Climate Smart Communities Certification Program Launched

Dear Climate Smart Community Leader:

On April 22-Earth Day-Governor Andrew M. Cuomo launched the New York State Climate Smart Communities Certification Program and applauded the first six municipalities to achieve certification. The CSC Certification Program is designed to support municipal efforts to meet economic, social and environmental challenges posed by climate change. The new certification effort, which will award certification, bronze, silver and gold levels, will provide a means to recognize those communities that achieve success under their CSC pledge, a means to track and reward local actions, and a better defined framework for local climate action.  

Through New York’s Climate Smart Communities Program, municipalities receive analytical tools, information on available training and financial assistance, an informational webinar series and direct technical support from coordinators. The coordinators are funded by proceeds from the sale of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative carbon dioxide emissions allowances. Counties, cities, towns, and villages can join the voluntary program by adopting the Climate Smart Communities Pledge. The pledge requires local governments to set goals; inventory emissions and develop a climate action plan; decrease energy demands and encourage renewable energy in their operations; support recycling and other climate smart solid waste management practices; promote climate protection though land use tools; develop an adaptation and resiliency plan for climate change; support a green innovation economy; inform and inspire the public; and commit to an evolving process. To date, 130 local governments have taken the pledge to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, prepare for the effects of climate change and encourage development of a green innovation economy.  

Building upon the success of the Climate Smart Communities program and with funding from the Environmental Protection Fund, Climate Smart Community sponsoring agencies and their consultant, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc., developed criteria for communities to achieve official designation as Certified Climate Smart Communities. The state sought input from an advisory group consisting of local officials and experts from a variety of organizations in developing the CSC Certification Manual, which identifies more than 130 specific actions Climate Smart Communities can take to receive points toward certification and higher award levels. The manual also describes standards the CSCs must meet and documentation requirements to be awarded points, and provides information on tools, best management practices, case studies and other resources to assist communities in planning and implementing local climate actions.

The actions described in the certification manual are organized according to the ten points of the Climate Smart Communities Pledge. The certification program requires that communities complete a small number of specific actions fundamental to an effective local climate action program, including the following:  

• Form a Climate Smart Community task force to coordinate community efforts and a municipal "green team" to help the municipality identify opportunities to reduce greenhouse emissions and save energy costs in municipal operations
• Set greenhouse gas emissions targets and develop plans to achieve them over time
• Undertake an energy audit of at least one municipal building and to
• Conduct a review of existing local plans to identify opportunities to improve reslilency to climate hazards 
• Although the certification program requires a small number of specific actions, communities may select from the large number of voluntary actions to develop a local program that fits local circumstances, objectives and capacities.

Climate Smart Communities can begin working toward certification now, using the certification manual as a guide. However, current resource limitations will not permit the agencies to review documentation of completed actions for all 130 actions included in the certification manual. Under a Cleaner, Greener Communities project previously announced by Governor Cuomo, a team led by the Pace Law School Land Use Law Center is developing a Climate Smart Communities Certification web portal to facilitate the submittal of full documentation, as well as administration and tracking. Until this portal is operational, CSCs may submit documentation of completion of the 13 actions designated as priority actions in the certification manual to DEC’s Office of Climate Change.  Details about the Climate Smart Communities program are available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/50845.html and more detailed information on the certification program, including the certification manual and document submittal requirements, is available at http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/96511.html .

Six CSCs achieved certification during a pilot of the certification manual: the City of Watervliet, Albany County; the City of Albany, Albany County; the Town of Cortlandt, Westchester County; Orange County; the Village of Dobbs Ferry, Westchester County; and the City of Kingston, Ulster County.

Each of these CSCs completed and documented a wide variety of local climate actions, but highlights of each community's achievements follow.

City of Watervliet – Certified: The city took aggressive action to reduce energy consumption in its municipal buildings and installed solar photovoltaics, which not only reduce emissions but also lower city utility costs. In addition, the city adopted policies to require green infrastructure, shade structures and other natural energy-saving devices on public land.  

City of Albany - Certified: The city incorporated climate action planning into its first comprehensive plan, encouraged recycling by adopting a single-stream recycling program, implemented a number of policies to improve neighborhood walkability and completed a climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan.  

Town of Cortlandt – Certified: The town’s approach to climate change incorporates the principles of sustainability and resiliency into government operations and includes sharing services with surrounding communities to achieve regional goals. These strategies have helped the town achieve an 18-percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from its facilities and a 23-percent reduction from town vehicles.

Orange County – Certified: The county uses an energy management system to track the results of upgraded lighting, and heating and cooling equipment, more efficient water fixtures, a large photovoltaic installation and alternative fuel vehicles. In addition, the county led the development of the Mid-Hudson regional sustainability plan.

Village of Dobbs Ferry – Bronze: The village reduced greenhouse gas emissions from municipal facilities by 45 percent from 2007 to 2013, significantly exceeding its goal to reduce emissions from municipal operations by 20 percent by 2015. The village accomplished its reductions through initiatives that include installation of LED streetlights and solar arrays, energy-efficiency retrofits and energy-efficient new construction.  

City of Kingston – Bronze: The city is a regional leader in adaptation planning through its Waterfront Flooding Task Force, which piloted a number of tools and processes that are now available to other communities. Kingston also took many steps to improve the energy-efficiency of buildings, increase its recycling and composting rates, convert traffic signals to LEDs and preserve open space along its vulnerable waterfront.

Governor Cuomo's news release honoring these six communities is available at http://www.governor.ny.gov/press/04222014-climate-smart-communities .

Office of Climate Change
New York State Department of Environmental Conservation
625 Broadway, 9th Floor
Albany, New York 12233
Phone: (518) 402-8448
Email: climatechange@gw.dec.state.ny.us