An in-person program was held at Sandy Bottom Nature Park Visitor's Center, 1255 Big Bethel Road, Hampton on April 15, 2026.  York River Group Chair Tyla Matteson greeted attendees and introduced the speakers. Welcoming remarks were given by Hampton Vice Mayor Steven Brown, who spoke of how environmental protection is personal for him, and he recalled the thorough questionnaire he completed before receiving a Sierra Club endorsement in 2022.  Following were presentations with slides from three speakers:  Whitney Katchmark, Scott Smith and Jennifer Privette.

Photo: Scott Smith, Whitney Katchmark, Vice Mayor Steven Brown, Jennifer Privette

Whitney Katchmark spoke about the First Climate Action Plan for Hampton Roads, now submitted to the EPA, and the next steps for implementation of the regional plan which will reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  Whitney is the Principal Water Resources Engineer, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and Lead for the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant with the EPA.  The strategies and actions incorporate six focus areas: energy supply, buildings and energy use, transportation, solid waste and wastewater, agricultural and natural lands, and industry.   Scott Smith, Coastal Resiliency Engineer for the City of Hampton, outlined Hampton's Preliminary Climate Action Plan (PCAP) to include baseline City and community greenhouse gas emissions and metrics to measure progress. Jennifer Privette, Sustainability Manager for the City of Newport News, explained how Newport News is updating and expanding their climate action plan.  Grants from Bloomberg American Sustainable Cities have installed teams working in Hampton and Newport News to set up carbon reduction initiatives.  

In closing, Dave Jenkins spontaneously provided a quote from Dr. Seuss's The Lorax.  The fictional Lorax warned readers to protect the forests before it is too late, saying, "I am the Lorax.  I speak for the trees.  I speak for the trees as the trees have no tongues."  The first Climate Action Plan for Hampton Roads was celebrated with refreshments and a large cake saying "Our Climate Future."