecasts and thoughts on Adaptation (Lesley-Ann Dupigny-Giroux, State Climatologist), Town Action Towards Resilient Community – You Are the Hero You Seek (Chris Campany, Windham Regional Commission) & more! Learn More at AVCC 2022 Conservation Summit
Who: Open to everyone! This event serves as the Annual Meeting for AVCC. We welcome current commissioners, community volunteers, and those interested in becoming more involved in their community.
When: Saturday, October 15, 2022 8:30-3:30p.m.
Where: Lake Morey Resort, Fairlee VT (Google Maps)
Cost: Early Bird (Until October 1st!) – $30 for AVCC members and $40 for non-members Regular Registration (10/1 until 10/15) – $35 for AVCC members and $45 for non-members
How do I know if I’m an AVCC member? Click here to see if your commission is a dues-paid member of AVCC this year.
Registration: Registration is strongly encouraged by Oct 10th! Day of registration will be accepted but we can’t guarantee that we’ll have enough lunch. Register here.
Submit a Success Story!
AVCC operates an archive of conservation success stories from around the state. Check them out and submit your own here