Northhampton News

City of Bethlehem issued the following on Nov. 16

City of Bethlehem to present draft Climate Action Plan for public comment during third and final public forum

City of Bethlehem to present draft Climate Action Plan for public comment during third and final public forum

The City of Bethlehem will host an online forum on Wednesday, December 9, to present a draft of the City’s Climate Action Plan. The Plan, which is being developed throughout 2020, will outline measures, policies, and strategies the City can support to reduce Bethlehem’s contribution to climate change and to adapt to the risks of a changing climate, such as extreme temperatures.

During the online forum, the City and consultants WSP and Nurture Nature Center will introduce the draft of Bethlehem’s Climate Action Plan, including its objectives, strategies, and proposed implementation approach. The Plan addresses a range of sectors, from buildings to transportation to education, with a focus on environmental justice considerations. Participants will then be asked to share their thoughts on what is included in the Plan. A period of public comment on the draft will follow the virtual meeting. All Bethlehem residents and businesses are encouraged to provide comments on the draft Plan, which will be posted on the City’s website.

To maximize accessibility, the 90-minute virtual meeting will be held twice, at both 12:00pm and 5:30pm. Each session will cover the same content. Members of the public are encouraged to register for the session that is most convenient for them at the following web address: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/rt/8918906682762217999

Bethlehem’s Climate Action Plan will establish local priorities for reducing the greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global climate change while locally improving public health, protecting Bethlehem's environment, and strengthening the city's economy. The Plan will also include a climate hazard vulnerability assessment and outline measures, policies, and strategies the City, its businesses, and residents can take to reduce climate-related risks, such as increased flooding and extreme temperatures.

The December 9 forum is the third of three public meetings planned to inform the development of the Plan before it is released in early 2021. The first public planning meeting was held on June 17 and gathered input on the goals and priorities residents hope to see reflected in the Plan. The second meeting was held on October 7 and requested public comment on proposed strategies to be included in the Plan. Following that second meeting, members of the public provided feedback on the draft strategies and indicated their priorities via an online survey.

The City’s website includes recordings of the June 17 and October 7 meetings, English and Spanish transcripts of the meetings, and further background about the planning process: https://www.bethlehem-pa.gov/Public-Wor…/Climate-Action-Plan

The City of Bethlehem has a long history of supporting climate action and leading by example. Mayor Robert J. Donchez and the City Council have committed Bethlehem to the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy, the We Are Still In initiative, the Sierra Club’s Mayors For 100% Clean Energy, and the Mayors National Climate Action Agenda. The City government has also implemented numerous greenhouse gas reduction initiatives, ranging from energy efficiency to renewable energy purchasing, which have reduced the City’s contribution to climate change from municipal operations 37 percent from 2005 to 2017.

Bethlehem City Council unanimously passed a Resolution endorsing the creation of a Climate Action Plan in February 2017. Mayor Donchez’s administration, through the Public Works department, issued a request for proposals for climate action plan preparation in June 2019. Bethlehem-based engineering firm WSP and science-based community center Nurture Nature Center, located in Easton, were selected as consultants to develop the Plan in 2020 with input from Bethlehem’s public, businesses and stakeholders.

Original source can be found here