SWAMPSCOTT — The town’s Renewable Energy Committee has teamed up with the Conservation Commission and the Open Space and Recreation Committee to create a Climate Action Survey that seeks responses from residents on transportation, heating and cooling their homes, and town open spaces.
The launch of the survey came after Town Meeting in May adopted a non-binding resolution to develop a comprehensive Climate Action Plan that will “identify actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency to prepare Swampscott for the inevitable impacts of climate change.”
The survey is intended to gather “initial thoughts on topics related to transport, heating and cooling your home and town open spaces.”
“The Swampscott Climate Action and Resilience Coalition, a group of resident volunteers, is in the early stages of developing our Climate Action Plan incorporating existing plans and studies that have already been completed by the town and other communities in Massachusetts,” the survey reads. “Given the nature of the goals involved and the actions necessary to reach them, it will require changes in how we operate as a community, region, and state, and therefore your input is vital to the process.”
It begins by asking about the survey taker’s relationship to Swampscott, what their living situation is, and how concerned they are about climate change. From there, questions get more detailed, asking how respondents stay cool in the summer and stay warm in the winter as well as how they travel to and get around town.
The survey also asks respondents what outdoor spaces they use in Swampscott and how they interact with them as well as what they like about outdoor spaces in the town and how they would change them.
The survey notes that there will be future opportunities for residents to share their opinions about climate change at public meetings and in-person forums going forward.
Those looking to fill out the survey and share their opinions can find it at https://www.swampscottma.gov/home/news/swampscott-climate-action-survey.
Charlie McKenna can be reached at [email protected].
