Community Conversation On Energy, Climate Set For April 22

The Community Conversation on Energy and Climate on Earth Day will take place on Wednesday, April 22, 1 to 5 p.m., at the Venice Community Center, 326 S. Nokomis Ave., Venice.

The event is part of the International Council on Local Environmental Initiatives’ National Conversation on Climate Action. The Greater Sarasota area is one of just ten communities in the nation selected to participate in the national conversation. Admission is free.

Planned in conjunction with Earth Day, planners hope to encourage citizens across the country to conduct substantive, solutions-oriented dialogues about energy and climate action at the local level. In Sarasota County, community input from the event will be incorporated into a cross-jurisdictional Community Energy and Climate Action Plan to work toward energy savings and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.

Following a presentation, attendees will break into five groups to discuss one of several topics, including food and agriculture, transportation, waste, community-wide target and built environment. Sarasota County, SCOPE and New College of Florida as well as the cities of Sarasota, North Port and Venice will participate at the local conversation.

Some of the other communities across the country planning similar events include Greenburgh, New York; Hennepin County, Minnesota; Houston, Texas; Jackson, Wyoming; Lexington, Kentucky; Los Angeles County, California; Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Sumter, South Carolina and Tucson, Arizona.

The 2009 National Conversation will build off the success of past events and the rapidly growing demand for clean energy solutions.