Coordinator Program Continues to Provide Valuable Assistance with Municipal Climate Action
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Acting Commissioner Amanda Lefton announced nine communities achieved certification in the latest round of New York State’s Climate Smart Communities Certification program. The program supports local efforts across the state to meet the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change.
“The Climate Smart Communities program provides critical support to local governments working to reduce pollution in their communities, enhance resilience, and improve needed infrastructure for a cleaner and greener future,” said Acting Commissioner Lefton. “I congratulate these nine new certified ‘Climate Smart’ communities and thank them for their efforts and partnership to advance climate action in New York State and set the example for communities statewide. DEC looks forward to the continued work of Climate Smart Communities Coordinators to provide even more local partners with the assistance and support they need to implement projects and policies that complement the State’s ongoing transition to a cleaner, more resilient economy.”
Communities certified as part of the program accumulate points for planning and implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience. As part of this announcement, eight communities successfully met the criteria to be newly recognized or recertified as leaders at the bronze level.
The city of Albany in the Capital Region reached the silver level this round, the highest level under the program. The city first achieved bronze in 2014, and was part of the collaborative team that originally developed the certification program. More recently, Albany received several grants under the DEC Climate Smart Communities Grant program, including $2 million in 2021 for the Brevator Complete Street project, which is transforming a wide, vehicle-oriented street into a multi-modal corridor with new pedestrian and bicycle facilities, traffic calming measures, and new Bus Rapid Transit service. In 2024, DEC also awarded $2 million for implementation of the Washington Park Complete Street project, with a variety of enhancements to better accommodate the high volume of pedestrians and cyclists utilizing Washington Park.
Bronze Certified Climate Smart Communities
New and recertified bronze Climate Smart Communities include:
- Town of Ballston in Saratoga County
- City of Batavia in Genesee County
- Town of Claverack in Columbia County
- Town of Clifton Park in Saratoga County
- Town of Geneva in Ontario County
- Town of Jay in Essex County
- Town of Oneonta in Otsego County
- Village of Orchard Park in Erie County
For a full list of actions completed by these and other certified Climate Smart Communities, visit the online certification reports found on the Climate Smart Communities website.
NYSERDA President & CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Congratulations to all the newly certified Climate Smart Communities for taking action to strengthen the resiliency of their communities. DEC’s CSC program and NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities Program work hand-in-hand in empowering local leaders to implement future-focused clean energy solutions that improve the day-to-day quality of life of New Yorkers.”
“We are incredibly honored to be one of the few communities to be recognized by DEC for a silver designation,” said Mayor Kathy Sheehan, City of Albany, “I want to thank Governor Kathy Hochul and Commissioner Amanda Lefton for this recognition, and the team here at the City of Albany. The old adage ‘it takes a village’ is truly the sentiment here today. This designation is the culmination of work that started over 10 years ago and the dedication to hard work, bold thinking and strategic partnerships that allowed us to deliver for our residents. With the realities of climate change, a federal administration that is threatening our very existence with reductive policies, I am proud of the work we have done for Albany.”
Established in 2009, the Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program provides guidance and technical support to local governments to take locally driven climate action. The first step to becoming a Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 439 local governments representing nearly 9.7 million New Yorkers have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.
Launched in 2014, the subsequent CSC Certification program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of communities implementing climate actions. To be certified, communities must demonstrate an active task force, that includes residents and municipal representatives, to lead the charge and advance local climate action. Most certified communities complete greenhouse gas inventories that calculate emissions from the local level and identify how to help New York State achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets.
To date, 148 communities have been certified bronze, and 18 communities have been certified silver as part of the program.
The CSC Certification program is led by DEC along with interagency collaboration with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), the Department of Health (DOH), the Department of State (DOS), the Department of Transportation (DOT), the Department of Public Service (DPS), the Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and the New York Power Authority (NYPA).
DEC Climate Smart Communities Funding Programs
In 2016, DEC also launched the CSC Grant program. This funding supports municipalities in completing certification actions and implementing projects that reduce emissions and build resilience to extreme weather. DEC also manages the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, which offers grants to install electric vehicle charging stations for public use, in addition to rebates toward the purchase or lease of electric vehicles for municipal fleets.
Regional Climate Smart Communities Coordinators
DEC today also announced the extension of an initiative to accelerate local climate action by providing free assistance to municipalities working to reduce harmful emissions, adapt to climate change, and improve health and quality of life for residents. DEC is contracting with three regional partners to serve as regional Climate Smart Communities Coordinators to help local governments develop and implement successful local climate initiatives across New York State.
These coordinators use the CSC Certification program as a roadmap for local climate mitigation and adaptation. DEC entered into contracts totaling $6.5 million over three years for three territories covering the entire state. The CSC Coordinators initiative was first launched on Earth Day in April 2022.
The following contractors were selected through the competitive solicitation process to lead the teams in the three territories:
- IMEG for the downstate territory – Long Island and New York City
- Capital District Regional Planning Commission for the eastern territory – Capital Region, Mid-Hudson, Mohawk Valley, and North Country
- Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board for the western territory – Central New York, Finger Lakes, Southern Tier, and Western New York
The CSC Coordinators initiative is supported by approximately $6.1 million from the State’s Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) and $400,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Climate Pollution Reduction Grants (CPRG) program. As part of the 2024-25 State Budget, Governor Hochul included $400 million for the EPF, the highest level of funding as part of the program. The EPF supports climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, improves agricultural resources to promote sustainable agriculture, protects water sources, advances conservation efforts, and provides recreational opportunities for New Yorkers.
Coordinators provide outreach and support for climate action engagement, as well as capacity building, education, and training. They also help facilitate local planning for climate mitigation and adaptation, support the implementation of local climate projects, convene engagement sessions about state climate policy, and more. Visit the CSC website for more information.
In addition, DEC has been leading an outreach and education campaign focused on state-level climate plans, such as the Climate Action Council Scoping Plan. DEC aims to increase awareness and understanding of state climate planning efforts, gain insights into how statewide plans are being used and/or implemented locally, and broaden understanding of the relationship between state and local climate plans.
New York State's Climate Agenda
New York State's climate agenda calls for an affordable and just transition to a clean energy economy that creates family-sustaining jobs, promotes economic growth through green investments, and directs a minimum of 35 percent of the benefits to disadvantaged communities. New York is advancing a suite of efforts to achieve an emissions-free economy by 2050, including in the energy, buildings, transportation, and waste sectors.
