Annual Net Zero 2022 Conference: Tackling Climate Change on the Cape & Islands

Climate leaders from across the globe, country and region to focus on local climate action

 South Yarmouth, October 18, 2022 – The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative (Climate Collaborative) announces an exciting program agenda and roster of presenters for its NET ZERO 2022 conference (NZ-22): Tackling Climate Change on the Cape & Islands: Local Impacts, Opportunities & Action, with the conference theme “Bringing It Home” spotlighting resources and opportunities for local climate action. The conference will be held virtually and free of charge on Friday, October 28, 2022, from 8:30am to 1:30pm. Keynote speakers include global, state, and regional climate leaders; panelists, presenters and moderators represent environmental, economic, policy, nonprofit, residential and business sectors.

• NZ-22 which will be virtual and free of charge, will be held Friday, October 28, 2022, from 8:30am to 1:30pm
• Registration is open here
• The Program agenda is viewable here.
• Keynote speakers are Søren Hermansen, Director of Samsøe (Denmark) Energy Academy, US EPA Region 1 Administrator Dr. David Cash and Joe Curtatone, president of the New England Clean Energy Center and former 7-term mayor of climate-forward Somerville.
• Panelists and presenters include climate and clean energy leaders from across the Commonwealth and Cape & Islands region.
• Sponsorship opportunities for businesses small and large are available through Friday, October 21 here
• Media Kit, including graphics, may be found here.

The climate crisis is bearing down on our planet and the Cape & Islands region is particularly vulnerable to its devastating impacts. Climate change is a regional challenge of such significance, in fact, that “79% of the region’s residents believe it will impact their family’s well-being,” according to a recent Cape Cod Commission survey. This year’s conference theme — Bringing It Home — will focus on the climate impacts, opportunities and resources available to towns, organizations and citizens working to address the climate crisis.

Conference keynote speakers Soren Hermansen, Dr. David Cash and Joe Curtatone will address the criticality of local climate action. Panelists and presenters include experts and advocates from economic, energy, environmental, housing, sustainability and nonprofit sectors such as Environmental Research Group, Cape Light Compact, Metropolitan Area Planning Council, Cape Cod Commission, Town of Nantucket, Housing Assistance Corporation, Community Development Partnership, Habitat for Humanity of Cape Cod and the Climate Change Climate Collaborative. Climate Collaborative President Dorothy Savarese and Executive Director Rich Delaney will open and close the conference.

According to Savarese, “Federal, state and regional resources are critical to addressing climate change, but it’s at the local level where ‘the rubber truly meets the road.’ This year’s theme — Bringing It Home — addresses the myriad ways our region and communities can seize emerging opportunities to combat the climate crisis.”

Delaney adds, “We need an all-society approach to climate change that includes private, public, and nonprofit sectors and concerned citizens. Everyone can ‘make climate change’ and people can start by attending NZ-22 to learn how.”

NZ-22 welcomes anyone interested in learning about climate change, its current and potential impacts on our region and opportunities for regional, local and individual action as we transition to a clean energy future. The program content is targeted to diverse audiences including homeowners and renters, environmental justice advocates, business owners, service providers, clean energy professionals, municipal planners, energy and climate committee members, elected officials, and citizen advocates.

The conference is free to attendees, thanks to the generous financial support of Presenting Sponsor Cape Light Compact and numerous others, including Avangrid, Vineyard Wind 1, Cape Cod 5, Cape Air, Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce and Mayflower Wind. Sponsorship supports NZ-22 and the ongoing work of the Climate Collaborative. Businesses and organizations wishing to explore levels and benefits of sponsorship should contact sponsorships@capecodclimate.org or visit the website at capecodclimate.org/nz-22/sponsorship

The Cape Cod Climate Change Collaborative is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to reduce the Cape & Islands’ contributions to climate change and protect our region from its potentially devastating impacts. Largely volunteer-run, the Climate Collaborative convenes and engages regional and cross-sector leaders in building, energy, transportation, environment, planning, policy and faith communities to broaden understanding, deepen partnerships, accelerate programs and inspire individual and collective action to counter the climate crisis. To learn more about the organization, please visit capecodclimate.org.