Greenwich Selectmen Hold Off On Voting For Climate Change Emergency

GREENWICH, CT ? The Greenwich Board of Selectmen did not take any action last Thursday on a request to declare a climate change emergency, several weeks after the item was first introduced.

Brought forth by the Greenwich Environmental Advocacy Group and several local students, the declaration would provide a foundation for the town to develop future priorities, policies, plans, budgets and actions related to climate change, they say.

The resolution calls for the town and department heads, committees and commissions to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and "advocate for coordinated climate action at the municipal, regional, state and federal levels to restore a safe and sustainable climate for all living beings on earth."

First Selectman Fred Camillo said at last week's selectmen meeting that he had an issue with the wording of the resolution.

"I said from the beginning the word 'emergency' bothered me, and I think Planning & Zoning felt the same way," Camillo said. "We all agree on the goal, but we want to make sure it's not worded in a way that comes across as extreme to people."

Camillo also spoke about his concerns with the language of the resolution in a Letter to the Editor submitted the night before the selectmen meeting.

"For example, the mentioning of groups to the exclusion of others, while not done with malice, is something we all agree can be corrected easily," he said.

Selectperson Janet Stone McGuigan said some of the students behind the proposal will go off to college soon, and she wanted the board to act before that happens.

Camillo said the resolution "has to be something that's agreeable to everybody." He mentioned that meetings will be set up between the students and the Board of Estimate and Taxation and Planning & Zoning Department over the next few weeks.

"We're really encouraged and happy the students are eager to engage with all the entities in town government," Camillo added.

During the public comment portion of the meeting last week, residents argued for and against the emergency declaration.

Gail Lauridsen applauded the students for their efforts, and urged them to take control at the local level so as to avoid state and federal mandates that she said would come from an emergency declaration.

"In my opinion, Greenwich residents overall are extremely conscious of the responsible stewardship of our environment, and do not need or want the heavy-handed actions of a documented state of emergency," Lauridsen said. "This would have the potential to erode our personal freedoms and property rights. A state of emergency invariably gives our money and our power to unelected state, federal and global agencies."

Camillo said tackling the issue at the local level is more beneficial.

In the past, he's pointed to several initiatives in town like establishing an energy management advisory committee, sustainability committee and installing electric vehicle charging stations in town. Money was included in the budget this year to add two electric vehicles to the town's fleet.

"I wholeheartedly agree about change starting at home, and that's the way to do it. We like to keep things local," Camillo said.

Another resident, Rob Liflander, said the worst parts of climate change might not occur for another 20-30 years, but said there's a responsibility to address the issues now for the next generation.

"I think the word 'emergency' is very important because it sends a message and it makes a promise," Liflander said, noting that the government can take the lead on the issue.

Camillo again reiterated that he believes the word "emergency" is about a "life-or-death situation immediately."

Stone McGuigan agreed with Liflander, and said the United Nations and Harvard University are calling climate change an emergency.

"I have great respect for those organizations," Camillo said. "But they've been wrong before."