Within the climate action planning space, there are mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation and resilience actions to prepare for and respond to the unavoidable reality of climate change impacts that will persist and accelerate into the foreseeable future. Thus, resilience/adaptation actions are the other half of a Climate Action Plan and address the global effects of climate change ON WESTFIELD that our local mitigation actions cannot prevent.
Within the climate action planning space, there are mitigation actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and adaptation and resilience actions to prepare for and respond to the unavoidable reality of climate change impacts that will persist and accelerate into the foreseeable future. Thus, resilience/adaptation actions are the other half of a Climate Action Plan and address the global effects of climate change ON WESTFIELD that our local mitigation actions cannot prevent.
In 2023, the Town made significant progress in preparing the mitigation part of a Climate Action Plan, but resilience/adaptation measures have received somewhat less attention. The WGT is considering additional mitigation measures for funding in 2025 beyond those proposed for 2024. Given the climate related disasters of 2024 reported around the world, Westfield is of course right to do its part to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions – its carbon footprint – to meet New Jersey’s goals for reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, there are several forces at play that will not only slow – but likely reverse – progress in stemming climate change. Our local mitigation efforts will not, in the foreseeable future, reduce the adverse effects of continuing climate change on Westfield due to overall global climate change.
To be fair, the Town has begun to address climate related resilience/ adaptation in some existing plans, including the Master Plan and the County Hazard Mitigation Plan. These measures include replacing aging roofs, floodproofing foundations, and providing backup power for existing municipal facilities. However, there is a need to consolidate and reorganize these action lists according to the climate change hazards they address, and to review the status of and reset the priorities for their funding and implementation with an eye toward addressing residents’ needs. Near-term Town climate resilience and adaptation action based on the above analysis could: Community Resilience Center – The Master Plan Land Use and Circulation Element calls for four Resilience Centers to provide shelter from heat or cold for residents during power outages. This could include installing solar panels and battery storage to provide backup power generation.
Green Infrastructure – The town already has installed one rain garden, but there are concept designs for over 20 other green infrastructure projects on municipal, school and church properties where the Town could install at least one new rain garden each year.
Before the Town decides to spend more staff resources and funds on climate change mitigation measures, the Town should seriously consider reviewing its resilience and adaptation to the continuing and worsening effects of climate change IN WESTFIELD, and to fund and implement resilience/adaptation actions at least at the same level and time as mitigation measures or, arguably, at greater levels and sooner than more mitigation measures. Given the dramatic climate change impacts we saw this past summer in Westfield and New Jersey – protracted heat waves and droughts with attendant wildfires – and throughout the US and the world, with the full complement of other climate related disasters, it seems more appropriate to double down on resilience and adaptation measures before investing more in mitigation measures.
