May 2022 Local Energy Showcase
15th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On May 12, 2022, Vital Communities hosted a virtual Local Energy Showcase featuring…
Climate change is not some distant problem – it is happening here and now in the Upper Valley. In recent years, we have seen climate disruptions affect our communities in the form of droughts, deluges, ice and hail storms, intense cold snaps, and sudden heat waves. We must recognize these increasingly frequent extreme weather events for what they are: our new normal.
Climate resilience, or climate adaptation, is the ability of a community to anticipate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from climate impacts in a way that minimizes significant disruption to our lives and impacts on our shared resources. This includes our health, safety, built environment, food availability, natural resources, wildlife, and financial strength.
Climate mitigation describes efforts to reduce or prevent greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Vital Communities promotes climate mitigation through projects that move the Upper Valley away from reliance on fossil fuels for our heating, electricity, and transportation needs.
15th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On May 12, 2022, Vital Communities hosted a virtual Local Energy Showcase featuring…
Vermont and New Hampshire Artists: Create Farmer Portraits and Change the Story about Farms and Climate Change Application deadline: May…
This article originally appear in the Valley News, January 20, 2022, and is shared with permission. By Rebecca Bailey Here…
On December 3, Vital Communities hosted Todd Chewning of Cowbell Mobile Bike Shop for an informal “E-bike 101” Q &…
So many traditions at this cold, dark time of year involve gifts – expressing love, generosity, abundance, creativity, and human connection.…
Event Summary On November 9, 2021, over 100 leaders and supporters of climate resilient communities joined the Upper Valley Adaptation…
In a rapidly changing global climate, rural New England has been highlighted as one of the nation’s most climate-resilient regions…
Vital Communities’s Valley Quests allow you to undertake self-guided explorations of more than 160 special places throughout the Upper Valley.…
The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a 2021 Report detailing what science currently tells us about…
The 2021 E-Bike Subsidy Program is closed as of December 31, 2021. Email anna@vitalcommunities.org if you would like to be…
14th Annual Upper Valley Energy Committee Roundtable On August 3, 2021, Vital Communities hosted a one-hour Local Energy Showcase Webinar…
Some June graduates envision college or careers. The 18 Upper Valley residents who graduated on June 16 from the Climate Change Leadership…
The Local Crowd Upper Valley helped two businesses team up to close the carbon loop. The Local Crowd is a Laramie, WY-based…
Climate Partners Summit Resources On February 25, 2021, over 70 interested partners and citizens joined the Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup…
Combatting climate change depends not just on major national and global policy, but also on action within our local community.…
Climate change has the potential to affect everyone on the planet and virtually every aspect of our lives, including here…
Climate Change Leadership Academy 2019-20 RESOURCES Session 1: ClimateSession 2: MitigationSession 3: AdaptationSession 4: Community Project Development Presentation: Slide Presentation,…
Climate Change Science and Consequences Presentations: Warming Temperatures and Impacts – Presentation by Professor Erich Osterberg, Dartmouth College in March…
Reprinted from the Summer 2020 Sustainable Hanover newsletter, this article addresses how to reduce food waste and its considerable climate…
The Climate Change Leadership Academy Class (2CLA) of 2020 graduated in May amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We would like…
Climate and Community Resilience: Lessons from the Soil Spring Community Webinar Series to Unpack What Creating Our Future Looks…
Let’s Talk About Climate Change! Effective Strategies for Productive Conversations Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum April 11, 2019 This forum…
Droughts & Downpours: Managing for Extremes UVAW Forum October 30, 2018 Climate Science presentation by Dr. Erich Osterberg SOAK Up…
Impacts of a Changing Climate on the Upper Valley’s Farms and Forests Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum May 15, 2018…
Protecting Land and Wildlife in a Changing Climate Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum November 14, 2017 Forum Introduction – Alex Jacacci,…
Mobilizing Local Communities: A Resilient Community is a Strong Community Upper Valley Adaptation Workgroup Forum April 25, 2017 Event Overview…
Upper Valley Adaptation Work Group Events and Forums 2012-2016 Looking for more information about our past forums? We have a…
A Super Quest is a fun challenge that Vital Communities organizes every year. This year’s Super Quest examines the ways climate change is affecting the Upper Valley—from plants, insects, and other animals moving here from the south due to warming temperatures; to more frequent and more powerful storms; to people migrating from other places experiencing even greater climate-induced changes. To complete the challenge, participants have from May 1 to November 1 to register and collect stamp impressions from any five of 12 selected climate-themed Quests. Complete the Super Quest to receive a special Super Quest patch and be entered to win a grand prize.
Vital Communities hosts an Upper Valley Climate Action email discussion list as a forum for topics related to climate action work in the Upper Valley. The intent of this list is to provide a creative and dynamic environment for Upper Valley residents and community groups to share their successes, discuss challenges, collaborate on initiatives, programs and projects and keep everyone informed of upcoming events and opportunities that will further the important work of responding to climate change in the Upper Valley. It is also a resource for individuals and groups to learn about and promote existing work to address climate change and work together.
UVAW is a bi-state, multi-stakeholder working group of leaders and partner organizations that meets monthly to focus on building climate-resilient communities in the Upper Valley. Vital Communities is both the administrative host of UVAW and an active UVAW member.
Global climate change is a growing threat to Upper Valley farmers and the communities that rely on them. Upper Valley farmers are responding with a range of climate and adaptation techniques, educational efforts, and political advocacy. With funding from Northeast SARE, Vital Communities will be convening regular climate-focused farmer events to build a resilient farmer network that is better prepared to mitigate the risks and take advantage of the opportunities that a warming climate will bring. These consistent, farmer-directed gatherings will focus on farmer-to-farmer learning, visiting experts, on-farm models and demonstrations, and sharing resources that could improve farm and community resiliency.
Join us for any of our network events or reach out to Nancy LaRowe at 802-291-9100 x 106, or Becka Warren at 802-291-9100 x112.
It is not necessary to attend every event to become involved. Farmer participants will determine the direction of the Network.
Vital Communities is committed to helping the Upper Valley meet 100% of its heating, electricity, and transportation needs with renewable energy by 2050. To get there, we are leading many projects to help residents and businesses use less energy overall by making our homes more energy efficient and finding healthier, low-energy ways to get around.
Project Coordinator
Anna was hired as a Project Coordinator in 2021 and is getting her feet wet with Transportation and Energy projects,…
Program Director, Climate, Energy, Transportation
Sarah joined Vital Communities as Energy Program Manager in 2013 and provides support for the Upper Valley’s 40+ local energy…