Carmel climate panel approves 'Sustainable Carmel' newsletter content, plans weekly posts and public quiz

The Carmel Climate Action Advisory Committee voted unanimously to authorize a recurring section in the city newsletter titled “Sustainable Carmel,” beginning in April and featuring weekly posts on a single topic (April: trees) along with an interactive quiz and an incentive prize.

The committee said the section will be labeled “Sponsored by the Climate Action Advisory Committee” and will include short action items (for example, where to obtain seedlings at the farmer’s market), three recommended native tree species, and links from the newsletter to the committee’s online dashboard.

Members said the quiz platform should provide aggregate reporting (participant counts and basic answer statistics) so results could feed the dashboard. Committee members discussed adding a live “Carmel Climate Action Advisory” button within the newsletter to direct readers to the dashboard and the quiz.

Committee members and local partners volunteered to broaden distribution. Suggestions included sharing the content with Carmel Green Initiative, the high school environmental club and its adviser, the Carmel Current, neighborhood magazines, city councilors’ newsletters, parks and library newsletters and the Highlight student newspaper; a subcommittee offered to compile a contact list and circulate materials to partners.

The committee approved the motion to move forward with production and placement of the newsletter content; the vote was unanimous.

The committee said April’s content will center on trees to coincide with Earth Day and Arbor Day; May’s posts will focus on native plantings and June’s posts on irrigation and water-saving practices. Members discussed continuing the series monthly and linking items to dashboard strategy cards for public education.