Despite a unanimous vote by the Select Board for the town to embrace and commit to the state’s ambitious climate goals, a proposed resolution to that effect is running into rough weather. The Parks and Recreation Commission voted unanimously last week to reject the town resolution on the grounds that the process needed to achieve the climate goals was unclear.
The resolution would commit Harvard to help achieve the state’s goal of a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and to reach net zero by 2050. As part of their push to gain support for a town climate resolution that will appear as a warrant article at the Fall Town Meeting, the Community Resiliency Working Group and the Harvard Energy Advisory Committee are soliciting endorsements from Harvard’s boards and committees.
Parks and Rec Chair Bob O’Shea said he did not want to endorse a resolution that could affect the amount of time it takes to get projects completed. “I’m a little concerned we could end up with basically adding another conservationist approach that may take any project we’re attempting to do and add six months to it.”
Paul Green, a member of HEAC, explained, “The purpose of this is not to stand in the way of development.” Green said boards and committees would be encouraged to come up with their own environmental impact statements that would be taken into consideration with each new project.
Reading from the first part of the resolution, Green said, “Harvard affirms its support for the greenhouse gas reduction goals established by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and for any subsequently adopted modifications of those goals.”
Members of Parks and Rec were troubled by the wording of the resolution, saying that the term “subsequently adopted modifications” has vague implications. “It’s just on the way it’s worded and not on the goal behind it,” said Parks and Rec member Keith Bilafer, after a unanimous vote to not endorse the resolution.
As a committee that promotes active recreation for the community, O’Shea said, “The health benefits to the children and to the adults are just as important as any fourth level factor in the equation of what active recreation does to climate change.”
CRWG Chair Ellen Sachs Leicher also discussed the town resolution with the School Committee on Monday. The School Committee is debating whether to endorse the goals and intends to vote at its next meeting.
