Take Climate Action in Sudbury, MA!

MAY 2022 UPDATE

Article 58 passed late on the third night of Town Meeting, May 4, 2022!

Voting occurred after live presentations by Surfrider MA volunteer, Alex Vai, and one of the awesome students from the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Environmental Club.

The team defeated an unfriendly amendment that sought to reduce the requesting funding for climate action and changed the permanent Sustainability Director position to that of a consultant for 1 year.

Victory also overcame opposition from several town boards and town officials.

Town Counsel advised the Town Meeting (twice) that the article is ‘advisory’ and thus would not mandate any specific action, however, the vote sends a very clear message about the will of the voters!

This victory is a “Yes and,” resulting in a new campaign to ensure that the Town takes the necessary actions its people want advanced.

Sudbury residents (or those from other towns seeking to take similar action) are urged to contact the MA Chapter with any questions or to find out more ways to get involved.

THE CAMPAIGN

The Surfrider MA Chapter has been working closely with Sudbury residents and organizations to pass a Climate Emergency Declaration Article (Article 58) at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting this May.

To date, 23 Massachusetts municipalities have made similar declarations, including neighboring MA towns, Acton and Wayland.

If passed, the article would take three important steps to advance climate action in Sudbury:

1) It would allow Town residents to formally acknowledge that climate change is here, it is happening now, and that urgent action is needed;

2) It would direct the town to develop a comprehensive, climate-focused action plan consistent with achieving the state’s greenhouse gas reduction benchmarks; and,

3) It would fund the creation of a new Sustainability Director position as a focused resource to advance climate planning and action across all stakeholder groups in Town.

HISTORIC ACCOUNT

After collection and certification of required signatures for a citizens’ petition, the Climate Emergency Article has been officially accepted as Article 58 on the 2022 Town Meeting Warrant.

Town Meeting will start at 7:30 PM on Monday May 2, 2022 in the Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School Auditorium. Given the large number of articles, Article 58 may not come up until a subsequent evening of Town Meeting. The currently planned continuation dates are May 3, May 4, and May 9.

As part of extensive public outreach efforts, the Climate Emergency Declaration was presented to Sudbury’s Select Board on September 28, 2021 and March 22, 2022. At their March 22, 2022 meeting, the Select Board voted 3-2 to endorse the article.

Additional presentations were made to the Sudbury Finance Committee on March 14, 2022 and to the Planning Board on March 23, 2022. Unfortunately, the Finance Committee voted 1-7 against the article. The Planning Board has yet to take an official position.

Sudbury residents (or those from other towns seeking to take similar action) are urged to contact the MA Chapter with any questions or to find out more ways to get involved.

Thank you!