Climate Smart Communities

The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program represents a partnership between state and local governments with the goal of reducing energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

 

In 2012, the state created the CSC Regional Coordinator Pilot Program to provide support to local governments as they work to carry out the ten elements of the CSC pledge. The Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board served as Central New York’s regional coordinator for the three-year CSC pilot program, which ended in November of 2015. NYSERDA Clean Energy Community Coordinators have since taken over as regional outreach coordinators who can assist with this program.

 

Over 330 local governments throughout the state have adopted the CSC Pledge and are working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to a changing climate and save taxpayers money. Communities in CNY that have adopted the CSC Pledge include:

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  1. Auburn City - GHG inventory

  2. Aurora Village

  3. Baldwinsville Village - GHG inventory, Municipal GHG inventory update, Municipal Climate Action Plan

  4. Cayuga County

  5. Cazenovia Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  6. Cazenovia Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  7. Cortland City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  8. Cortland County

  9. DeWitt Town - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan

  10. Eaton Town

  11. Elbridge Town

  12. Fabius Town

  13. Fayetteville Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  14. Geddes Town

  15. Hamilton Town - Municipal operations GHG inventory, Community GHG inventory

  16. Hamilton Village - GHG inventory

  17. Homer Village - Municipal operations GHG inventory, Community GHG inventory, Municipal operations Climate Action Plan

  18. Jordan Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  19. Madison County - GHG inventory; Energy & Sustainability Plan

  20. Manlius Town - Municipal operations GHG inventory, Community GHG inventory

  21. Minetto Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  22. Minoa Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  23. Montezuma Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  24. Moravia Town

  25. Moravia Village

  26. Niles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  27. Oneida City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  28. Onondaga County - Climate Action Plan (with inventory)

  29. Oswego City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  30. Oswego County

  31. Owasco Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan; GHG inventory update 2021

  32. Preble Town - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan Draft

  33. Pulaski Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan; GHG inventory update 2021

  34. Richland Town - GHG inventory 2015; GHG inventory update 2021; Climate Action Plan

  35. Skaneateles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  36. Skaneateles Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

  37. Syracuse City - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan

  38. Tully Village

Representatives from the DEC, the Towns of Manlius, Owasco, and Richland and the Village of Pulaski celebrate Climate Smart Communities Certification achievements at a press event,

May 24, 2022

Click here to view CSCs on a map.

 

Climate Smart Communities Certification

Climate Smart Communities are eligible for additional recognition through the CSC Certification Program. The CSC Certification program provides local governments with a robust framework to guide their climate action and enables high-performing communities to achieve recognition for their leadership. Designed around the ten pledge elements, the certification program recognizes communities for their accomplishments through a rating system leading to three levels of award: Certified Bronze, Silver and Gold.

 

Municipalities in CNY that are Certified Climate Smart Communities include:

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  1. Madison County (Bronze)

  2. Town of Cazenovia (Bronze)

  3. Town of Hamilton (Bronze)

  4. Town of Manlius (Bronze)

  5. Town of Owasco (Bronze)

  6. Town of Richland (Bronze)

  7. Village of Hamilton (Bronze)

  8. Village of Homer (Bronze)

  9. Village of Cazenovia (Bronze)

  10. Village of Pulaski (Bronze)

 
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Climate Smart Communities in CNY

Climate Smart Communities in CNY with formally adopted Climate Action Plans

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CSC Certification is also one of the high-impact action items of the Clean Energy Communities program. 

 

On April 19, 2022, the CNY RPDB hosted a Clean Energy Communities vs Climate Smart Communities webinar featuring the Town of Manlius and Village of Homer case studies. A recording of the webinar can be found here.

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For further information about the CSC Program, visit the DEC’s website, or contact Amanda Mazzoni at amazzoni@cnyrpdb.org or (315) 422-8276 ext 1215.