Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative to host 5th annual NetZero Conference

Virtual event, to be held on October 28, 2022, is free and open to all  

The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative will host the 5th annual NetZero conference on October 28, 2022. Climate leaders from across the globe, country, and region are coming together to focus on local climate action.  

Net Zero 2022: Tackling Climate Change on the Cape and Islands: Local Impacts, Opportunities, and Actions (NZ-22) will spotlight resources and opportunities for local climate action. The conference will be held virtually and free of charge on Friday, October 28, 2022 from 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  

The Cape and Islands region is particularly vulnerable to the devastating impacts of climate change. This year’s conference theme, “Bringing it Home,” will focus on climate impacts, opportunities and resources available to towns, organizations, and citizens working to address the climate crisis.   

Keynote speakers include Soren Hermansen, Director of Samsoe (Denmark) Energy Academy, US EPA Region 1 Administrator Dr. David Cash, and Joe Curtatone, president of the New England Clean Energy Center and former 7-term mayor of climate-forward Somerville, MA.  

Panelists and presenters include experts and advocates from economic, energy, environmental, housing, sustainability, and nonprofit sectors. Among the presenters are Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori and Deputy Director Steven Tupper, who will outline efforts to advance the goals of the Cape Cod Climate Action Plan. Their presentation will highlight projects and resources to support local climate action, including guidance on incorporating climate into local planning, model bylaws targeting specific elements of climate planning, and prioritizing resilience and adaptation projects. 

Climate collaborative president Dorothy Savarese and Executive Director Rich Delaney will open and close the conference. 

“Federal, state, and regional resources are critical to addressing climate change, but it’s at the local level where the rubber truly meets the road,” says Savarese. “This year’s theme addresses the myriad ways our region and communities can seize emerging opportunities to combat the climate crisis.” 

“We need an all-society approach to climate change that includes private, public, and nonprofit sectors and concerned citizens,” said Delaney. “Everyone can make ‘climate change’ and people can start by attending NZ-22 to learn how.” 

NZ-22 welcomes anyone interested in learning about climate change, its current and potential impacts on our region, and opportunities for regional, local, and individual action as we transition to a clean energy future.  The program content is targeted to diverse audiences including homeowners and renters, environmental justice advocates, business owners, service providers, clean energy professionals, municipal planners, energy and climate committee members, elected officials, and citizen advocates. 

To learn more and to register, please visit https://capecodclimate.org/nz-22/ 

Information from a Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative press release is included in this article.