By Anjali Kishore
Earth Month in Greenwich is quickly coming to an end, even as it feels like the world is finally beginning to wake up from its winter slump.It’s hard not to feel an appreciation for Mother Nature no matter where you may be in town – from Tod’s Point’s softly rollicking shoreline, to the lush greenness of Backcountry, there’s a lot to love, and in some ways it feels like celebrating the earth is an everyday thing.
That said, this occasion is a perfect time for locals to rethink our commitment to the environment and sustainability; it can sometimes feel overwhelming to square up, as an individual or even a family, against the daunting threat of climate change. However, each and every one of us has the ability to make an impact in a myriad of small ways, from reconsidering how you grocery shop to taking an hour or two out of your weekend to take part in in town activities, especially during April. We sat down with Sarah Coccaro, Town of Greenwich Resource Manager and member of the town’s Conservation Commission, to discuss the Commission’s work, as well as changes that we as citizens could make in order to further improve our community’s environmental impact.
With a background in marine biology and maritime archaeology, Coccaro is used to balancing the worlds of culture and science, something that she’s found helpful in her work as resource manager. One of the major issues that the climate movement has run into is being able to incorporate scientific understandings of what must be done in order to curb climate change and other drastic environmental threats that we’re facing into the cultural framework we’ve already put in place which supports our global economy and society. In order to do so, local organizations such as the town’s Conservation Commission are critically important: being able to make incremental changes in local economies and communities, such as the town offering such as placing restrictions on single-use plastic bags, or the Solarize Greenwich initiative, in which the town aims to incentivize clean energy usage by offering highly discounted solar panels, we as a town are able to contribute to the larger collective goal of furthering sustainability in an extremely accessible way.
The Conservation Commission works to incorporate heavy-hitting environmental impact into our daily lives by partnering with scientifically-oriented organizations such as Princeton Hydro Team, an ecological engineering consultancy, as well as engaging in community-based initiatives such as outreach and education opportunities. With Princeton Hydro, the Commission is conducting a thorough evaluation of “public properties and infrastructure vulnerability from Coastal Flooding and Sea Level Rise scenarios”, explains Coccaro. A particularly important issue in coastal areas such as ours, the storm- and damage-resistant infrastructure audit that the Town is undertaking in partnership with Princeton Hydro Team represents an aspect of sustainability that most of us probably don’t consider on a regular basis. However, two meetings concerning the initiative are open to the public – those with questions should reach out to Patricia Sesto, the Town’s environmental affairs director. The Conservation Commission’s goal with this project is not only to get the evaluation done, but offer citizens a chance to glimpse behind-the-scenes to our local government’s sustainability efforts, and make use of a public forum to address questions that may arise.
Another important part of the Commission’s work is outreach and education, especially prevalent during Earth Month, when they hold daily events and Webinars that seek to educate Greenwich citizens on things like food system equity, while also hosting light-hearted nature walks and guest authors. Additionally, many resources for environmental education are available on the Town’s website. While, says Coccaro, “our goals vary year to year, season to season” to keep up with new ideas and innovations that are always emerging in the sustainability space, education remains perennially important. “Sustainability takes on many forms, not just environmental sustainability,” explains Coccaro, and it’s critical that we stay informed on the different facets of the sustainability movement.
A movement which has, undoubtedly, been making massive headway in Greenwich; twice in a row, we’ve been awarded Sustainable CT’s highest certification level, Silver. “While the Conservation Commission spearheaded the application,” says Coccaro, “the certification is a reflection on the entire Greenwich community.” Even beyond the Commission, whose members are chosen by the First Selectman, there are dozens of citizen environmental groups around town who regularly meet with the Commission and other arms of our local government. She urges citizens to get out and involved in town-wide initiatives: “We’re trying to make sure the things we love about our community are not just around for future generations, but better.”
So April may be over soon, but that doesn’t mean our renewed focus on environmental issues needs to, as well. It’s as easy as a Sunday stroll on the Sound, or rethinking small things like yard equipment and plastic bag usage. This month and beyond, consider little ways that you could renew your appreciation for the incredible natural presence we’re lucky enough to have– you won’t regret it!
