With climate change becoming a priority at the global level, some community members are examining what’s being done to address it in our area.

Local political action committee CHALT is hosting a public lecture on the challenges of global warming March 21. The talk, which will be held at the Chapel Hill Public Library, will focus on ways the Chapel Hill community can limit the local impact on climate change.

Julie McClintock, a member of CHALT, says she hopes the event will provide a chance for community members to be reflective of their impact on the environment.

“The purpose of this program,” she says, “is going to be to jumpstart a conversation with citizens for all of us to figure out, ‘what is it we could really be pushing for within our local government and individual actions to make a difference?’”

The lecture will feature discussions about transportation, sustainable housing, and stormwater management with the help of a panel, including members of the Chapel Hill town council.

McClintock says CHALT’s goal is for these topics to spark conversation of collective action by the community to address these issues. She says she believes the town is in a good position to take steps approaching this worldwide challenge in its own local scale.

“I’m very excited that local government is talking now about climate change and global warming,” McClintock says. “I think it’s a symptom of the angst that all of us feel. That’s what has to happen for us to figure out what we’re going to do and it’s going to be a lot of efforts before we really learn what’s going to be the most effective.”

Thursday’s public lecture at the library is scheduled to begin at 5:30 p.m.

In addition to the global warming talk, a celebration for World Water Day will be held March 23. Following the international observance day on March 22, the event at Bolin Creek will inform people why its important to protect local water sources.

McClintock, who is also a member of the Friends of Bolin Creek, says the celebration is aimed towards families with children and will feature speakers, musical performances, and a walk down the paved greenway.

“We’ll be talking about water quality, we’ll be talking about trees, and we’ll be talking about the impact of the pavement [from Martin Luther King Boulevard] right next to the creek,” says McClintock.

The World Water Day event will begin at 10 a.m. in Umstead Park.

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