Green group, All Souls to talk climate change

By ANITA FRITZ
Recorder Staff
Monday, November 9, 2015
(Published in print: Tuesday, November 10, 2015)

GREENFIELD — Greening Greenfield and All Souls Unitarian Universalist Church will hold an event to discuss concerns about climate change on Monday from 7 to 9 p.m.

“The UN Climate Conference In Paris: Challenges and Opportunities & What We Can Do” will be held Monday in the church at 399 Main St.

Participants will learn what they can do so their voices are heard in Paris later this month. They will also learn about and discuss new opportunities for taking action.

The United Nations Climate Change Conference will be held Nov. 30 through Dec. 11 in Paris.

The international conference will address the global warming challenge, said Sandra Boston, a member of Greening Greenfield and organizer of the local event.

“Will the 198 nations gathered at the Paris event be able to come to a binding resolution and yield their own national goals for development and economic growth to a higher goal of caring for our planet and the survival of future generations?” asked Boston.

Panelists who will participate in the local event include retired Greenfield Community College Professor and municipal planner Bill Gran, state Rep. Paul Mark, Jim Manwell from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and Nancy Hazard, one of the founders of Greening Greenfield.

Gran will kick off the evening with an overview of the climate change challenge, his belief in the need for action, and the role the UN conference will play. His speech will be followed by the reading of several letters written by community members to the U.S. delegation headed to Paris.

Afterward, panelists will answer questions and have a discussion. New financing to make it easier to purchase solar panels will also be discussed.

“We want our efforts to foster discussion and commitment locally and have as much impact on the Paris conference as possible,” said Hazard. “To do this, we have added this event to an international map that Avaaz.org and 350.org will use at the conference to demonstrate citizens’ commitment to address the climate crisis.”

Attendees may get to the event early or stay late to enjoy refreshments and chat with panelists and others.

The event is free and open to the public. Donations will be accepted.

Greening Greenfield will partner with Greenfield Community Television on Nov. 23 at 7 p.m. in the GCTV studio at 393 Main St. A roundtable discussion on the background of the UN climate talks and its significance will be cablecast.

For more information about the local event, call Sandra Boston at 413-774-5952.