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Climate Smart Communities

Saving Energy and Helping the Climate

The Climate Smart Communities program is a partnership of state and local governments whose goal is to combat climate change. The program emphasizes local actions that will save taxpayer dollars and support other community goals while protecting the climate.

Forty-five New York communities already have pledged to make their municipal operations and their communities Climate Smart. Becoming a Climate Smart Community establishes a locality and its leaders as forward-thinking and innovative. Climate Smart Communities position themselves as good investments for the future, especially for renewable energy, energy efficiency, weatherization and other "green" businesses and jobs.

Local Governments Respond to Climate Change

Climate Smart Communities minimize the risks of climate change and reduce its long-term costs by changing in two ways:

  1. Reducing GHG Emissions: To stabilize atmospheric GHGs at manageable levels and avoid severe climatic changes, Climate Smart Communities are starting now to reduce emissions of GHG to the atmosphere. Governor David Paterson has established a goal for New York State of reducing GHG emissions by 80 percent from 1990 levels by the year 2050 (see Offsite Link at right to Executive Order 24).
  2. Adapting to a Changing Climate: Altering the built and natural environment in anticipation of predicted climatic changes, or in response to actual changes, will alleviate the risks associated with unavoidable changes in climate. Climate change impacts with implications for local governments in New York may include flooding caused by rising sea levels or more intense precipitation, and effects on water supplies from changes in precipitation and snow pack.

Local Climate Actions

Many actions by New York's local governments can reduce GHG emissions and help the community adapt to coming changes. These actions usually focus on:

  • Municipal operations: Local governments can act directly to reduce fossil fuel consumption in municipal buildings and vehicles, to improve solid waste management practices, and to adapt infrastructure and operations for resilience to anticipated changes due to the warming climate.
  • Community-wide : Local governments can enable climate-smart practices through land use plans, zoning and building codes, solid waste and water management programs, and through policies dealing with roads and public transportation. Local governments can lead, educate and demonstrate the savings from energy efficiency and low-carbon energy, encouraging businesses, institutions and individuals to move forward.

Joining Climate Smart Communities

  • Adopt the Climate Smart Communities Pledge. The pledge, which DEC developed at the request of several communities, includes all the elements of a successful local climate program. Adopt the Pledge as DEC drafted it, or add your own legislative findings or Pledge elements. Appoint a climate coordinator, galvanize community support and begin your program. For further information, see the Climate Smart Communities Pledge summary at the bottom of this page and the Pledge link on the left hand side of this page.
  • Next steps include: identifying emissions of greenhouse gases in the community; setting emission-reduction goals, and developing a Climate Action Plan. Most communities begin implementation with emissions from their own facilities and vehicles, and then help reduce emissions in the community at large. Local land use strategies will play an increasing role as communities reduce emissions and adapt to unavoidable climate change.
  • Going forward...Through the Climate Smart Communities program, the State will recognize and promote local climate protection successes, helping to reward Climate Smart Communities and their leaders. The program will progress to help local governments adapt as the climate changes.

Resources for Climate Smart Communities

  • A State Clearinghouse to serve as a single point of access for information on all energy efficiency programs is now available, including assistance under federal stimulus programs. A link to the clearinghouse appears among the Offsite Links on the right hand side of this page.
  • A comprehensive Climate Smart Communities Guide is currently under development, with detailed information to help communities implement climate-smart practices. The Guide will include step-by-step guidance for planning and implementation, information on resources and funding, examples of successful implementation, and considerations for measuring and monitoring success. A summary guide describing early steps for Climate Smart Communities ("Climate Smart Communities, a Guide for Local Officials") is a Related Link on the right hand side of this page.

Benefits of Local Climate Action

A local commitment to climate change will contribute substantially to other community objectives:

  • Saving taxpayer dollars: Reducing energy costs and improving operational efficiency will lower local governments' operating costs and save taxpayer dollars. Climate smart land use practices can lower infrastructure and service costs as well.
  • Promoting economic growth: Climate protection will create a demand for workers and providers of "green" (energy efficiency and renewable energy) products and services. Green technologies generate more jobs per dollar than conventional fuel technologies, and these dollars are more likely to be retained in the local economy. The American Solar Energy Society estimates that the renewable energy and energy efficiency sectors can generate up to 37 million jobs by 2030 - more than 17 percent of all anticipated U.S. employment. To support this growing sector, local educational institutions are beginning to train workers to install and maintain green technologies. Community-wide climate protection also helps to maintain property values by making communities desirable and attractive to new residents, and increases the area's energy independence and security.
  • Improving operations and upgrading infrastructure: Improving the energy efficiency of aging infrastructure by retrofitting or upgrading will save operating dollars in the years to come. Energy efficiency improvements also present opportunities to improve air quality and modernize aging infrastructure. The technical and operational changes that reduce greenhouse gas emissions often will reduce other air pollutants at the same time.

The communities that quickly adopted the Climate Smart Communities Pledge demonstrate how committed our local leaders are to decreasing energy use and waste, increasing recycling and supporting a green economy. By doing so, they are working to improve our natural environment and to ensure a sustainable future for New York.
Governor David Paterson

State agencies collaborating in the Climate Smart Communities program include the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the New York State Department of State and the New York State Public Service Commission.

Municipal officials join Peter Iwanowicz of Governor Paterson's staff and DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis to recognize New York's first Climate Smart Communities.
Municipal officials join Peter Iwanowicz of Governor Paterson's
staff and DEC Commissioner Pete Grannis (right) to recognize
New York's first Climate Smart Communities.

DEC drafted the Pledge at the request of several New York communities. A summary version of the Pledge is found below. A link to a model Climate Smart Community Pledge resolution appears at the end of this page and at the top left hand side.

Summary: Climate Smart Communities Pledge

Steps to Your Local Climate Protection Program

  1. Pledge to Combat Climate Change by Becoming a Climate Smart Community
    Set goals to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to predicted climatic changes. Establish a task force. Designate a point person. Join a national climate campaign such as ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability.
  2. Set Goals, Inventory Emissions, Move to Action
    Gather data about local GHG emission sources. Inventory emissions. Establish baselines. Develop quantifiable interim GHG emission targets. Propose emission reduction schedule and financing strategy. Develop a Local Action Plan for reducing emissions.
  3. Decrease Energy Demand for Local Government Operations
    Adopt the state's goal of reducing electricity use by 15 percent from projected levels no later than 2015. Take into account existing public facilities, new public buildings, community infrastructure, vehicle fleet and commuting. Improve waste management in government operations.
  4. Encourage Renewable Energy for Local Government Operations
    Set a goal to maximize the use of public energy generated from renewable sources (e.g. solar, wind, small hydro).
  5. Realize Benefits of Recycling and Other Climate Smart Solid Waste Management Practices
    Promote reuse and ensure access to comprehensive recycling. Adopt a green purchasing program.
  6. Promote Climate Protection Through Community Land Use Tools
    Keep development low-carbon-intensity and resilient to climatic change. Update land use policies, building codes, community plans in ways that reduce sprawl, minimize development in floodplains, and protect forests.
  7. Plan for Adaptation to Unavoidable Climate Change
    Identify risks to government facilities and functions (e.g. water supply, sewers), and factor into long-term investments and decision-making. Develop a Climate Adaptation Plan, with priority to the most vulnerable areas.
  8. Support a Green Innovation Economy
    Incorporate climate protection and sustainability into economic development plans. Encourage work force training and public education for energy efficiency and renewable energy.
  9. Inform and Inspire the Public
    Lead by example. Publicize local government commitment to reducing energy use, saving tax dollars, and adapting to changing conditions. Encourage citizens to follow suit.
  10. Commit to an Evolving Process
    Be willing to consider new ideas and adapt existing approaches. Compare successes and cooperate with neighboring communities.

More about Climate Smart Communities: