My 11-year-old son constantly reminds me of our family’s carbon footprint. He tells me that the average American uses 16 tons of carbon a year and in order to offset that 600 mature trees would be needed!
In our home, we are personally taking action to try and decrease our footprint. We have planted trees, insulated our home, reduced our meat consumption, and started composting, to name a few, but this is not enough. Imagine if we as a town could have a greater impact.
Harvard has taken great steps in becoming more green and reducing its carbon footprint, from sourcing sustainable energy (wind power for our electricity) to protecting green spaces that can sequester carbon. These steps, however, are just the beginning of what we can achieve together.
The Community Resilience Working Group is proposing a resolution to address climate change. By voting in favor of the climate resolution, we as a town are committing to coordinate with others to respond to the threats of climate change. We are committing to reduce our greenhouse gas production, and we are committing to help preserve our beautiful Earth for our wonderful children, who already ponder the effects of our poor actions.
The resolution takes into consideration our evolving understanding of what needs to be done to combat climate change while providing a systematic way to collaborate easily with town boards and decrease our effect on the environment.
I hope that Harvard votes in favor of this resolution to protect our beautiful town, and so we, our children, and grandchildren can continue to enjoy the wonders of the pond and walk our beautiful trails.
I also hope that Harvard votes in favor of this resolution so that my son knows we care, and that we listen, and also so my son can happily report to me that we are finally on our way to becoming net-zero.
Sarah Saleh
Massachusetts Avenue
