MCAN chapters

MCAN has chapters all across Massachusetts — ranging from the Berkshires to the South and North Shores, with scores of communities in between. We welcome new chapters to join us and to strengthen our mutual efforts to reduce the impacts of global warming through intervention at the state, local, and personal levels.

What We Do

Global Warming Hurts Us All

Global warming is largely caused by releases of carbon dioxide, which results from burning of fossil fuels (coal, gasoline, heating oil, natural gas) in electric generating plants, industry, buildings, and motor vehicles. The amount of carbon dioxide released can be cut by using energy more effi ciently, and by changing to non-fossil energy sources, such as wind and solar power.

Individuals, businesses, and communities can all take immediate steps against the growing threats of climate change. We should use energy much more conservatively and wisely, improve the effi ciency of our lights, heating and cooling systems, appliances, industrial processes, and vehicles.

MCAN Fights Global Warming

Mission: Massachusetts Climate Action Network (MCAN) is a coalition of locally organized groups fighting the climate crisis.

Policy Action: MCAN works collaboratively with our many chapters and other organizations to change and strengthen global warming policies in Massachusetts.

Community Action: MCAN reflects and enhances the strength of its many chapters around the state. We help our chapters to draft climate action plans, pass municipal resolutions, set up energy committees, and reach out to the public. We also provide help with implementing MCAN programs in local communities.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative: MCAN pressure was key to the development of the New England Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) agreement. Constant advocacy for RGGI by MCAN and many steadfast chapters and other partners resulted in newly elected Governor Deval Patrick signing onto RGGI within days of taking office. RGGI is a historic and critical precedent for Mass. climate action, involving states in New England and the mid-Atlantic.

Climate Change Advocacy: After years of advocacy efforts led by MCAN, Massachusetts released a Climate Action Plan for the state, including dozens of programs to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Massachusetts now strongly supports and pursues policies that will positively affect the future of global warming. MCAN works with chapters, partners, and state officials to ensure that they continue on this positive path for change.

Local Climate Action Plans: Many communities — Brookline, Cambridge, Marlborough, Medford, Newton and Somerville among them — have written and adopted climate action plans (CAPs) or are developing them.

Energy Efficiency: For years, MCAN has helped our chapters to work with their own local governments to become more energy-efficient. Our Low Carbon Living (LoCaL) Program, launched in 2007, helps households to lose about 10% of the typical family’s carbon emissions quickly and easily.

MCAN has also helped to introduce energy efficiency at the municipal level. Many communities have hanged their traffic signals to LEDs, saving 85% of the electricity. Others have replaced street lights with more efficient and longer-lasting bulbs, saving 50% of the electricity and yielding large cost savings. Several towns and cities have renovated the lighting, heating, and cooling systems in municipal buildings, greatly reducing fuel and electricity use.

Green Schools: With efforts from MCAN chapters, many communities towns now include “green” features in school construction plans.