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A message from Miranda

The Climate Collaborative is, in a word, thankful as the end of the year approaches. One of our priority efforts, the Massachusetts Housing Climate and Innovation Center is launching an exciting new initiative: its All-Stars program, which we highlight below.

And in keeping with the season's theme of gratitude - the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative is thrilled to announce a gift from an anonymous donor who has committed to match donations of up to $25,000 in aggregate.

Please help us take advantage of this extraordinarily generous challenge and donate by December 31. And of course, our gratitude extends to our supporters, partners, and volunteers who commit to hope every day.

Housing + Climate Innovation Center

New Cape Cod All-Stars Program

The Massachusetts Housing and Climate Innovation Center (MassHCIC) has announced its inaugural program, The All-Stars Program, which will provide an opportunity for college students (Grad and Undergrad) and Cape Cod towns and organizations to work together on projects that increase climate resilience, achieve net zero emissions and advance more affordable production and renovation of housing.

Students will spend a summer with a host family on the Cape, using facilities and resources to develop their own projects and also work on a local project. The inaugural year will target up to eight students working on eight different projects around the Cape.

Applications for students, town partners and host families will be open from 11/20/23-1/31/2024. For more information, please email admin@masshcic.org or use the form on the website, masshcic.org.



Partner Spotlight

Q+A with The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts

Miranda had a chance to catch up with Mark Robinson, Executive Director of The Compact of Cape Cod Conservation Trusts.

MDM: Can you share with us how The Compact works?

MR: The Compact is the oldest regional network of non-profit local land conservation trusts in the US. It was founded in 1986 by and for land trusts to learn how to preserve and manage open space on the Cape for conservation, water quality, habitat and passive recreational access. Compact staff provides technical assistance to its members, and many town officials, on land conservation matters, ranging from strategic mapping, negotiations, fundraising, management planning, grant writing and tax benefits. A board of directors is drawn from all member land trusts and watershed associations. The Compact manages a revolving loan fund to help purchase open space.

MDM: Describe the balancing act between conservation and preservation and the move to clean energy.

MR: Open space conservation is a major natural solution to climate change mitigation. It has taken more than a century for the Cape to regrow its forests, after being denuded for its wood-based economy in the 17th – 19th centuries. We need to keep our forests intact, as carbon sinks, wildlife habitat, air and water purifiers and for cooling the land. Alternative energy siting need not displace natural lands; studies have shown that there are more than enough developed properties to site all the wind and solar we need to reach net-zero. Popular acceptance of the need to shift to a carbon-free economy requires thoughtful siting of major facilities. State subsidies and permitting can guide siting and make good policy. We need both: natural lands and carbon-free energy.

MDM: What excites you about the Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative and why it was important to be part of it?

MR: I am proud to be associated with the Collaborative and represent the land conservation community. The Collaborative has attracted tremendous talent to its board from all walks of life on the Cape and its ability to bring so many people together through its conferences and workshops is inspirational. We all can and must work together to get to where we need to be: with the Cape as a shining example of the grass-roots acting to save our small part of the planet.



The Collaborative in the News

Dorothy Savarese receives 2023 JFK Leadership Award

Climate Collaborative President Dorothy Savarese was recognized as an outstanding community leader with the 2023 Founders Community Leadership Award at the JFK Hyannis Museum.

In accepting the award at a reception filled with some of the Cape’s civic leaders, Dorothy said John F. Kennedy’s call to service was an inspiration.

Dorothy was the longstanding CEO and President of Cape Cod 5. Pictured above with Wendy Kittredge Northcross, Executive Director of JFK Hyannis Museum and Christopher Ward, Esq., Board Member, JFK Hyannis Museum. Image courtesy of the JFK Hyannis Museum | The Studio by the Sea.

Cape Successes

Rob Brennan, attorney and housing and climate advocate, pictured with Alisa Magnotta, CEO of Housing Assistance

Housing to Protect Cape Cod 2nd Annual Summit

The Housing to Protect Cape Cod annual summit offered a chance to see where two of Cape Cod's most critical issues – housing and climate – intersect.

Climate Collaborative board president Rob Brennan presented an informative, eye-opening and inspiring housing & climate update. He shared public policy initiatives that will address our region's dire need for more housing while making sure new projects are net zero, climate resilient, and affordable.

Solutions at the intersection of the housing crisis and the climate crisis are the ultimate challenge and the ultimate opportunity. - Rob Brennan

New Sustainability Coordinator for Falmouth

After years of lobbying for a sustainability coordinator, FalCAN is thrilled to welcome Stephanie Madsen as the first Sustainability Coordinator for the Town of Falmouth. Madsen was previously the sustainability manager for Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution and brings a wealth of knowledge to her new position.

Stephanie will be addressing municipal energy and operations initiatives as well as working to advance the town’s efforts to promote sustainability.

Eastham Climate Action Network

Successful En-Lightened Living with Solar Energy Event

Congratulations to the Eastham CAN for all their efforts in helping educate Cape residents on the benefits of adding solar to their homes!

The solar energy event, held at the Eastham Public Library on October 28th, had approximately eighty highly engaged attendees — most of whom indicated that they would be more likely to invest in a solar energy system in the future.

Watch the full event recording here

Climate Resources You Can Use

We welcome climate news from your home, school, business, town, faith community, or organization. Please submit your news, events, or article ideas to info@capecodclimate.org.