Carbon cut is Priority 1, climate plan survey finds

Reducing carbon emissions that contribute to climate change is the highest priority for inclusion in the creation of Kingston’s Climate Action Plan 2030, according to the results of a city survey.

That priority was followed closely by making Kingston more resilient so it can avoid the worst impacts of climate change; making sure the city’s plan is equitable to residents and businesses; and creating healthier, more efficient homes and communities, according to the results released Monday.

Respondents also noted priorities not included in the survey, such as addressing wood burning in Kingston, creating community gardens, and composting, among other topics.

The survey was issued by the city as part of its Climate Action Plan 2030 development process and drew nearly 300 responses, according to Mayor Steve Noble’s office. The action plan is intended to determine the next 10 years of the city’s climate goals.

The survey ranked different priorities, such as clean transportation, access to energy-efficient home improvements, local food resources, and land and water use, according to Noble’s office.

The Kingston-based nonprofit group Citizens for Local Power, which has been helping the city collect input for the Climate Action Plan, will host an online town hallstyle meeting beginning at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 20. During the event, which can be accessed at bit.ly/3mjZjBx, the group will present the survey responses and provide a forum for discussion and commentary.

Live Spanish interpretation will be provided for the event, and comments will be noted and sent anonymously to Cadmus, the environmental consultancy group that is designing Kingston’s Climate Action Plan 2030.

Also planned are smaller community conversations about the priority topics.

“The results of the survey show the commitment of Kingston residents to creating a cleaner, greener Kingston that is healthier for all,” Noble said in a statement. “... The more people who contribute to the discussion ensure that the final Climate Action

Plan 2030 will be equitable and truly representative of the diversity of our city.”