Agenda 09-03-19 Item 11-a - Orange County Climate Council

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17 Page 2 of 2 Kristie Mather especially climate change, a bigger focus. Reasons for wanting to serve on this board: I want to do more to slow climate change and start adaptation plans than is possible at a personal level. We haven t done enough, and I think we ve got to have more folks working on climate change. The Climate Council seems a place where action can happen at a local level and I think I can be a valuable contributor. Local development and growth is a major piece - positive or negative-of how we can lessen climate change while understanding that some change is now inevitable and adaptation has to be part of the game. I can bring a combination of passion and analytical thinking to the council. Conflict of Interest: Commission for the Environment Background, education and experience relevant to this board: As long as I can remember I ve been developing a consciousness that the current American culture with an inclination towards disposability and convenience above all else is inconsistent with a planet that is a comfortable place for humans and many other living creatures. I pursued a career path in evolutionary genetics and have a solid education and rigorous training in a particularly math and data-heavy field of biology, along with deep thinking, research and written communication. Throughout, I maintained a strong interest in environmental issues. I gravitated towards educating myself about what I could do in my personal life. I figured I d leave the structural change to those who were in government and my influence would be through my own actions, personal interactions and my vote. Being a bit geeky, I kept reading and educating myself about the structural change. I became increasingly concerned about the many areas in which humans are still acting more destructively than constructively, but felt I couldn t actually do anything at a higher level, because I wasn t trained in politics or environmental science. Since moving to Chapel Hill about 5 years ago, I started paying attention to local politics and have revised my opinion. I think that even without formal training in environmental science, there s a role I can play in change that is bigger than personal actions. Reasons for wanting to serve on this board: I m concerned about the choices that our communities are making that are at odds with sustainability and environmental health. My personal choices aren t going to be enough and I want to ensure that our community makes structural choices that are sustainable and protect the sort of environment that is healthy for humans and other living creatures. I think I can be a valuable contributor. I can bring a combination of passion and analytical thinking to the committee. Conflict of Interest: Supplemental Questions: Boards/Commissions appointments: Other Comments: This application was current on: 8/1/2019 11:51:08 PM Date Printed: 8/2/2019