Perhaps one of the city’s hardest working and busiest committees is the Environmental Advisory Council, presented at city council’s Dec. 2 meeting by Chairperson Lynn Rothman for an annual review.

Rothman is cycling out of the position as of January 2026, but described the EAC’s responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of Bethlehem residents, and encourage sustainable design and the use of renewable energy with the goal of protecting and preserving natural resources within the city. The committee’s yearly objectives are based on the Climate Action Plan, which includes efforts to reduce the carbon footprint, investigate alternative energy sources, craft the bird town census/report, tree city report, backyards for wildlife, demonstration gardens, native plantings, reduce plastic waste in restaurants and install more EV chargers. EAC reviews and responds to new building plans and is now required via the Subdivision And Land Development Ordinance. The committee has organized cleaning of the Monocacy Creek and reduction of plastic waste webinars. EAC attends many tabling events, Rothman said the city’s hiring of a sustainability manager in 2025 has been a huge help and advancement of CAP goals.

The committees’ 2026 goals are to increase solar energy plans, public education through speaking engagements at the Rotary club and other community organizations, continuing the spring and fall stream cleaning of Monocacy, and continue mentoring Lehigh University students on air quality research projects.

The EAC meets the first Thursday of every month at 7 p.m. Members meet in person at Northampton Community College Fowler Family Southside Center, Room 106 A&B (left of the main lobby), 511 E. Third St. Alternatively, the meeting is available via zoom. All are welcome to attend and participate.