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:

1. Auburn City - GHG inventory

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

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. Geddes Town

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

15. Hamilton Village - GHG inventory

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

17. Jordan Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

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

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

20. Minetto Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

21. Minoa Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

22. Montezuma Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

23. Moravia Town

24. Moravia Village

25. Niles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

26. Oneida City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

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

28. Oswego City - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

29. Oswego County

30. Owasco Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

31. Preble Town - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan Draft

32. Pulaski Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

33. Richland Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

34. Skaneateles Town - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

35. Skaneateles Village - GHG inventory; Climate Action Plan

36. Syracuse City - GHG inventory; Sustainability Plan

37. 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 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. Village of Hamilton (Bronze)

5. Village of Homer (Bronze)

6. Village of Cazenovia (Bronze)

Climate Smart Communities in CNY

Climate Smart Communities in CNY with formally adopted Climate Action Plans

CSC Certification is also one of the high-impact 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 Amanda Mazzoni at  or (315) 422-8276 ext 1215.