Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Program
Through the NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Coordinator Program, from September 2022 through June 2024, HVRC hosted a series of cohorts to provide technical assistance to municipalities in the Mid-Hudson Region in developing the following priority actions: Government Operations greenhouse gas (GHG) Inventory, Government Operations Climate Action Plan, Community GHG Inventory and Community Action Plan.
The cohort model provided municipalities the chance to work together and share experiences, challenges, and tips as they went through the process. Each cohort guided participants through a four to five month-long course providing training on tools, resources and templates, and support in creating each deliverable. If you are interested in learning about how to create your own GHG inventory or climate action plan, please email Eleanor Peck.
The following deliverables were completed as part of this program, click the link for each community to see their final greenhouse gas inventories and climate action plans. Unlinked municipalities are in the process of completing their deliverable or have yet to post it publicly on the internet. In addition to the municipalities participating in the cohort, any interested municipalities were given separate one-on-one support to complete these deliverables (marked with *).
Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory
PE2 Action: Government Operations GHG Inventory
A local government operations GHG inventory is an accounting, analysis, and report of the GHG emissions resulting from the day-to-day operations of a village, town, city, or county. GHG inventories can establish a baseline and help local governments identify opportunities to reduce GHG emissions for its operations.
Town of Bedford
*Town of Bethel
Town of Clinton
Town of Highlands
*Town of Lloyd
Town of New Castle
Town of Olive
Town of Orangetown
Town of Philipstown
Government Operations Climate Action Plan
PE2 Action: Government Operations Climate Action Plan
A climate action plan (CAP) is a strategy document that sets goals and outlines a set of initiatives that reduce GHG emissions. Using a GHG emissions inventory as the foundation, a CAP defines GHG reduction targets and provides a framework for achieving those targets. The CAP identifies priority actions and facilitates coordination across government departments. In addition, the CAP supports effective action over time by establishing methods for assessing progress and adjusting the local strategy if GHG targets are surpassed or not fulfilled. By developing such a plan for their own operations, local governments take leadership roles and provide their communities with examples that help to inspire community-wide action. These deliverables in particular take time and buy in from multiple stakeholders. We continue to support these municipalities who are still working on their CAPs.
City of Rye
Town of Bedford
Town of Clinton
Town of Highlands
Town of Hurley
Town of Kent
Town of Mamaroneck
Town of New Castle
Town of Olive
Town of Philipstown
Town of Rosendale
Town of Shandaken
Village of Bronxville
Village of Mamaroneck
Village of Piermont
Village of Pleasantville
Village of Tuxedo Park
*Village of Warwick
Community Greenhouse Gas Inventory
PE2 Action: Community GHG Inventory
A community GHG inventory accounts for emissions associated with activities occurring within a community’s boundaries, including electricity consumption, transportation, and solid waste emissions. The community GHG inventory can establish a baseline and identify opportunities to reduce GHG emissions for the community at large. The 2021 Mid-Hudson Regional Inventory Update was done as part of the 2023 Community GHG Cohort and participating municipalities helped check utility and census data for their individual communities. The Regional Inventory Update is now available for all Mid-Hudson municipalities to utilize with a summary data spreadsheet and template report.
Watch HVRC's How To Create a Community GHG Inventory Webinar here.
City of Rye
City of White Plains
Dutchess County
*Putnam County
Town of Bedford
Town of Bethel
Town of Clinton
Town of Goshen
*Town of Highlands
Town of Lloyd
Town of Mamaroneck
Town of Marlborough
Town of New Castle
Town of North East
*Town of Orangetown
*Town of Ossining
Town of Poughkeepsie
Town of Rosendale
Town of Saugerties
Town of Shandaken
*Town of Woodstock
Village of Ardsley
Community Climate Action Plan
PE2 Action: Community Climate Action Plan
A CAP is a strategy document that sets goals and outlines a set of initiatives that reduce GHG emissions. Using a GHG emissions inventory as the foundation, a CAP defines GHG reduction targets and identifies priority actions. By providing a framework for achieving the GHG targets, the CAP facilitates coordination between broader community engagement and local government leadership. In addition, the CAP supports effective action over time because it establishes methods for assessing progress and adjusting the local strategy if GHG targets are surpassed or not fulfilled.
Dutchess County
Town of Bethel
Town of Gardiner
Town of Hurley
Town of Marlborough
Town of North East
Town of Poughkeepsie
Town of Saugerties
Town of Shandaken
Town of Woodstock
Village of Bronxville
Village of Cold Spring
Village of Dobbs Ferry
Village of Millerton
Village of Piermont
Village of Rhinebeck
The HVRC CSC Coordinator Program is made possible with funding from the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation Climate Smart Communities Coordinator Program.
