By Emma Barhydt
In the landscape of Greenwich, where nature presents itself in breathtaking theaters—from the scenic embrace of Tod’s Point to the arboreal sanctuary of Pomerance—the natural world doesn’t merely offer a backdrop; it issues a summons. First Selectman Fred Camillo felt this call acutely in 2019 and what followed shortly thereafter was the inception of the Greenwich Sustainability Committee (GSC), a consortium where eco-aware residents can collaborate directly with the Greenwich municipal departments in a partnership that helps create sustainability projects with a widespread effect for the whole town.
Divided into six sectors to maximize efficacy, Community Culture, Food Systems, Land & Water, Legislative & Advocacy, Transportation & Air Quality, and Waste Reduction, with each presided over by a sector chair, these sects enable the GSC to act as an intermediary, funneling the energies of nonprofits and volunteers into strategic local action.
Take, for instance, the evolution of a modest proposal for bike lanes. When the Conservation Commission floated a proposal for bike lanes, the GSC ensured it received a full airing before the Board of Selectmen, ultimately culminating in the creation of the Bicycle Task Force Committee. This advocacy eventually led to the christening of the Bicycle Task Force Committee.
Co-chairs Beth Evans and Janet Stone McGuigan stand at the helm of the GSC, their eyes fixed in particular on, “Assessing and planning for the impacts of climate change.”
This past February, the committee took its philosophy from the conceptual to the concrete by inaugurating the “Sustainability Award.” A recognition bestowed upon 14 local earth stewards, the accolade serves as an extrinsic incentive for intrinsic good. The award ceremony unfolded at the “ReThink Waste Fair,” a collaboration with Waste Free Greenwich that mirrors the committee’s broader ethos of communal partnerships for sustainability.
“The GSC is excited to continue this new tradition this coming year and into the future,” remarked Evans and McGuian.
The future beckons, and the GSC responds with ambition. They have laid down the gauntlet for themselves: a Climate Resiliency Plan to be unfurled by December 2023. The blueprint aims to not only identify but also propose remedial pathways against climate-induced threats imperiling both public health and the environment.
“The goal of this plan is to first identify the major climate-related challenges that face our community, and then to suggest adaptive strategies that individuals, neighborhoods, and the Town as a whole can adopt to help combat the threats to public health and our environment,” Evans and McGuian explained.
As the tree and shorelines of Greenwich continue to attract new admirers, there is a palpable urgency to keep the town’s natural charms from becoming mere artifacts. In this endeavor, the GSC serves as both guardian and guide.
If you would like more information about the GSC, including how to get involved, contact co-chairs Beth Evans, and Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan at Janet.StoneMcGuigan@GreenwichCT.org.
