NEW YORK – New York Governor Kathy Hochul announced Saturday the latest round of communities achieving certification for the state’s Climate Smart Communities program that supports local efforts to address emerging economic, social and environmental challenges. for climate change
The certification for the 11 local governments is given due to the measures they took to mitigate and adapt to climate change and after meeting the criteria to be recognized as leaders in this management. Additionally, three communities already in the program recertified and increased the number of certification points earned during the most recent review round.
Eventually, Erie County rose to the silver level.
Actions announced during Climate Week 2021 support New York’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent by 2050, as outlined in the Community Climate Leadership and Protection Act (CLCPA). in English).
“Our Climate Smart Communities program enables local governments to take bold action to meet the challenges driven by our changing climate, and I commend these communities for implementing effective measures to help meet the goals of the historic Climate Leadership Act and New York Community Protection, “Governor Hochul said. “In particular, I want to congratulate the City of New Castle, the first New York community to embrace the Climate Smart Community commitment to achieving certified bronze status and bringing us one step closer to a cleaner, greener future.”
New York City’s Newly Certified (and Recertified) Climate-Smart Communities Listed by Region:
Capital district
- Albany County (bronze)
- City of Glens Falls (bronze)
- City of Queensbury (bronze)
Long Island
- City of East Hampton (recertified bronze)
Mid-Hudson
- Ardsley Town (Bronze)
- Gardiner Village (bronze)
- Town of Hastings-on-Hudson (recertified silver)
- New Castle Town (Bronze)
- City of Poughkeepsie (bronze)
- Town of Poughkeepsie (bronze)
- Village of Woodstock (recertified bronze)
North County
- City of Potsdam (bronze)
- Potsdam village (bronze)
Western new york
- Erie County (silver)
- Grand Island Village (Bronze)
“From devastating hurricanes hitting the East Coast to devastating wildfires consuming communities in the West, climate change demands that we act. We need a hands-on approach that requires contributions from all levels of Government, “said DEC Commissioner and Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos,” I applaud these newly certified climate-smart communities that help fight the climate crisis by acting locally and reinforcing New York State’s national climate leadership. “
The program was formed in 2009 to provide guidance and technical support to local governments so that they can undertake climate action locally. To date, 345 local governments, representing more than 9.4 million New Yorkers, have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.
DEC launched the certification program in 2014 to document and celebrate the achievements of communities taking climate action. There are now 81 certified climate-smart communities in New York State.
To be certified, a community must establish an active working group on climate change that includes residents and municipal representatives. Most certified communities complete greenhouse gas inventories that estimate emissions locally and help local leaders identify the best way to help New York State meet greenhouse gas reduction requirements. of the climate law.
The City of Woodstock, for example, reduced greenhouse gas emissions from its government facilities by more than 40 percent between 2011 and 2019. For more information, see certification reports online that describe all the actions that each certified community took to achieve certification.
The 15 communities recognized by Governor Hochul on Saturday are also participating in the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) Clean Energy Communities program, which helps local governments implement clean energy actions. and save on energy costs.
For information on New York State’s plan to combat climate change visit this website and in the tri-state area here.
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