Sheree Martin just couldn’t stop with one.

Like others at Tuesday’s Central Alabama Climate Action Plan meeting at the Homewood Library, Martin was asked for a word that captured her peek at what’s going to be important 10 years from now.

But like Lays potato chips, Martin had to go beyond one.

“I couldn’t because it’s all so important,” she said. “We really need … water and air. They’re basics for life. As much as I love trees and critters, I’ve got to have water and air, and I want it to be clean and healthy. I think that’s so important.

“But I’m passionate about clean energy, because clean energy is what really leads us to have more clean air and water because we’re not having to burn coal,” said Martin, deputy director of Energy Alabama. “God gave us sunlight too. He gave us a lot of resources, but we need to take advantage of the ones that are clean today.”

Nearly two dozen people assembled in the library’s Round Auditorium to voice their concerns as the city of Birmingham and its consultants construct the Central Alabama Climate Action Plan. The event was hosted by the Birmingham Office of Sustainability and Resilience.

“This is a regional plan,” said Hunter Garrison, the climate action manager for Birmingham. “The genesis of this plan came out of the Inflation Reduction Act and that’s where the funding came from. They approached the city, who had kind of first right of refusal to conduct the plan.”

Birmingham was approached by federal officials about leading the effort because it is the largest city in the seven-county metro area.

“But it is regional in scope,” Garrison said. “We’re working with all the other cities to create that plan.”

Following the 90-minute meeting, Garrison said the sentiments expressed by persons in attendance echoed many of the ideas that are in the developing plan.

“This plan isn’t about regulatory action. It’s more about creating a tool kit of things that cities all across the metro, whether that’s Clanton, city of Birmingham, Trussville, Homewood and any of the cities within the Birmingham MSA,” Garrison said. “They can pick and choose actions from that toolkit to address climate change but also improve quality of life. And that’s what we really heard the most about tonight, was quality of life issues.

“People want more walkable cities. They want to be able to walk to the coffee shop instead of driving everywhere,” the climate action manager said. They’re concerned about air quality. They’re concerned about stream and water quality, things like that. That’s what this plan is going to focus on, quality of life improvements and reduction measures that make a meaningful impact for people.”

Matt Nesbitt is currently the farm director at Jones Valley Teaching Farm. He attended the meeting because he’s interested in the city’s greenhouse gas emissions and lowering those emissions by removing the organic waste stream from landfills.

“(We can take) advantage of that resource and (turn) it into compost,” Nesbitt said, “using that compost for all kinds of things across the city – city landscaping, soil erosion in new builds and things like that.”

Emily Northrop is with the Citizens’ Climate Lobby and the Greater-Birmingham Alliance to Stop Pollution, called GASP. She had hoped to talk about renewable energy.

“That didn’t come up in one of those categories that they had here,” she said. “But that’s OK. It’s a good plan. We’ve got lots of opportunities here and it’s good to get our thinking wrapped around what the needs are and what the solutions are. So I’m really encouraged.”

Deborah Barker, interim executive director of the Cahaba River Society, said protecting the environment and water sources are high on her list.

“At the Cahaba River Society, we work to protect the biodiversity of the Cahaba River,” Barker said. “Of course, clean water and access are huge pieces of that. With the climate piece, you have large rainwater events and more water washing more things into the river that can have a long-term impact. All of those pieces are really important to the work we’re doing.”

Larry Rodick of the Friends of Shades Mountain said climate change should be the concern of everyone.

“Climate change is changing our planet,” he said. “We just need to do everything we can. I believe man has caused it by putting too much carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. We need to correct it.”

Organizers said community engagement is at the heart of the initiative. To ensure that the voices of Central Alabama residents are heard and integrated, the public is invited to participate in upcoming community engagement meetings in May.

The team also is conducting a survey to gather community feedback. The survey gives an opportunity for residents across Central Alabama to share their perspectives on the strategies and actions needed to combat climate change. To show appreciation for participation, those who complete the survey will have the chance to enter their email addresses for a $50 gift card drawing.