If there’s one thing that can be said of most of us here in this city, we definitely embrace the concept of environmental preservation and sustainability.

The facts are in concerning climate change and the impact that all of us make in terms of the carbon footprint that is affecting that change.

Positive steps have been taken by the Somerville Retirement Board to divest from fossil fuel industries, providing it can get past state regulations in order to do so. Still, there is plenty more that the average citizen can do to help make a difference.

A series of community meetings have been organized by the city’s Office of Sustainability and Environment that the public is invited to attend and participate in. The Somerville Climate Forward initiative in particular will be focusing on establishing objectives such as limiting the city’s carbon footprint and adjusting the local impacts of climate change as it may develop over the coming years.

Throughout the month of August, several meetings will be held dealing with climate change issues, such as the city’s Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report and Carbon Neutrality Pathways Assessment. These will provide important information about climate change issues on the local level.

Additionally, the Office of Sustainability and Environment is asking residents to take the Somerville Climate Forward survey. One can find the survey and other relevant information by going online to www.somervillema.gov/sustainaville.

Some of this stuff may be very scientific and somewhat difficult to digest, but it is awfully important for our future – and especially important for our kids’ futures.

Let’s all dig in and lend a hand.