Salem and Beverly to Create Climate Action and Resilience Plan

The Cities of Salem and Beverly have officially kicked off Resilient Together, their collective plan to address climate change.

The Climate Action and Resilience plan focuses on reducing the cities’ greenhouse gas (“GHG”) emissions- the primary pollution that is causing disruption to our climate. Through Resilient Together, the cities strive to exceed Massachusetts’ commitment to carbon neutrality by 2050 while also enhancing the economic, environmental, and social resilience of both communities.

“Salem and Beverly are connected by a shared vision for a resilient future in the face of challenges like rising sea levels, increased heat waves and drought, and more intense storms, all of which will exacerbate existing inequities,” said Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll. “Resilient Together will ensure that our communities are more safe, healthy, and thriving now and in the future by reducing our own negative impacts on the environment.”

To ensure an inclusive process, Beverly and Salem are inviting residents and business owners to participate in an online survey (https://resilienttogether.metroquest.com/) where they can share their perceptions, concerns, and priorities as they relate to the environment and community resiliency. The online survey takes approximately five minutes to complete and will be active throughout the month of October. It is also offered in Spanish (https://rtspanish1.metroquest.com/) and Portuguese (https://rtportuguese1.metroquest.com/). A hard copy version of the survey is available on the project website in Albanian as well.

“Truly learning what matters to our residents and other stakeholders in terms of climate change will result in a more robust and effective final plan,” said Beverly Mayor Michael P. Cahill. “We encourage everyone to share their input on how we can take action to become more resilient communities."

Beverly and Salem’s newly-launched website http://www.resilienttogether.org also provides an overview of the plan timeline, focus areas, core principles, and ways to engage. The Cities will continuously update the website to keep the community informed on their progress.

Click here to listen to an audio version of this announcement.