League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale to host climate change panel

The League of Women Voters of Roselle-Bloomingdale will host a free virtual event on Nov. 9 to discuss what local governments can do to address climate change.

Topics will include the impact of climate change on the Chicago area and the role local governments play in environmental policy solutions.

Speakers will include Roselle Mayor David Pileski, University of Illinois professor Dr. Donald J. Wuebbles, Edith Makra of the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus and Hanover Park Village President Rod Craig.

The league said in a statement that multiple factors come into play in addressing climate change, such as energy conservation, air pollution controls and promotion of renewable resources.

Wuebbles will share his assessment of the impact of climate change on Illinois, along with mitigation and adaptation efforts. Makra will present The Metropolitan Mayors Caucus' climate action plan, one of the first regional climate plans in the United States.

Craig and Pileski will showcase the strategies communities are using to address climate change.

"It's important to help educate the people on how government tackles these issues and how it affects us," Pileski said. "So many people think of the issue as just solar and wind, but don't take into account how it makes governments all rethink the money they spend on projects to address climate change."

Topics will include the impact of climate change on the Chicago area and the role local governments play in environmental policy solutions.

Roselle has been recognized as a community that actively promotes solar energy use. The nonprofit SolSmart in April gave the village a "silver" rating for having roughly 200 solar panels in the community.

The climate change webinar will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. on Nov. 9. Those wishing to participate can register online at my.lwv.org/illinois/rosellebloomingdale.