Nonprofit will unveil climate change action plan for Rochester at three-day summit

ROCHESTER N.Y. (WHEC) — A local nonprofit is unveiling a climate change action plan for the Rochester area on Friday during a climate summit at the Rochester Museum and Science Center.

The three-day summit will begin at 1 p.m. at RMSC on Friday, which is international Earth Day. The event will continue Saturday online with workshops and Sunday will be a day for service trips focused on sustainability.

Finger-Lakes-based nonprofit Climate Solutions Accelerator is hosting the summit as a forum for community leaders and residents. The organization’s executive director, Abby McHugh-Grifa, said the goal is to give people knowledge and encourage commitments to combat climate change.

“Together, we can make our region an example for others to follow by demonstrating how we can collectively create a healthier, more equitable, and environmentally sustainable community," McHugh-Grifa said.

Speakers on Friday will discuss how businesses, organizations, and Rochester residents can help to mitigate climate change. Presenters will include leaders from the RTS, Common Ground Health, Empire State Development, Seneca Park Zoo, and Christa Construction. Jerome Underwood from Action for a Better Community will also speak about tackling climate change.

The vice president of Rochester Area Community Foundation, Simeon Banister, will deliver the keynote address. Banister has been involved with initiatives to reduce carbon emissions through his co-chair role at the Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective.

"Climate change is a complex issue, which no single organization can possibly tackle on their own," said Banister. "So we must work together to equitably and quickly advance systemic climate solutions that will benefit our community as a whole.”

The event is open to the public and can participants can register online. Doors will open at 12:30 p.m. on Friday.

The presentations begin at 8:45 a.m. on Saturday and 9:30 a.m. on Sunday. For a full schedule of the summit, visit the website for Climate Solution Accelerator.

The topics of Saturday’s climate change action workshops will include:

• Youth activism
• Community organizing for climate justice
• Climate action for faith-based organizations
• Climate Communication

Climate change summit weekend schedule by Evangelos Bourtis on Scribd