A Preview: Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP)

A Preview: Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP)

Medfielders are invited to a virtual community forum on the Town of Medfield Climate Action Plan (TOMCAP) on Monday, January 31st at 7:30 p.m.

Following passage of Article 22, Net Zero 2050 Goal at Town Meeting in May 2021, the Medfield Energy Committee set up a Workgroup to devise a Climate Action Plan. The group will preview the TOMCAP at this virtual forum.

The climate emergency is increasingly threatening lives and livelihoods in this country and around the world. Massachusetts has committed to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, and Net Zero emissions by 2050. The TOMCAP will be a roadmap on how the town can best reduce its carbon emissions to reach the Net Zero 2050 goal. The working group is continuing to reach out to engage stakeholders in the process. The group’s 2021 activities included a webinar introducing the TOMCAP, two booths at Medfield Day, a fall survey, and several newspaper articles.

Fred Davis, Chair of Medfield Energy Committee has said, “Technology transitions underway today, to electric cars and heat pumps, can be compared to conversions Medfielders made over a century ago. Horseless carriages and electric lights at first seemed strange but became commonplace.”

Medfielders are invited to learn about, comment on, and discuss the Climate Action Plan at the virtual community forum. The meeting link can be found on the calendar section of the town website medfield.town.net. Hilli Passas, leader of the TOMCAP Workgroup stated, "The Clean Energy transition is a historic moment for Medfield. We are making a plan for the next 30 years and we want everyone to envision the world they want to live in by 2050 and beyond. Climate change is scary for many people, but we know there are solutions we must accelerate now to address the crisis and mitigate its effects. We very much want Medfielders to hear and comment on the proposed plan; the more residents are engaged, the more robust the Climate Action Plan will be." Following the community forum on January 31st there will also be an online public comment opportunity in February.

The Climate Action Plan is expected to be published in March. For any questions, please email TOMCAP@medfield.net.