Good afternoon!
Im writing to thank you for soliciting community feedback on setting Menlo Parks priorities for the upcoming fiscal year 2024-25. I have a simple request for an addition to one of the top identified priorities: please add "and resilience" to your Climate Action goal, e.g. "Climate Action and Resilience". I understand that a major focus of the Citys Climate Action plan is electrification & retiring greenhouse gas-using appliances, which is laudable. However, GHG reduction will not be sufficient to mitigate the vulnerability of the Belle Haven neighborhood and Bedwell Bayfront Park on the Menlo Park shoreline to increasing sea level rise. Climate resilience, meaning the capability to deal with hazardous issues/events caused by climate change, is essential for this frontline community and must include ecosystem protection as a major part of the solution (because of climate- and pollution-mitigating ecosystem services). Our diminishing shoreline natural open space, like BB park, is also under threat from sea level rise. As a globally important biodiversity hot-spot, its vital that we protect the ecology needed to sustain that biodiversity. Adding resilience to your Climate Action goal will reflect your understanding of the value of our ecological assets and the disproportionate sea level rise impacts Belle Haven could face. Thank you for your work to make Menlo Park a leader in addressing the existential threats of climate change so that our grandchildren have a healthy and sustainable future in which to grow and thrive.
Nancy Federspiel
Menlo Park, CA
