Westwood - A Better, Brighter Future

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Climate Action, Resiliency & Sustainability Plan (CRS Plan)

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Westwood - A Better, Brighter Future is our campaign for a just and sustainable future – our Town government is stepping up to lead by example! In September 2023 we established a Climate Action Taskforce to advise our Town Planner to collect and analyze data, complete a series of community assessments, engage Town staff, residents, and other key stakeholders and complete a Climate Action, Resiliency & Sustainability Plan (CRS Plan) for the Town of Westwood. The CRS plan was adopted by the Westwood Planning Board on December 10, 2024. We'll build on our Town's great climate and energy work, strategic investment, and commitment to excellence as we take collective action for a just and sustainable future.

Click the image below to view the plan!

PSA Video

About the Project

The Town of Westwood is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment. In recent years, residents have expressed their desire to see the Town’s local government reduce its negative impact on the environment. This is evidenced by various actions to improve the environment. Examples include the Town's Comprehensive Plan in 2020 with robust Sustainability and Resiliency goals, its designation as a Green Community with over 50 projects completed and over $2.5 million dedicated to energy reduction and infrastructure improvements, the Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Plan, Hazard Mitigation Plan, and more.

The purpose of this plan is to prioritize the Town’s local government’s efforts to better adapt to climate change and to further educate residents to take individual eco-friendly actions. Today, climate change is forcing us to grapple with more intense storms, flooding, heat waves and more, and it's clear that these challenges require ingenuity and dedication. For Westwood, it's an opportunity to embrace forward-thinking, climate-ready solutions guided by our past and powered by a shared vision for a healthy, safe, and resilient future, for all. Starting in September the Climate Action Taskforce will embark on a nine month process to collect data and information and get feedback from stakeholders to draft and finalize the CRS Plan. An Indigenous Proverb states: “We do not inherit the Earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children.” Through Westwood - A Better, Brighter Future, we will streamline our climate and energy plans, establish guiding principles, goals, and create action steps towards a more just and sustainable future.

Climate Action Taskforce

Westwood's Climate Action Taskforce held a kick-off meeting on Thursday September 14, 2023 at 1:30 PM at 50 Carby Street. There was a brief overview of the plan and the group decided on guiding principles and goals. A copy of the presentation can be found in the documents section below.

Climate Action Taskforce Members

Climate Action Taskforce List

Focus Areas

Our plan will focus on five key areas of Town operations:

Guiding Principles

Promote Comprehensive Climate Action & Resiliency Planning,
Educate the greater community regarding the urgency around climate change action,
Promote Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions reduction,
Promote clean renewable energy use,
Promote an equitable, clean & healthy community.

Goals

Town Synchronization & Public Education
Transportation Improvements
85% Townwide GHG Emissions Reduction in 2040
Zero Waste & Stormwater Master Plan
Improved Resiliency
Land Preservation and Rehabilitation
Netzero Townwide GHG Emissions Reduction in 2060

Community Visioning Sessions

The Climate Action Taskforce & Planning Division of the Community & Economic Development Department held a set of visioning sessions in October and November to gauge public interest and input into the CRS Plan. Westwood Media Center was able to record the first session which can be viewed below. A copy of the slides can be found below in the Documents section.

Considering Microgrids - Tufts University

In the fall of 2023, the Town Planner applied for and was selected to partner with Tufts University’s Urban & Environmental Policy & Planning Department, Tufts UEP. This partnership comprised of working with a team of graduate students in the Spring 2024 semester. The project was called “Considering Microgrids to Give Westwood a Better, Brighter Future." The Town Planner and Housing & Land Use Planner consulted and guided the students during the process. The student presented at a public meeting on April 11, 2024 (video below). The final report is available for viewing and can be found in the Documents section.