Printer-friendlyHudson River Estuary Program Climate Change Program
The Estuary Program is coordinating
a regional response to climate change.
DEC's Hudson River Estuary Program, in partnership with the New York State Climate Change Office, is coordinating local efforts to respond to climate change in the Hudson Valley. The Estuary Program hosts the Hudson Valley Climate Change Network, a network of representatives from over 30 organizations representing local officials, universities, not-for profits, and other regional stakeholders working together to provide input into the development and implementation of cost-effective mitigation and adaptation strategies in the Estuary watershed. The Network meets approximately every two months to coordinate and collaborate on regional climate change efforts. For more information on the Network please contact the Hudson River Estuary Program.
Recent Conferences Lead to Regional Action
In December 2006, DEC organized a conference, Climate Change in New York's Hudson Valley, for climate scientists to share with local decision makers information about the changes we can expect to see in our region in the coming decades. The scientists highlighted documented changes in our regional climate that are expected to continue and how these changes will affect the types of species that survive in our region, both on the ground and in the water, the health and productivity of our forests, the future of
our tidal wetland communities, our drinking water, recreational opportunities, transportation systems, and coastal infrastructure. More information on the projected extent of these changes and the impacts to human and natural communities can be found in the Northeast Regional Climate Impacts Assessment, a set of reports produced by the Union of Concerned Scientists.
On August 24, 2007 the Estuary Program partnered with Sustainable Hudson Valley, the New York State Climate Change Policy Office, Mid-Hudson EnergySmart Communities, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, the New York State Department of State, Scenic Hudson, The Nature Conservancy, Historic River Towns of Westchester, the Omega Institute, and the Garrison Institute to host a summit on climate protection for municipal leaders at Norrie Point Environmental Education Center in Staatsburg, NY. Speakers summarized climate change impacts and provided an overview of local strategies for measuring and reducing greenhouse gas emissions and adapting to climate change. Communities already taking action shared their stories and how they found funding and resources to get started.
Hudson River Municipalities are Taking Action
While a response to climate change is needed at all levels, county and local governments will play a key role. Municipalities can improve their energy efficiency and save local dollars by upgrading buildings and infrastructure, selecting more efficient fleet vehicles, or by streamlining operations. In addition, most economic and land use decisions are made at the local level. This offers opportunities for municipal officials to demonstrate leadership by investing in renewable energy sources and economic development in the green energy sector, by adopting green building ordinances, by encouraging public transit, new bike and walking trails, and allowing employees to telecommute.
The Climate Change Conference and Municipal Summit generated a great deal of interest and energy to work on climate change at the local level. As a result of these events and strong local leadership, municipalities in the Hudson Valley are beginning to take important steps to address greenhouse gas emissions. Westchester County has created a Global Warming Task Force charged with producing plans to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promoting sustainable development. The Town of Greenburgh has passed a building and energy code requiring that new homes be built according to federal Energy Star standards. As of August 2007 nine municipalities have officially partnered with ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, an international non-profit, to measure their greenhouse gas emissions and develop an action plan to reduce them.
Some amount of climate change is expected in our region regardless of our actions to curb greenhouse gas emissions. The Nature Conservancy is spearheading a collaborative effort with the Hudson River Estuary Program, Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve, Institute for Ecosystem Studies, and Sustainable Hudson Valley to engage scientists and regional stakeholders in a long term planning process to outline key regional threats associated with climate change in the Valley, how they will change over time, and natural and human communities at highest risk. The outcome of this effort will be recommendations for how communities, agencies, and organizations in the Hudson Valley can plan to adapt to changes in our climate over the long term.
The amount of climate change we see will depend on energy choices we make today and over the next decade. While the Hudson Valley alone cannot determine the climate future, our actions can be a model for other regions of the state as we develop practical ways to limit emissions of greenhouse gases, and long term strategies to respond to a changing climate.
More about Hudson River Estuary Program Climate Change Program:
- Hudson Valley Climate Change Conference, December 4, 2006 - On December 4, 2006 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) through its Climate Change Policy Office and Hudson River Estuary Program, held a one-day conference for local decision-makers to discuss climate change issues and their potential impacts on the Hudson River Valley.
