About the Adirondack Conference

(The follow on site from the gathering is now posted at ADKCAP.ORG.)

The Adirondack conference addressed how a region of the

United States can galvanize communities, small and medium-sized businesses,

government and citizenry to take action on climate change. The conference

gave participants the opportunity to create a replicable action plan that

will address economic development, energy efficiency improvements,

alternative fuels and renewable energy sources, specific rural challenges,

necessary policy changes, and potential impacts on natural systems in

the Adirondack Park. A common element underscoring all of these topics

will be to develop creative and innovative ways to encourage changing

habits and behavior to deal with climate change as an urgent problem.

The primary conference objective was to develop a Climate Action Plan for the

Adirondacks. This will include specific action recommendations for individuals,

communities, and enterprises; detailing climate change driven economic opportunities

and benefits for region; concrete time-bound goals for efficiency improvements

in buildings and transportation; alternative fuels and small scale power generation

options; the role of Adirondack forests and natural systems mitigating greenhouse

gas emissions; adaptation measures for local government and economics in

changing climate; the role of local governments; policy recommendations for

region and state; identification of priority messages and strategies for

broad communication efforts; and the creation of an ongoing structure to

forward action after the conference.