UN says Drastic Action Needed To Avoid Climate Change Impacts

A new United Nations report, released 11/26/19, says drastic action is required to avoid the worst effects of climate change. UN Secretary-General António Guterre said:

“There has never been a more important time to listen to the science. Failure to heed these warnings and take drastic action to reverse emissions means we will continue to witness deadly and catastrophic heatwaves, storms and pollution.”

Coastal communities such as Falmouth are especially vulnerable to impacts of rising sea levels and increasing storm intensities due to climate change.

In some Massachusetts communities, organizations are striving to reduce carbon emissions. Mount Wachusett Community College in Gardner, MA, has two Vestas V82 turbines, identical to Falmouth's turbines. Gardner District Court (108 Matthews Street Gardner, MA) is within 590 feet of both turbines. Heywood Hospital is 850 feet from one turbine. Click here for an aerial view. In Falmouth, the nearest homes are about 1300 feet from the town’s turbines.

Falmouth is preparing to spend millions of dollars to abandon their two municipal turbines, despite a May 2013 vote in which all nine precincts rejected doing so. Recently approved initial spending of $2.5 million is a down-payment toward the total burden of $12 to $15 million (cost per town manager’s office, Falmouth Enterprise 9/25/15).

Although $12-$15 million is a huge cost for a small town to bear, the costs of inaction on climate change will be far greater.

Over 400 Falmouth residents have digitally signed a petition urging Selectmen to "maximize generation of clean renewable energy, and Town revenue". The petition remains open for additional signatures.

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