OneCape 2021: Day Two in Review

Climate change was the focus on Day Two of the 2021 OneCape Summit. Cape Cod Commission Executive Director Kristy Senatori shared the recently completed Cape Cod Climate Action Plan – the first of its kind for the region. The Climate Action Plan provides the basis for climate action and includes priority strategies and implementation approaches to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resilience to climate impacts.

The transportation sector is an area of critical concern when it comes to climate change. Cape Cod Commission Transportation Program Manager Steven Tupper, Cape Cod Regional Transit Authority Administrator Tom Cahir, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation Secretary and CEO Jamey Tesler sharing information about efforts to build a climate-resilient transportation network.  

Pamela Conrad, founder of Climate Positive Design and Principal of CMG Landscape Architecture has a strong ecological background focused on resiliency and climate mitigation.  Pamela’s presentation, “Designing Resilience”, focused on designing the built environment to remove more carbon than it emits. 

Emmy-award winning meteorologist and climate change reporter Chris Gloninger shared his perspectives on climate change in the region and experiences covering storms and flooding events in the greater Boston area. Gloninger’s observations include an increase in rainfall, coastal flood events, and rising temperatures.  

The Cape Cod and Islands Water Protection Fund provided $71 million in grants for water quality projects across Cape Cod. Towns are also making progress on 208 Plan implementation. Barnstable Town Manager Mark Ells, Mashpee selectman Andrew Gottlieb, and Orleans selectman Kevin Galligan participated in a panel discussion facilitated by Wendy Northcross to share the impact the Fund has had on improving water quality in their towns.  

Cape Cod Commission Deputy Director Erin Perry outlined the Cape Cod Freshwater Initiative, an effort launched by the Commission earlier this year aimed at better understanding and addressing the drivers of degradation of Cape Cod’s freshwater ponds and lakes.  

Massachusetts Secretary of Energy and Environmental Affairs Kathleen Theoharides concluded the Day Two plenary, speaking about the Commonwealth’s progress to take aggressive action on climate change, address resiliency, and build a clean energy future. 

Day Two breakout sessions included an in-depth discussion on the quality of our ponds and lakes today, work to model climate change impacts in the region, exploring climate equity on Cape Cod, enhancing bicycle and pedestrian options, and a discussion with plenary speaker Pamela Conrad who talked about maximizing carbon sequestration with the Pathfinder tool.  

Video recordings of all plenary speakers and breakout sessions can be found online at onecape.capecodcommission.org.