MARQUETTE — The Marquette County Climate Adaptation Task Force is inviting residents to take a survey to help identify sustainable practices in the local area and to gain information useful to CATF’s coming climate action plan.

“We want to hear from you,” said recent Northern Michigan University graduate and Marquette County climate adaptation coordinator Quinn Thibault. “This survey will help us understand residents’ experiences, concerns and suggestions related to climate issues. Your input is essential in shaping a plan that truly reflects the needs and priorities of our community.

“The survey is brief and will take only a few minutes to complete. Your feedback will directly inform our strategies and initiatives aimed at creating a healthier, more sustainable future for everyone in Marquette County.”

CATF was established in 2013 and its mission is to prepare local leaders and residents of Marquette County to develop strategies that will make the Upper Peninsula more resilient and effective when dealing with the consequences of climate change and extreme weather-related events.

In March 2023, the Marquette County Board of Commissioners passed a climate resolution recognizing the impacts of a changing climate in our communities. Key commitments include eliminate greenhouse gas emissions at county-operated facilities by 2050 and create a climate action plan to lay out the steps to get there, said Thibault.

The CATF has recently collected data and community input from “dialogue dinners” and wish to collect more from the survey they have created to be used in the organization’s climate action plan.

“A climate action plan is essential for ensuring our county’s long-term resilience and sustainability,” Thibault said. “A strategic road map enables our county to identify and form equitable strategies to address regional climate risks.”

The survey can be completed at https://forms.gle/nvkkW1mCtyQ92gfw8, and more information on the CATF’s Climate Action Plan can be found at https://www.mqtcoplan.org/climateactionplan.

Quinn Thibault, Marquette County climate adaptation coordinator, can be contacted directly at qthibault@mqtco.org.

Antonio Anderson can be reached at 906-228-2500, ext. 550. His email address is aanderson@miningjournal.net.