Climate Smart Communities
Local Action to Combat Climate Change
The Town of Beacon is a Climate Smart Community
Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is an unprecedented partnership between New York State and local communities. Its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save taxpayer dollars through climate smart actions that also promote community goals of health and safety, affordability, economic vitality and quality of life.
Five New York state agencies -- the Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC), the Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Department of State, the Public Service Commission and the Department of Transportation -- jointly sponsor the Climate Smart Communities program.
This page introduces services available to Climate Smart Communities, including the Climate Smart Communities Guide to Local Action, periodic webinars and informational listserv.
Joining Climate Smart Communities
Any town, city, village or county can join Climate Smart Communities, without cost. Simply adopt the CSC Pledge and inform DEC that your community has adopted the pledge. You will find a model pledge and details on how to join CSC at Adopt the Climate Smart Communities Pledge.
Climate Smart Communities Services
CSC News
Signing up for the Climate Smart Communities Listserv gives you access to up-to-date information about funding opportunities, educational webinars and networking activities.
Climate Smart Communities Webinar Series
To help localities implement the CSC pledge, our webinar series offers information and real world experience and encourages communities to exchange ideas.
Thank you to all our speakers and attendees at the December 8, 2011 Building Audit webinar. To view the 3 PowerPoint presentations, please click on the links located on the right hand side of this page under "Important Links."
Please check back in the new year for information on our next presentation.
Climate Smart Communities Guide to Local Action
The Climate Smart Communities Guide to Local Action contains overviews of possible community actions, how-to's and case studies to help communities implement the CSC pledge. The table of contents below links to guide sections now available; additional sections will be posted as they are developed.
- Pledge to Combat Climate Change by Becoming a Climate Smart Community - A public commitment to reduce GHG emissions and prepare for unavoidable climate change
- Adopt the Climate Smart Communities Pledge - Joining and benefits; model pledge; list and map of CSCs
- Set Goals, Inventory Emissions, Move to Action - Steps for communities as they assess their emissions and choose actions
- Local Greenhouse Gas Inventories
- Develop a local Climate Action Plan - Policies and measures, planning goals, actions, funding, responsibility and schedules.
- Decrease Energy Demand for Local Government Operations - reducing greenhouse gases and taxpayer cost for electricity and fossil fuel
- Municipal Facilities and Operations - buildings and local services, such as water treatment and street lighting
- Municipal Transportation - reducing miles traveled by municipal governments; making government fleets more efficient
- Municipal Low-Energy Policies - green purchasing and other policies that save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Encourage Renewable Energy for Local Government Operations - To come
- Realize Benefits of Recycling and Other Climate Smart Solid Waste Management Practices
- Climate Smart Waste Management - managing materials to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and grow the economy
Pledge items 6 - 10 - To come
More about Climate Smart Communities:
- Adopt the Climate Smart Communities Pledge - Model Climate Smart Community Pledge that municipal government leaders can use as a guide in developing their own Climate Smart Community Pledge
- Local Greenhouse Gas Inventories - Available tools and assistance for conducting a greenhouse gas inventory.
- Develop a Local Climate Action Plan - Information on creating a local climate action plan.
- Reduce Utility Bills for Municipal Facilities and Operations - Energy efficiency and conservation in buildings and in local services, such as water treatment and street lighting
- Reduce Municipal Energy Use for Transportation - Reducing vehicle miles traveled by municipal governments and employee commuters; making local government fleets more efficient
- Low-Energy Policies for Communities - Green purchasing and other policies that save energy and reduce greenhouse gases from government and the community.
- Climate Smart Waste Management - Information on reducing solid waste for Climate Smart Communities.
