Climate Smart Glacier Country hosts community conversation
Flathead County residents enjoy a lifestyle centered around the great outdoors. Preserving this way of life against the threat of climate change is an important cause for many. To discuss the challenges of climate change and local climate solutions, Climate Smart Glacier Country (CSGC) is hosting a community conversation on Saturday, March 4 at Flathead Valley Community College.
Climate Smart Glacier Country was formed in 2016 as one of the first grassroots organizations in the county to address climate issues. The group helped craft the Climate Action Plan for the City of Whitefish and brought folks together across the valley to respond to the impacts of a changing climate in our region. CSGC started conversations on a wide range of topics including wildfire, smoke, green buildings, food, soil, renewable energy and zero waste. The organization has undertaken activities for Earth Day, partnered with the County Health Department to distribute HEPA Filters and piloted a zero waste Farmer’s Market.
Today, there are many more hands doing similar work. To be most effective, CSGC is facilitating a discussion to determine current community needs for local climate solutions and what community resources are in the valley to support implementing these solutions. This discussion seeks to identify local resources to address climate needs and determine roles various organizations can play to contribute to meaningful solutions.
Anyone who is already involved in climate work or wants to get involved is invited to join this conversation. Together the group will explore the valley’s climate work history, current players and possible gaps where CSGC might make a difference. The meeting is scheduled from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on March 4 at Flathead Valley Community College in the Arts and Technology Building. Afterward, participants can enjoy the Free the Seeds event in the same building.
Additional information on these events is available on the Climate Smart Glacier Country and Free the Seeds websites: https://climatesmartglaciercountry.org/ and https://landtohandmt.org/programs/free-the-seeds/