Gately and Jo, co-directors at Sustainable Westport, recently attended the 26th CT League of Conservation Voters annual Environmental Summit, where the agenda focused on bold state-level actions for clean energy, public health, and resource management. The summit focused on expanding renewable energy, strengthening pesticide regulations, and improving water resiliency through riparian buffers, while also addressing the waste crisis by diverting food scraps to reduce pollution and mandating surplus food donations to combat food insecurity.

These were their biggest takeaways from the day:

• Clean energy – Expanding solar power, community based geothermal and thermal energy networks, offshore wind, and energy efficiency programs to accelerate the state’s transition to renewables and reduce emissions, despite challenges at the federal level.
  • Looking for a local solution to residential energy? Check out our HeatSmart Westport program.
• Pesticides – Exploring concerns around the use and regulation of pesticides in the state and the environmental and public health implications of these chemicals in communities and ecosystems. 
  • Look to our Your Yard, Our Climate program and events for opportunities to learn how you can start to address these environmental and public health concerns in your own yard.
• Water Quality & Resiliency – Protecting Connecticut’s waterways and drinking water sources as part of broader environmental health strategies, specifically promoting riparian buffers which serve as flood & erosion control.
• Waste Reduction – Addressing the issues around food waste as a costly pollutant and an opportunity for food insecurity mitigation with proposals to expand the CT Commercial Organics recycling law, mandate surplus food donation, classify food scraps as recyclable material and allocate funds to food waste reduction and food recovery initiatives, programs, and infrastructure to increase capacity.
  • Join our Zero Food Waste Challenge and help us reach our goal of reducing food waste in Westport by 25%. You’ll find tips to waste less food, redistribute food to those who need it and compost food scraps.

You can download the full briefing papers here.