Climate Change: Resources and What We Can Do

Climate Change is Heating Up Our PlanetClimate change is an existential threat to life on earth as we know it. It stems from the release of carbon dioxide and methane into the atmosphere. Most of the solutions we need to address climate change already exist. The challenge is to implement them. While decisions of national governments and major corporations will have a huge impact on the effort to address climate, numerous opportunities exist for collective action and individual changes and advocacy. The magnitude of the challenge could stymie personal action. Recognizing that we can only do what we can do, each person can have a positive impact. 

Many of our Committee's initiatives and educational activities have been driven by a goal of reducing emissions of these gases. These efforts connect directly to our mission of helping to make Lee more sustainable now and for future generations. Following are some examples (more information on some of these appears in other sections; the list includes some links to useful resources). Perhaps one or more will trigger ideas of how you can make a difference.  

  • Encouraging Recycling: Our committee was formed around 1989-1990 when Lee's landfill was closed and our waste had to be hauled elsewhere (initially to the Material Recovery Facility in Springfield). Founded as the Lee Recycling Committee, our focus was on increasing recycling and reducing trash. One of the goals of recycling is to create materials through processes that require less energy than creating new materials. Energy production using fossil fuels is a major contributor to climate change.
  • Promoting Composting: Early on, the Town started selling compost bins well below cost as part of an effort to divert food waste from the trash. And the Committee has also sold compost pails below cost. The resulting compost is excellent for enriching the soil, leading to a reduction in the use of commercial fertilizers, whose production and transportation contribute to climate change.
  • Diverting Recyclables and Compostables from the Special Event Waste Streams: Reducing Waste: In 2014 we began our zero-waste effort during Founders Weekend. The purpose was and is to divert as much as possible recyclable and compostable materials from the waste stream, thereby minimizing trash. In the last few years, our efforts have helped us divert up to and exceeding 90% of the waste from the trash. We've expanded that effort by setting up zero-waste stations at other special events in the Church Park, following the Memorial Day parade, and during UCC Community Dinners. With a steadily declining number of Landfills in the state, Massachusetts can't properly process all the trash generated within its borders, so it must ship it as far away as Alabama, Ohio, and Michigan. Transportation is another key contributor to climate change, so reducing the amount of trash helps. In addition, by separating our compostables and taking them to Meadow Farm (an industrial compost facility), we avoid the disposal of these organics in landfills where their decomposition produces methane, a more damaging contributor to climate change over the short term (20 years) than carbon dioxide). The processes used a industrial compost facilities generates a significant amount of heat that breaks down the organics with no release of methane.
  • Regulating Plastic Shopping Bags and Polystyrene Drink and Food Containers: In 2015 we initiated a joint effort with the Lenox Environmental Committee to regulate plastic bags and polystyrene drink and food containers. The purpose was to dramatically reduce the use of these products, which are made from fossil fuels, have adverse health efforts, and often ended up as roadside litter, with adverse effects on wildlife and soil quality. Lee's regulations were approved by Town Meting in 2016 and the regulations went into effect the following year. 
  • Arranging for FREE Food Waste Drop Off In Lee: In 2017 we worked with Meadow Farm to install a hopper outside its gates so Lee residents could drop off food waste instead of putting it in the trash. The benefits are described in the previous bullet. Residents have brought well over 50 tons of food waste to Meadow Farm so far. 
  • Providing Actionable Information about Environmental Issues: In 2023 we initiated a series of Learning Events at the Lee Public Library during the winter. We've also supported and participated in various educational events with direct or indirect connections to climate change. We've also donated environmental resources (books and videos) to Lee schools and the Lee library. Our Learning Events have included several sessions that relate directly or indirectly to climate change. These include:
    • Showing the documentary "Kiss the Ground" and the sequel "Common Ground" - each showing included a group discussion. We donated "Common Ground" to the Lee Public Library. These movies focus on ways to improve agricultural practices to enrich the soil, improve food quality, reduce fossil fuel intensive practices, and capture carbon dioxide in the soil. "Common Ground" in particular focused on regenerative agriculture. We held a subsequent session with staff from the Green River Regenerative Farm in Williamstown, which is using regenerative agricultural practices, and whose manager is involved worldwide in the movement through UnderstandingAg, LLC.  
    • Showing segments of the videos from "Project Drawdown"  - each showing included a group discussion
    • Holding a session on Improving Residential and Business Energy Efficiency as a Necessary Climate Change Solution, which included clean energy programs available in Berkshire County - the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission plays a key role. Learn more here. Energy efficiency is the least costly way to reduce energy use, and thereby fossil fuels.
    • We've held two sessions on food waste separation and composting, which were captured by CTSB Television.
  • Continued Promotion of Food Waste Separation and Composting: We held other recent composting sessions and had an article on reducing food waste published in the Berkshire Edge.
  • Supporting Textile Recycling: We support efforts to recycle textiles through publicizing options available in Lee and the surrounding area, including holding textile drives at special events, and having an article in the Berkshire Edge. Typically 95% of recycled textiles (which encompasses an extremely long list of items) can be reused or otherwise recycled. Keeping much out of the trash has a big positive impact on climate change. 
  • Using Special Events to Spread the Word: Over the years we've also supported and participated in events in Lee and elsewhere that promote environmental conscientiousness and stewardship of our planet, including our delayed 50th anniversary celebration of Earth Day.

Climate Change Related Organizations:

A wide-ranging list of local, regional, and national organizations exist that directly or indirectly address climate change, far too many to list here. An online search for "climate change resources" will yield an almost endless list. We highlight several in our area below. Please let us know of any others we should include:

Other Resources

Countless other resources exist that address climate change from different perspectives. Please suggest ones you have found to be particularly useful. We note one below, which was among the topics discussed at a recent Learning Event during which we showed videos from Project Drawdown (cited above).

  • “What If We Get It Right: Visions of Climate Futures" (2024) by Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. This is a candid, no holds barred look at our current situation and a wide-ranging, comprehensive exploration of possibilities for collectively addressing challenges, turning the corner, and getting it right. She taps into a wide range of experts in the book and other resources. She’s starkly realistic about our problems, but thorough and dogged in identifying and exploring possibilities to address them.