Climate Action Plan

What we are up against

Climate change, already upon us, threatens the health of our planet and the quality of human life. Close to home, it also imperils the very values and resources The Trustees exist to protect. From the Islands to the Berkshires, the more than 25,000 acres in our care makes an indelible difference in the life of Massachusetts. To protect this precious legacy, we must not only lead by example but help the public appreciate the climate threat and the changes it demands of us all.

What we are going to do

1) Reduce our carbon footprint to net zero over 10 years.

Our response to climate change begins with reducing the ~1891 metric tons of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that our buildings, our transportation and our burping cows release each year. After a thoughtful planning phase, we are launching an ambitious three-year plan with aggressive targets to consume less energy, generate our own renewable power, “green” our operations, and offset the rest.

2) Nurture the health of our landscapes.

Because climate change intensifies the stresses on our landscapes and landmarks, we must scale up our efforts, and in some cases, completely rethink them, taking our tradition of far-sighted stewardship to a systems scale. While protecting biodiversity, we will also restore ecologically sustainable landscapes (e.g., turning lawns into grasslands) and protect historic structures from foreseeable stresses (e.g., protecting fragile slate roofs from violent storms).

3) Inspire and energize people to act.

With more than 1 million visitors a year, we have the opportunity – and the obligation – to teach by example on a grand scale, educating others and inspiring them to act. From operating our own wind turbines to throwing parties without plastics, we can help people understand the dire complexities of climate change and find ways to be part of the solution.

Climate change is challenging everything we care about and all that we stand for. We will be measured by the courage and scope of our response. And there is absolutely no time to lose.