Acton-Boxborough Learns about Acton's Sustainability Efforts

Andrea Becerra, sustainability director for the Town of Acton, was the guest speaker during our bi-monthly Club Meeting on October 20, 2021 at the Boxboro Regency. To watch her 21-minute presentation, click here.

On February 2, 2021, Acton Town Manager John Mangiaratti announced the appointment of Andrea as the town's first sustainability director. She comes to Acton from the Natural Resources Defense Council, where she worked for more than five years. In her previous role, she concentrated on a variety of issues, from communication strategies to build support for the U.S. Clean Power Plan, to advocating for water-smart policies across the Americas.

“Following the recent Special Town Meeting vote to adopt a resolution declaring a climate emergency, coupled with the Select Board’s long-standing goal of sustainability, I am excited to have Andrea on board as Acton’s first Sustainability Director to help oversee sustainability programs and initiatives in Acton,” Town Manager Mangiaratti said at the time.

The town Sustainability Office was created following passage of a Town Meeting resolution in 2020. Andrea’s duties include managing the Green Communities grant application and reporting process for municipal projects, working with the town Department of Public Works to implement solid waste/composting and recycling programs, and publishing an annual report on progress toward sustainability goals.

The town Sustainability Office was created following passage of a Town Meeting resolution in 2020. Andrea’s duties include managing the Green Communities grant application and reporting process for municipal projects, working with the town Department of Public Works to implement solid waste/composting and recycling programs, and publishing an annual report on progress toward sustainability goals.

“I’m honored to be selected as Sustainability Director,” Andrea said at the time. “Many groups in town — the Board of Selectmen, Green Advisory Board, Acton Climate Coalition, Green Acton, Mothers Out Front Acton, and so many more – have built incredible momentum for change.”

While at the Natural Resources Defense Council, Andrea collaborated with scientists, policymakers, urban planners, farmers, businesses and other experts to scale and promote solutions that benefit human health, socio-economic development, and the environment. She gained an appreciation for local environmental work while cooperating with regional governments in Mexico City and Santiago, Chile, in the development of water resilience plans.

Andrea as worked on global climate initiatives as a consultant for DevGlobal and as a fellow at the Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI). She also attended the United Nations Climate Conference (COP23) in Bonn, Germany, as a Tufts University delegate. In Bonn, she was inspired by the incredible energy and work led by municipal governments. While the U.S. had announced its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, efforts to curb greenhouse- gas emissions increased at the local level through initiatives like Local Governments for Sustainability and the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Andrea received an undergraduate degree from Davidson College and graduated with a master’s degree from the Fletcher School at Tufts University, where she studied integrated water-resource management and environmental and resource policy. As part of her graduate degree at Tufts, she also received a Water: Systems, Science, and Society (WSSS) Certificate.

To learn more about Acton’s sustainability efforts, click here.

To read Acton's five "Tips to Act on Climate Change, " click here.

To download Acton's sustainability flyer (shown on right), in PDF format, click here.

For more information on Acton's sustainability efforts, contact Andrea Becerra at abecerra@acton-ma.gov

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