Community Engagement Round-Up & Next Steps

As Cary develops its first Sustainability and Climate Action Strategy this fall and winter, addressing the priorities and concerns of the community will be essential to ensure that this strategy reflects the needs of our residents – including you!

Between March and August, a team of Cary staff, Climate Ambassadors, and Equity Partners worked to engage community members online and in person. Here’s what we accomplished with your support:

• Collected 3,786 survey responses across six community surveys.
• Attended 25 community events to engage with residents.
• Hosted 2 focus groups with community members and 2 workshops with Cary staff.
• Gave 15 presentations to Cary advisory board, committees, and community organizations.
• Had in-person interactions with more than 3,000 community members.
• Encouraged residents to make 1,358 commitments to taking action on climate change.

If you attended an event, participated in a focus group, listened to a Count me in, Cary! presentation, or took one of our six community surveys over the last six months: Thank you. Your feedback is greatly appreciated, and we are now working to incorporate it into the planning process.

Next Steps for Developing the Strategy
The Strategy will be drafted this fall and available for public comment after the holidays, in January 2024. Please stay tuned for additional information and instructions for how to make your voice heard during this critical time before the Strategy is finalized and released next spring.

Attend or Volunteer at an Upcoming Event
Celebrate the changing seasons and enjoy local food and music at the Farm to Fork Dinner and Celebration on Saturday, September 30. Can’t make it? We have a packed calendar of volunteer events, workshops, and two Harvest Festivals at Good Hope Farm. And don’t forget about My Tree, Our Tree! The lottery to receive a free, native tree closes on Sunday, October 1.

We hope to see you at an upcoming environmental event soon!

Resources to Do More
Learn more about how our changing climate is impacting our community and what we can do to address the risks and create a safe, healthy, and sustainable future for everyone.

• Climate Science 101: Watch this short video to learn about the science of why our climate is changing and how it's impacting our world.
• Climate Change Lessons from NC State University: Access three short lessons on the basics of climate change in North Carolina.
• Yale Climate Opinion Maps: See what people around the country - and in Wake County - think about climate change.
• Climate Podcasts: Love podcasts? Check out these top climate podcasts picks, including "Comedians Conquering Climate Change."

What’s the most important thing you can do right now to act on climate change? Talk about it. 70% of Wake County residents are concerned about climate change, but 60% rarely or never talk about it. Let's change that! Have a conversation with a friend or family member about the issues that you care about using the Talking Climate Handbook or Climate Conversation Guide.