It is apparent that 2023 will go down as a climate tipping point, the year that the global existential threat of climate change went mainstream. As The Guardian said last month, “Climate scientists say the heat and other extreme weather is in line with three decades of scientific prediction amid humanity’s relentless carbon emissions. It might, in fact, be the tip of the iceberg compared with what is to come.”

How we prepare for supercharged storms or extreme heat or sea level rise or climate-related public health crises matters here on Cape Ann. Luckily, TownGreen is focused on making sure that residents, communities, and businesses are prepared for the changes to come.

Last week, Dr. David Burdick from UNH and Professor Charles Waldheim of Harvard’s Graduate School of Design outlined how the Great Marsh is an essential and vital buffer for the Town of Essex, a natural system that will allow Essex and other parts of Cape Ann to be more resilient to climate change impacts. Peter Phippen and Hannah Mogensen from Mass Bay National Estuary Program led a TownGreen field trip to show how the high and low marshes are changing, including areas of marsh die off. The Essex webinars and field trips really made a difference in our audience's understanding of climate threats in Essex. You can watch a recording of the webinar below and, for the first time, watch a video from the field trip that was live streamed on Facebook with the help of Bruce Bemis (thanks Bruce!).

We know that utilizing existing and restoring natural systems are the best frontline climate solutions. What are the possibilities for ecological restoration on Cape Ann? We will soon find out as Harvard's The Case for Cape Ann study turns its attention in this direction and will release a report in 2024 that outlines natural system restoration projects, a list for Cape Ann to consider, such as the Good Harbor ecosystem, Dogtown, and marsh restoration. Senator Bruce Tarr and Representative Ann-Margaret Ferrante helped us secure the state appropriated $200K for this study.

To prepare for the work that’s ahead in our communities, and with the help of TownGreen’s Advisory Council and the public, TownGreen is nearing completion on a new strategic plan. It will guide our activities with bold goals and focus on building new and existing partnerships to expand TownGreen climate education, actions, and advocacy.

Your support is vital to our mission, and we welcome your feedback. Have a conversation with us!

Best,

Dick Prouty
Chair, TownGreen Board of Directors

Did you know that colonialists exploited the marsh for more uses than just salt hay? Did you know that the draining of the marsh to grow crops did significant damage to its resiliency and that it is still evident and visible today? Did you know that we can enhance the resiliency of our marshes in significant ways that have a high climate return on investment? Watch this 50-minute webinar to find out the answers.

Did you know that colonialists exploited the marsh for more uses than just salt hay? Did you know that the draining of the marsh to grow crops did significant damage to its resiliency and that it is still evident and visible today? Did you know that we can enhance the resiliency of our marshes in significant ways that have a high climate return on investment? Watch this 50-minute webinar to find out the answers.

Watch the Field Trip Video!
Peter Phippen and Hannah Mogensen from
Massachusetts Bay National Estuary Program

We are pleased to announce that TownGreen will release a new strategic plan in January 2024. Last June, the TownGreen Board of Directors hired Larry Childs to guide the strategic planning process, assisting us in the deliberate work of fine tuning TownGreen’s strategy as we continue to experience growth and interest in the climate education and community engagement programs that we offer. The last time TownGreen did this was 2017. A lot has changed since then: TownGreen is a 501(c)(3); we created a 24-member Advisory Council; and we hired Maureen Aylward as our executive director to guide the work. Most of all? Climate change has accelerated faster than we thought and is now a bigger and more urgent threat to Cape Ann. The demand for climate awareness education is significant, which means more public convenings are needed and communities must mobilize and act on climate. We have much to do in the years ahead.

This week, we were asked by a TownGreen supporter, “How is it that TownGreen is able to do all this work to educate us here on Cape Ann?” TownGreen, with the help of our partners, is at the forefront of a shift toward community-based climate awareness and education. We believe our focus on climate science, action, organization, collaboration, and openness to ideas and feedback is helping us achieve greater impact. We’ve learned a lot since TownGreen was a committee of the Gloucester Meetinghouse Foundation. We’ve helped to make climate a talking point for our communities – along with strong climate programming and communication.

TownGreen’s mission is our guide: To be a catalyst in assisting the Greater Cape Ann region to become a vibrant and inclusive model of sustainability that is fossil fuel free and better prepared for the impacts of climate change. Our new strategic plan has three areas of focus:

• Climate awareness education,
• Municipal and organizational partnerships for coastal resilience and sustainability, and
• Advocacy and action

Bold goals and objectives with depth and vision will direct our work with a strong operational and financial foundation.

Recent meetings with the TownGreen Advisory Council and the public, during which we solicited feedback on the plan’s goals and objectives, allowed us to incorporate valuable perspectives and viewpoints. We plan to continue these feedback sessions as we move into 2024 and 2025 to stay on point. We invite you to participate with us. TownGreen’s Board will complete the strategic planning process in December to cap off a remarkable year.

We’re recording our next podcast in mid-November just in time for your Thanksgiving drive or while baking pies. Follow us on our social channels (links below) for news about the next Nature Wins episode drop and subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and Google Podcasts.

Episode 2: $5.38 Million for Ecological Restoration
Host Maureen Aylward interviews Eric Hutchins, NOAA Fisheries Habitat Restoration Biologist, about the $5.38 million National Grid settlement to state and federal natural resources trustees to resolve Gloucester Harbor pollution claims caused by the former Gloucester Gas Light Co.

Episode 3: Nature Wins Holiday Show spotlights Cape Ann artists who are addressing climate change in their art. Out in mid-December.

Gloucester 400+ and TownGreen Present 
Future of Gloucester: Climate Change
MAGMA, 11 Pleasant Street, Gloucester

A panel of local experts will address Gloucester's future in the era of climate change, such as sea level rise, food security, ecological restoration, youth voice and activism, and mitigation. Panelists include:

• Dr. Jayne Knott, President of HydroPredictions and TownGreen Board Vice-Chair
• Eric Hutchins, NOAA Fisheries Habitat Restoration Biologist
• Tucker Smith, Owner and Farmer at Cedar Rock Gardens
• Velia Wrinn, Gloucester High School Student

Following the discussion, audience members can take part in an interactive activity. Movement Impaired Accessibility through Brown’s Mall: Access the door to the right of the main entrance or enter at 186 Main Street and take the elevator to the 5th floor.