Cape Cod Commission Seeks Public Comment On Cape Cod Climate Action Plan

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The Cape Cod Commission has released the region’s first-ever climate action plan for a 30-day public comment period.

View the draft plan here. A summary of the plan in Portuguese can be found here.

The draft Cape Cod Climate Action Plan was informed by input gathered from a wide range of
stakeholders in an extensive and collaborative region-wide engagement and outreach effort, a
regional greenhouse gas emissions inventory, an economic and fiscal impact analysis, and a legal
and policy analysis.

The result is a comprehensive plan that sets actionable goals for Cape Cod, within the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts framework. The Climate Action Plan is intended to foster
collaborative, targeted action to address climate change in measurable ways. It details the need for
planning and identifies strategies and actions the region can take to mitigate the Cape’s
contributions to climate change and adapt to its impacts.

The plan targets the region’s highest emitting sectors, transportation and energy, as identified in the
greenhouse gas emissions inventory, and include strategies that apply more broadly to support
successful implementation of the plan. Strategies outlined will require action across all sectors and
actors, including all levels of government, businesses, non-governmental organizations, and others.

Priority strategies for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions include reducing energy consumption
and striving towards net zero energy building; promoting efficient land-use policies and
development patterns; generating and increasing the use of safe, reliable, and clean energy;
reducing vehicle miles traveled and supporting low and no carbon transportation options;
accelerating the electrification of the transportation system; and reducing emissions by increasing
and enhancing natural carbon storage.

Priority strategies for adapting to the impacts of climate change include addressing vulnerabilities in
public infrastructure and the road network; identifying approaches for managing development in
coastal resource areas; and addressing vulnerable buildings and structures through retrofits and
relocation.

The Cape Cod Commission is seeking broad feedback from the public on the draft Climate Action
Plan. Comments can be submitted via email to climate@capecodcommission.org, in writing to Cape
Cod Commission, P.O. Box 226, 3225 Main Street, Barnstable MA 02630, or by phone to 508-744-
1271. Comments are due by May 24, 2021.