Certified Communities Complete Actions to Improve Air Quality and Increase Resilience
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner Amanda Lefton today recognized six communities for their local actions to address the economic, social, and environmental challenges posed by climate change. The communities each achieved certification in the latest round of New York State’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program, with three reaching the program’s highest ‘silver’ level.
“I applaud the commitment and accomplishments of the newest six certified Climate Smart Communities as they work to inspire others across the state to take action to mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level,” said Commissioner Lefton. “New York’s more than 160 certified Climate Smart Communities are essential partners in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving air quality, and helping boost resilience as our state faces more and more extreme weather and the costly climate impacts amidst proposals to slash environmental protections at the federal level."
Communities certified as part of the State’s successful Climate Smart program accumulate points for planning and implementing actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve community resilience. The town of Bethlehem, town of Dryden, and village of Nyack all achieved silver certification for the first time. These municipalities join 18 other silver communities that are demonstrating local leadership through their commitment to advancing climate actions and projects. Three communities successfully met the criteria for bronze, joining approximately 150 other certified bronze communities.
Established in 2009, the interagency Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program provides guidance and technical support to local governments regarding climate action. The CSC program is led by DEC with support from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Department of Health (DOH), Department of State (DOS), Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Public Service (DPS), Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR), and New York Power Authority (NYPA).
Launched in 2014, the CSC Certification program recognizes the leadership and accomplishments of communities implementing climate actions. The first step to becoming a certified Climate Smart Community is to register by pledging to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change. To date, 445 local governments representing nearly 9.7 million New Yorkers have adopted the Climate Smart Communities pledge.
To achieve certification, communities must demonstrate an active task force of residents and municipal representatives advancing local climate action. Most certified communities complete greenhouse gas inventories that calculate emissions at the local level and identify actions to help New York State achieve its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. To date, 148 communities have been certified bronze, and 21 communities certified silver.
New and recertified Bronze Climate Smart Communities include:
- Village of Clayton in Jefferson County
- Village of Lansing in Tompkins County
- Warren County
New Silver Climate Smart Communities include:
- Town of Bethlehem in Albany County
- Town of Dryden in Tompkins County
- Village of Nyack in Rockland County
For a full list of actions completed by these and other certified communities, visit the online certification reports found on the Climate Smart Communities website.
NYSERDA and DEC are working together to support towns, cities, villages, and county governments in New York State that play a vital role in achieving the State’s clean energy and climate initiatives. Local governments’ achievement of Climate Smart Communities certification is supported through NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program, which recognizes and rewards community leadership by providing technical resources, tools, and financial support for the completion of clean energy projects. All of the Climate Smart Communities recognized today are designated as Clean Energy Communities.
NYSERDA President and CEO Doreen M. Harris said, “Together, DEC’s CSC program and NYSERDA’s Clean Energy Communities program support forward-thinking energy solutions at the local level that help to pave the pathway towards a clean energy economy. Congratulations to the newly certified Climate Smart Communities for joining the more than 150 municipalities across the state that are taking action to improve resiliency, lower emissions, and bring the benefits of the energy transition to more New Yorkers."
Bethlehem Town Supervisor David VanLuven said, “The Town of Bethlehem is pleased to receive Climate Smart Communities Silver Certification. This recognition underscores the importance of our ambitious sustainability efforts, which range from protecting treasured open spaces to creating a native plant demonstration garden, expanding our composting facility to installing efficient lighting, and much, much more. Climate change is affecting all of our lives, and we need to work together both to adapt to it and to take substantive actions to reduce it.”
Dryden Town Supervisor Jason Leifer said, “Achieving New York State Silver Climate Smart Community Certification is a proud moment for the Town of Dryden, which has a long history of environmental advocacy. We thank our Climate Smart Coordinator and the volunteers on the Climate Smart Task Force, and all the town staff who worked on the high-impact actions that have helped our town reduce its carbon footprint and prepare for the effects of climate change.”
Nyack Village Mayor Joe Rand said, “The village couldn’t be more proud of our Climate Smart Committee members on this outstanding accomplishment, especially Sustainability Coordinator Marcy Denker and Steve Cea. They have led this effort from the beginning, giving us vital guidance, support, and funding for over a decade as we’ve built local capacity for climate mitigation and adaptation that resonates here in the village and also throughout our area. We also have many wonderful community partners to thank for their efforts, and we’re deeply grateful for all the support we’ve received from the terrific team at the Hudson Valley Regional Council.”
DEC Climate Smart Communities Funding Programs
In 2016, DEC 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.
In May, DEC announced $22 million is now available in grants for municipalities. Eligible projects include reducing flood risk by relocating or retrofitting critical infrastructure, reducing emissions from food waste, and engineering feasibility studies, among many other actions that target decreasing greenhouse gas emissions and improving health and community resilience. Applications are due by July 31, 2025.
DEC also manages the Municipal Zero-Emission Vehicle (ZEV) program, which offers grants to install electric vehicle charging stations for public use and rebates toward the purchase or lease of electric vehicles for municipal fleets.
Regional Climate Smart Communities Coordinators
In April, DEC 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 provide free technical assistance to any local government that seeks to 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. 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.
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.
