News from the Office of Climate Change

November 20, 2017

Earth & Climate Photo Op

 The timing and vibrancy of fall color change in leaves is impacted by climate change in complex ways. Photo from Katherine Dunn/ILoveNY.com.

Things We Like

This past spring, students at Paul Smith's College created a 15-minute documentary film as part of the Climate Stories Project, carrying out interviews with Adirondack residents about their attachment to the land and their responses to climate change in their home region. You can watch their film on YouTube.

Community News

Southampton, NY is home to the first East Coast municipal park to be a certified AGZA Green Zone where routine landscape maintenance is performed using quiet, emissions-free manual techniques and electric equipment that draws on New York’s relatively clean power grid. You can find out more about the negative impacts of gas-powered lawn equipment on the American Green Zone Alliance (AGZA) website.

In November, Southampton also became the 16th Certified Climate Smart Community in New York State. With this designation, the town is recognized for its actions to strengthen resiliency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Get Help

NYSERDA’s New York Solar Guidebook has been revised and updated to assist communities across in navigating the siting and review processes for the development of clean energy projects. The Guidebook offers information, tools and step-by-step instructions to support local government efforts to develop solar energy resources and create clean energy jobs.

Smart Growth Fixes for Climate Adaptation and Resilience outlines a range of policies to consider for adapting to flooding, extreme precipitation, sea level rise, storm surge, extreme heat, drought, and wildfire. The publication showcases community examples, resources for more information, and potential metrics from sustainability rating systems.

FEMA's Pre-Disaster Recovery Planning Guide for Local Governments is designed for local governments to help prepare for recovery from future disasters by engaging with the whole community and focusing on comprehensive and long term planning for recovery.

By The Numbers

Registered Climate Smart Communities (CSC)...210
Certified Climate Smart Communities...16
Current atmospheric CO2 concentration (in ppm)...405
States in the U.S. Climate Alliance...15
NYC rank in cities most vulnerable to coastal flooding today...1
NYC rank in cities most vulnerable to coastal flooding in 2050...1

Science!

"'It is extremely likely that human influence has been the dominant cause of the observed warming since the mid-20th century,' the report concludes. 'For the warming over the last century, there is no convincing alternative explanation supported by the extent of the observational evidence.'”

How will climate change affect the United States in decades to come?, published in Eos, 98, on 11/3/17.

Contact Us

climatechange@dec.ny.gov
518-402-8448