Category: Climate

Building a Cool Culture in the Lower Mystic: The Summer 2026 Cool Communications Campaign

Posted on June 23, 2026 at 12:36 pm. Written by Amanda Linehan

Massachusetts residents are no strangers to inclement weather conditions – preparing for winter weather is part of our culture. Extreme heat, however, is a newer public health threat in Massachusetts, […]

Cooling our Homes & Buildings

Posted on June 12, 2026 at 9:14 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

While outdoor heat matters, people also experience high temperatures in their homes, schools, and workplaces. In fact, most heat-related deaths occur in people’s homes. Massachusetts buildings were historically designed to […]

Cooling our Blocks

Posted on June 11, 2026 at 9:42 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Cooling does not only happen on the individual or building scale – it can also be done on the neighborhood scale through proactive land use choices. Shade, plant life, reflective […]

Cool Communities

Posted on June 10, 2026 at 10:04 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Community plays a major – and possibly unsurprising – role in keeping people safe during extreme heat events. Researchers have found that most heat deaths happen at home among people […]

Cool Communications

Posted on June 9, 2026 at 9:45 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Building heat resilience means building effective communication networks, so you can reach people before the next heat wave hits. Awareness of extreme heat, its impacts, and what people and decision-makers […]

Extreme Heat 101

Posted on June 8, 2026 at 9:13 am. Written by Amanda Linehan

Over the last couple of decades, heat-related deaths have risen dramatically in the U.S. even though they are largely preventable. Extreme heat can increase the risk of dehydration, heat exhaustion, […]

This Playbook Helps Municipalities and Community Partners Prepare for Local Climate Impacts

Posted on December 2, 2025 at 12:19 pm. Written by Tim Viall

This Playbook Helps Municipalities and Community Partners Prepare for Local Climate Impacts By Emma Zehner, Senior Clean Energy and Climate Planner, and Van Du, Director of Environmental Planning December 2, […]

MAPC’s MESM Academy Kicks Off to Support Municipal Energy Managers

Posted on October 29, 2025 at 3:07 pm. Written by Tim Viall

MAPC’s MESM Academy Kicks Off to Support Municipal Energy Managers By Samikshya Dhami, Clean Energy and Climate Planner I; Julia Nassar, Senior Clean Energy & Climate Planner; and Sarita Plata, […]

From Local Sheltering to Regional Resilience: How Communities Are Getting Ready for Emergencies

Posted on October 23, 2025 at 2:36 pm. Written by Tim Viall

From Local Sheltering to Regional Resilience: How Communities Are Getting Ready for Emergencies By Elizabeth Robert, Emergency Preparedness Manager Pictured: Manchester Essex Regional Middle High School October 23, 2025 – […]

Recapping the 2025 MARPA-DLS Conference

Posted on October 9, 2025 at 4:14 pm. Written by Tim Viall

“Massachusetts doesn’t wait. We lead.” Recapping the 2025 MARPA-DLS Conference at the College of the Holy Cross October 7, 2025 – Municipal and planning staff from Provincetown to Mount Washington met […]