The Rockport Conservation Commission announces a 2023 speaker series, entitled, “Taking Action on Climate Change: What Can Rockport Do?” The free talks will be held at the Rockport Public Library on the third Wednesday of each month from February 15 to June 21, from 6 to 7:15 p.m. Refreshments will be provided.
The series is part of the Climate Action Grant awarded by the Maine Governor's Office on Policy, Innovation and the Future (GOPIF) to the Rockport Conservation Commission to fund a climate vulnerability assessment, a greenhouse gas inventory, and a public outreach campaign.
The talks stem from the project’s community engagement goals, which aim to educate residents on local climate change topics and resilience strategies. Local experts will be discussing adaptation strategies such as using native plants to mitigate impacts, energy efficiency improvements for local residents and businesses, and the role of soil practices in climate resilience. These experts will illustrate how individuals and communities can take action towards mitigation and adaptation to climate change.
Speakers include:
February 15: Soil Health: A Key to Climate and Community Resiliency - Aaron Englander, Program Manager, Maine Coast Heritage Trust
March 15: Building Climate Resilience with Native Plant Species - Rebecca Jacobs, Program Manager, Knox-Lincoln Soil & Water Conservation District
April 19: Efficiency Maine Residential Offerings - Lily McVetty, Program Manager, Efficiency Maine
May 17: Electrification of the Working Waterfront - Emma Wendt, Community Development Officer, Island Institute
June 21: Plastics, Climate and the Circular Economy, Matt Prindiville, CEO, Upstream
The first talk of the series will feature Aaron Englander, who has been working in Rockport for Maine Coast Heritage Trust as the Erickson Fields Farm and Program Manager since 2014. He will discuss how supporting land conservation, local food systems, and regenerative agriculture can help build climate resilience. Englander will share soil building techniques utilized at Maine Coast Heritage Trusts’ community farm preserves, Erickson Fields and Aldermere Farm, where they offer community agriculture programs.
The Rockport Conservation Commission believes that empowering community members with sound information will help create meaningful and sustainable responses to global climate change and ensure that future generations of Rockporters can thrive.
For more information about the Climate Speaker Series, please visit the Rockport Public Library calendar of events or contact RPL at conservation@rockportmaine.gov.
