Last weekend, Mayor Liz Lempert joined the 211 U.S. mayors adding their name to the Climate Mayors open letter affirming to adopt, honor, and uphold the commitments of the goals enshrined in the Paris Agreement. Climate Mayors (also know as Mayors National Climate Action Agenda or MNCAA) is a network of U.S. mayors representing over 50 million Americans working together to strengthen local efforts for reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting efforts for binding federal and global-level policy making.

“With the Trump Administration’s inexcusable withdrawal from the Paris agreement, it is imperative that towns and cities take the lead on climate action,” said Ms. Lempert. “We are fortunate that Princeton has many organizations, public and private, working in tandem with the municipality on efforts that support the goals in the agreement.”

On Wednesday, June 14, Sustainable Princeton and the municipality’s Department of Infrastructure and Operations will unveil a new electric vehicle charging station on the first level of the Spring Street Garage. A ribbon cutting will be held at 4:30 p.m. near the garage’s Spring Street entrance. The transportation sector is a major source of carbon emissions and adding more public charging stations will help spur the transition to greener vehicles.

On June 12, Princeton Council held a public hearing on a strengthened storm water ordinance. New Jersey faces increased flooding events due to a warming climate and this ordinance is intended to address flooding problems and reduce the amount of pollution discharged into its waters, including Lake Carnegie. The Stonybrook Millstone Watershed Association and Princeton Environmental Commission collaborated with the Princeton Engineering Department on drafting the ordinance.

June 5 marked the start of construction of a new three-megawatt solar array over the former River Road landfill. Once complete, the field will generate renewable energy to fulfill 25 percent of the Stony Brook Regional Sewerage Authority’s waste water treatment plant’s electricity needs.

Led in development by the Arts Council of Princeton, a new parklet provides a playful environment to educate the general public about renewable energy sources. Installed in front of jaZams along Palmer Square East, the parklet is an interactive structure with an “energy playground” theme. The public attended the opening celebration on June 10.

The municipality recently resolved to adopt sustainable practices within its operations by enacting a Green Purchasing Policy and Sustainable Best Practices Policy, both of which aim to reduce its environmental footprint by producing less waste and reducing its greenhouse gas emissions.

“This is a time when leadership must come from the community level upward, it is promising that Princeton is taking steps to move in a positive climate direction, but there is still much to be done,” Molly Jones, executive director of Sustainable Princeton. “The broader Princeton community is encouraged to support these and other efforts and to learn more about what we each can do to reduce our climate footprint.”