On April 19, the Brandywine Conservancy is excited to launch a new Climate Resiliency Initiative to help local municipalities and landowners proactively address climate change in their communities.

Built on over 56 years of experience, this Initiative formalizes the organization’s ongoing internal and external efforts to improve environmental sustainability and brings cross-departmental expertise-- through technical assistance, funding, education, planning and project implementation-- directly to its constituents to help combat climate issues.

With the Climate Resiliency Initiative, the Conservancy is targeting two types of actions: climate mitigation (direct, tangible efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions) and climate adaptation (planning for resilience against the impacts of climate change).

To collaborate with landowners and municipal partners, Conservancy staff have developed a suite of services to improve land management and strategic planning options at various levels— from addressing individual properties to a full landscape approach— as well as a variety of municipal planning tools to assist with climate adaptation and mitigation efforts.

Recently, the Conservancy acted as the lead planning consultant to update the Comprehensive Plans for Malvern Borough and Highland Township in Chester County, PA.

These updates included Community Climate Profiles for both the Borough and Township, as well as climate resiliency goals to help prepare these urban and rural communities for future increases in extreme weather events.

"Malvern Borough recognizes the challenges that our changing climate places on our operations, environment and infrastructure. With the assistance of the Brandywine Conservancy, we have been proactive in incorporating climate resiliency-related actions into our most recent Comprehensive Plan," said Amy Finkbiner, Ph.D., President of Malvern Borough Council. "In a climate that has seen more frequent and intense storms, as well as prolonged periods of excessive heat, the Borough has adopted a variety of recommendations focused on a better understanding of areas of vulnerability. By utilizing the benefits derived from the protection and stewardship of natural resources, and the installation of green stormwater infrastructure, we can both mitigate and adapt to climate change now and into the future. We're thankful for the expert guidance the Conservancy has provided in this endeavor.”

“While Malvern Borough and Highland Township may appear to be opposites in many ways, they were both resolute in their desire to position their municipalities for a resilient future by embracing both traditional and proven-innovative strategies,” said Grant DeCosta, Director of Community Services for the Brandywine Conservancy.

Since the Conservancy’s founding in 1967, the organization has protected and conserved the land, water, natural and cultural resources of southeastern Pennsylvania and northern Delaware through a multi-disciplinary approach.

To date, the Conservancy has permanently protected over 70,000 acres of land from development, while also helping communities plan for the conservation and management of the region’s natural resources.

“These successes have made the Conservancy a trusted partner with state and local governments, foundations, farmers, industry peers and individual property owners, which enables the organization to better collaborate on timely climate actions,” added DeCosta. “The Climate Resiliency Initiative aligns with the Conservancy’s core vision and mission, and it will be instrumental in helping our communities address concerns with flood mitigation, changes in flora and fauna, stormwater management, extreme heat and renewable energy.”

The Brandywine’s internal commitment to reducing its climate impact involves both ongoing and new efforts, including the long-term reliance on native plants to create biodiverse habitats and increased stormwater infiltration throughout its campus gardens and preserves, to the organization’s wind power purchase agreement which now provides wind power to all of the Brandywine’s buildings on its campus in Chadds Ford, PA.

For more information on how to get involved, visit the Brandywine Conservancy’s new Climate Resiliency Initiative webpage.

For more information on programs, initiatives and upcoming events, visit the Brandywine Conservancy website.  Click Here to sign up for regular updates from the Conservancy (middle of the webpage.)  Visit the Conservancy’s Blog, Like the Conservancy on Facebook and Follow them on Instagram.

The Conservancy currently holds over 485 conservation and agricultural easements and has facilitated the permanent preservation of more than 70,000 acres of land.

NewsClips This Week - Clean Energy:

-- PA Capital-Star: Community Solar Can Propel PA Toward An Equitable Clean Energy Future - By Vote Solar PA

-- York Dispatch: 2nd Solar Energy Project In Dover Township Receives Approval

-- StateImpactPA - Rachel McDevitt: Earth Day Event In Lancaster Aims To Give People Hope In The Face Of Climate Change

-- UpStream Newsletter From Stroud Water Research Center: Climate Impacts On Water Quality; Celebrating 10 Years In LEED Platinum Research Center

-- MCall - Evan Jones: Lehigh Valley Planning Commission Receives $1 Million Grant To Complete Regional Climate Plan

-- PA Capital-Star: Advocates Call On EPA To Cut Climate Pollution From PA’s Power Sector With Carbon Pollution Standards For New, Existing Power Plants

-- PPL Electric Releases 2022 Sustainability Report Highlights Commitment To A Sustainable Energy Future

-- TribLive: Electric Vehicles Sparking Interest In Western PA, Especially Among Younger Drivers

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Truck Decarbonizing Startup To Double Workforce After Raising $17.8 Million

-- The Center Square - Anthony Hennen: Private Investment Gets Head Start On Electronic Vehicle Buildout In PA

-- PA Turnpike Commission Releases 2022 Sustainability Report - EV Charging, Roadside Vegetation

-- Pittsburgh Business Times: Form Energy Battery Plant Among $150 Billion In Accelerated Clean Energy Spending

-- Ohio River Valley Institute Report: Timing Is Right For Rebirth Of A Clean, Green Steel Industry In PA Based On

-- Inside Climate News - Jon Hurdle: ‘Green Steel’ Would Curb Carbon Emissions, Spur Economic Revival In SW PA, Study Says

-- PennLive: Application Submitted To Establish Regional Clean Hydrogen Hub In PA

-- TribLive Guest Essay: As Earth Day Approaches, Climate Solutions Have Never Been More Appealing - By Citizens’ Climate Lobby, Slippery Rock Chapter Citizens’ Climate Lobby

-- PA Capital-Star Guest Essay: This Earth Day, Let’s All Really Commit To Lowering The Global Temperature - Richard Whiteford

Related Articles This Week- Clean Energy:

-- House Environmental Committee Meets April 25 On Bipartisan Bills To Provide School Solar Energy Grants, Local Notice Of Toxics Violations  [PaEN]

-- Solar Energy Facility Decommissioning Bills On House Consumer Protection Committee Agenda For April 25  [PaEN]

-- Independent Regulatory Review Commission Approves Final Emergency Regs Setting VOC/Methane Emission Limits On Conventional Oil/Gas Operations  [PaEN]

-- 23 Pennsylvania, National Climate Groups Call On EPA To Cut Pollution In Power Sector  [PaEN]

-- Brandywine Conservancy Launches New Climate Resiliency Initiative To Help Local Municipalities, Landowners Address Climate Change  [PaEN]

[Posted: April 19, 2023]

4/24/2023