Student Tribune
Green Tip: Be Climate Smart
Climate Smart
Communities (CSC) is a New York State program that helps local governments
take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate.
The program offers free technical assistance, grants, and rebates for electric
vehicles.
The town of Pittsford in Monroe County and the town of Geneva in Ontario
County recently became bronze-certified Climate Smart Communities. Communities
register by passing the CSC pledge. A community can become certified Climate
Smart by completing and documenting actions that mitigate and adapt to climate
change at the local level. Points are awarded for completed actions. In Monroe
County, the town of Brighton and the city of Rochester are bronze-certified.
These towns took actions such as converting lights to LED, installing solar
panels, hosting composting programs, installing electric vehicle charging
stations for public use, making investments in improving walking and biking
infrastructure, and hosting swap days for exchange of lightly used goods to
earn their certifications.
According to NYS Climate Smart Communities, there are 100 certified Climate
Smart Communities in New York State, including nine silver certified
communities. Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner and
Climate Action Council Co-Chair Basil Seggos said "This significant
milestone of the Climate Smart Communities program demonstrates the commitment
of New York’s local governments to enhancing the resilience of their
communities and reducing risk and vulnerability to the impacts of climate
change.”
Penwarden, Ann
Sustainability Steering Committee
10/17/2022