About Sustainable Durham

Durham Solar

This page is provided to serve as a resource for sustainability-related information, inform Durham residents about initiatives taking place in the community, and provide ways for residents to get involved with Durham’s efforts.

In January 2021, Durham made a commitment to plan for a sustainable future by joining the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy (GCoM). Local governments committed to GCoM pledge to implement policies and undertake measures to reduce/limit greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for the impacts of climate change, increase access to sustainable energy, and track progress toward these objectives.

 

Recent Town Initiatives

The town of Durham's capacity in its commitment to sustainability is made possible thanks to its partnership with UNH's Sustainability Fellowship program. Each year, a new Fellow works with Durham's leadership team to advance sustainability initiatives, such as Greenhouse Gas Inventories, Climate Action Planning, sustainable infrastructure, community outreach, and more.

- Current 2024-2025 Fellow Sophie Goodwin will be using the work of past fellows, the 2022 CAP, multiple Greenhouse Gas inventories, and local outreach to update Durham's municipal Climate Action Plan for 2025-2030.

- In the last year, 2023-2024 Sustainability Fellow Erin Dennehy researched community-wide emissions, prepared crucial information for the 2024 CAP update, and advanced solar and EV initiatives in the Town.

- Durham's 2022-2023 Fellow Rafidah Rahman helped Durham to complete its Climate Action "Mitigation" Plan, update the Hazard Mitigation Plan, and complete a Climate Adaptation Chapter within the Master Plan.

 

UPCOMING EVENTS

Durham is currently in the process of updating its Climate Action Plan for 2025-2030. To provide suggestions or input for the new Climate Action Plan, contact the Durham Energy Committee at dec@ci.durham.nh.us or the current Sustainability Fellow Sophie Goodwin at sophie.goodwin@unh.edu

Although we might not be able to incorporate every suggestion on the current Climate Action Plan, we can keep it in the backlog for future updates. Your input is always appreciated!

 

Durham Energy Committee Electric Vehicle Survey