Climate Action and Resiliency Plan

About the Project

The Town of Shrewsbury is committed to reducing its negative impact on the environment. In recent years, residents have expressed their desire to see the Town’s local government reduce its negative impact on the environment. This is evidenced by Town Meeting’s actions to improve the environment such as initiating a plastic bag ban in 2016, formally declaring opposition to the construction of a natural gas pipeline in 2017, implementing a polystyrene ban in 2018, declaring a climate emergency in 2020, and the vote to designate funds for the creation of a Climate Action and Resiliency Plan at the 2022 Annual Town Meeting. In response, the Town’s government has taken several actions on its own, including SELCO’s commitment to be carbon neutral by 2032 and the Town’s membership in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness Program. The Town has received a grant in the amount of $100,000 through the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Municipal Vulnerability Preparedness (MVP) program as well to support the development of this plan.

The purpose of this plan is to prioritize the Town’s local government’s efforts to better adapt to climate change and to educate, but not compel, residents to take individual eco-friendly actions. Today, climate change is forcing us to grapple with more intense storms, flooding, heat waves and more, and it's clear that these challenges require creativity and collaboration. For Shrewsbury, it's an opportunity to embrace forward-thinking, climate-ready solutions guided by our past and powered by a shared vision for a healthy, safe, and resilient future, for all. Through All In Shrewsbury, we'll build on our Town's rich history of strategic investment and a commitment to excellence as we take collective action for a sustainable future.

The Town has selected Kim Lundgren Associates (KLA) as the consultant and project manager for the development process of the Climate Action and Resiliency Plan. The Project Manager and point of contact from KLA is Tacy Lambiase and her contact information can be found on the right side of this web page.

Shrewsbury is a welcoming New England town with vibrant and diverse neighborhoods, access to convenient urban amenities, and abundant natural resources. Those who call Shrewsbury home model the values of our community – integrity, inclusion, and innovation – and actively collaborate with Town departments to make Shrewsbury the best it can be.

Focus Areas

Our plan will focus on five key areas of Town operations:

Guiding Principles

All In Shrewsbury is guided by four principles that align with the core values of our town. These Guiding Principles will ensure that the actions in our plan, and how we implement them, are guiding by the values of equity and inclusion, integrity and transparency, resilience, and our ability to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.