February 2023 | Emissions Reduction for a Cleaner Region

We’ve Heard Your Vision for a Healthier and Cleaner Future!

What We Heard: Themes from Your Feedback 

In addition to our public forums, we gathered more targeted input with local community groups, such as the Winthrop Senior Center and GreenRoots’ ECO Youth group. You can see some of the main themes we heard from across all three communities below. 

Trees and Green Space

The most frequently mentioned topic was trees, along with parks and greenspace. We heard concern around seeing trees cut down in their neighborhoods. Participants cited multiple reasons for the need to plant more trees, including improving air quality and creating more pleasant and usable open space. Some also mentioned the desire for more open and green space to spend time in for enjoyment and recreation, such as waterfront access and space for children to play. 

Emissions from Vehicles

Much of the conversation surrounding the reduction of carbon emissions focused on electric vehicles. We heard ideas for various incentives to bolster the use of electric vehicles: making it more affordable for the average household, reducing incentives for gas-powered cars, and increasing EV charging equipment infrastructure. 

Active Transportation

We heard the need for more bicycle lanes, better sidewalk maintenance, and more well-placed MBTA stops. Additionally, we got ideas like adding Blue Bike stations and electric bicycles to make it more convenient, easy, and accessible for community members to use modes of transportation that produce less or no carbon emissions.  

Recap of Events and Focus Groups

The Environmental Chelsea Organizers (ECO) youth group is a team of teens organized by GreenRoots to work on projects important to youth in Chelsea. ECO included seeking feedback from other youth on what a future with reduced carbon emissions could look like as part of their Environmental Justice workshop. This workshop included a review of Environmental Justice and DEI (Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion) principles including interactive icebreakers where attendees put themselves on an agree/disagree spectrum as a response to various questions about their current community and what they would like to see. They discussed current environmental burdens on their community and, as a closing activity, sought feedback from attendees on what they would like their community to look like in the future with specific regard to climate impact. 

We met with a group of Winthrop residents at the Senior Center for a focus group (over coffee and donuts!). The group discussed climate related impacts they’ve faced, like flooding and extreme heat, and resilience strategies they’d like to see their Town focus on, and more.  

In Revere, we’re developing a partnership with the Alliance for Health and the Environment to reach residents and advocates across the region who have been working on waste reduction and air quality improvement, so we can align our efforts. 

Photo of focus group with Winthrop residents at the Senior Center

Up Next: Prioritizing Strategies and Actions

Continue to stay in touch and give us feedback on this project as we move into the next phase of work! We will be creating strategies and actions based on the feedback and needs that all community members have expressed during the first phase of engagement before we start to prioritize them.