Panel discussion next week tackles climate change impacts and mitigation in Alexandria

Next week, Agenda Alexandria has its sights set on climate change: looking both at how things like rising heat and water levels will impact the city, and what the city can do to mitigate that impact.

The panel discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. at the Lyceum (201 S. Washington Street) and can be streamed online. Admittance is $10.

“2023 is shaping up to be Alexandria’s hottest year in recorded history — a health risk for residents, tourists and workers as well as nature,” the organization wrote. “The Potomac River is rising much faster than projected, threatening our waterfront parks and homes. Flooding and damaging storms may be the new normal. Climate change is here and we are experiencing hotter, wetter, and wilder weather.”

The discussion will focus on what Alexandria can do to combat the effects of climate change. According to the website:

What’s a small City to do? Our city’s carbon emissions come from its people’s activities in an already-built town – their homes, cars, and workplaces- how can we reduce the risks of climate threats to the people and places we love? Alexandria’s Energy and Climate Change Action Plan (ECCAP) lists the actions needed to reduce carbon emissions by 50% by 2030 and 80 to 100% by 2050. It also lays out strategies to adapt to the increased precipitation and extreme heat of a changing climate. Can we do it? What to do and how to pay?

Panelists on the discussion include:

• Ryan Freed, Alexandria’s Climate Control Officer
• Rose Stephens-Booker, an energy professional, formerly with the Department of Energy
• Kathie Hoekstra, Chair of the Environmental Policy Commission