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. Major steps in the program include:

1. Adopting the CSC pledge

2. Creation of a municipal operations and community greenhouse gas inventory

3. Development of a plan to reduce emissions (Climate Action Plan)

4. Carrying out sustainable development projects

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 250 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:

1. Auburn City - GHG inventory

2. Baldwinsville Village - GHG inventory, Municipal GHG inventory update

3. Cayuga County

4. Cazenovia Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

5. Cazenovia Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

6. Cortland City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

7. Cortland County

8. DeWitt Town - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan

9. Eaton Town

10. Elbridge Town

11. Fabius Town

12. Fayetteville Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

13. Hamilton Town

14. Hamilton Village

15. Homer Village - Municipal operations GHG inventory

16. Jordan Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

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

18. Minetto Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

19. Minoa Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

20. Montezuma Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

21. Moravia Town

22. Moravia Village

23. Niles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

24. Oneida City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

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

26. Oswego City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

27. Oswego County

28. Owasco Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

29. Preble Town - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan Draft

30. Pulaski Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

31. Richland Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

32. Skaneateles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

33. Skaneateles Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

34. Syracuse City - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan

35. Tully Village

SUNY ESF students present findings of the Village of Cazenovia Greenhouse Gas Inventory Report to the Cazenovia Village Board, Spring 2014

Click here for a full list of CSCs in New York.

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 existing 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. Madison County is the first municipality in CNY to become a Certified Bronze Climate Smart Community.

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

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For further information about the CSC Program, visit the DEC’s website, or contact Chris Carrick at ccarrick@cnyrpdb.org or (315) 422-8276 ext 1213.

Climate Smart Communities in CNY

Climate Smart Communities in CNY with formally adopted Climate Action Plans