Chelmsford Select Board To Form Sustainability Committee

CHELMSFORD, MA — The Chelmsford Select Board voted unanimously Monday evening in favor of creating a Sustainability Committee to work toward a goal of net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.

The new committee will work toward the town's emissions goal by assessing greenhouse gas emissions, promoting actions to reduce carbon emissions, and making recommendations of specific town actions to reduce carbon use.

The proposal to form the a climate committee was made by physicist Bern Kosicki of the Chelmsford Climate Action Team at the spring annual town meeting, who urged Select Board members to adopt Article 28, a "Resolution to Address Climate Change."

The Select Board had some discussion about what the committee should be named, with suggestions including "Climate Change Committee," but ultimately deciding upon "Sustainability Committee." Members also determined that the committee will be comprised of nine members with three staggered terms.

The Sustainability Committee volunteer opportunity will be posted on the towns website, said Select Board members. They will specifically be seeking out residents from various backgrounds to create a diverse committee.