Climate Smart Communities
Local Action to Combat Climate Change
We are pleased to announce that this Climate
Smart Community logo has been developed
by NYSERDA to identify materials for the NYS
Climate Smart Communities program. This
logo is available for use by any community
that has submitted a certified Climate Smart
Community pledge to NYSDEC.
Climate Smart Communities is an unprecedented state-local partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save taxpayer dollars and advance community goals for health and safety, economic vitality, energy independence and quality of life.
Joining Climate Smart Communities
Any town, city, village or county can join Climate Smart Communities, without cost -- just adopt the CSC Pledge and inform DEC that your community has adopted the pledge. Adopt the Climate Smart Communities Pledge includes a model pledge and details on how to join.The Climate Smart Communities program is jointly sponsored by the following New York State agencies:
- Department of Environmental Conservation
- Energy Research and Development Authority
- Public Service Commission
- Department of State
- Department of Transportation
- Department of Health
Climate Smart Communities Services
Climate Smart Community Coordinators - Dedicated personnel working to help communities access information, expertise and funding.
CSC Listserv - Sign up for alerts about funding, educational and networking opportunities for local governments.
To sign up, first use this link to subscribe to GovDelivery by entering your e-mail address. Fill in and submit the requested information on the "New Subscriber" page. This will take you to the "Quick Subscription" page where you will see all the topics that you can receive email updates on from DEC. Scroll to the "Climate Change" category and check the box next to "Climate Smart Communities Program." You will receive a welcome email from DEC confirming your subscription(s).
Climate Smart Communities Webinar Series - Experts and other CSCs share ideas and experiences.
Thank you to our speakers and attendees at the June 6, 2013 webinar: National Flood Insurance Program's Community Rating System . The PowerPoint presentation is available on our Climate Smart Webinar Presentations page.
Upcoming Webinars
The June 6th webinar marked the close of our CSC webinar series for 2012/2013; we will resume again in Fall, 2013. In the interim if you have any suggestions for topics you would like to see presented, plesae email the Office of Climate Change at the link to the right of this page.
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 item - To come
- Plan for Adaptation to Unavoidable Climate Change
- Increasing Local Climate Resilience - Developing local adaptation plans to minimize the adverse impacts of climate change
Pledge items 8-10 - To come
More about Climate Smart Communities:
- Climate Smart Community Coordinators - Information and contacts for the four regional Climate Smart Community coordinators and the two statewide coordinators.
- 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.
- Climate Change Adaptation - Increasing local resistance to climate change impacts
- Climate Smart Webinar Presentations - Links to past Climate Smart Communities' webinar presentations.
- Climate Smart Communities in the News - Learn how pledge items have been translated into tangible climate smart actions.
