Tompkins County has been recertified as a Climate Smart Community. 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.
With 360 points, Tompkins County is the highest scoring county in the State and received Silver Climate Smart Community status, the highest distinction in the program. Tompkins County is one of only nine silver certified communities. The County earned the certification by submitting 46 actions that were supported by Tompkins County policies and initiatives. Actions included decreasing energy use, shifting to renewable energy, and enhancing community resilience to climate change.
As laid out in the Energy Strategy, Tompkins County is committed to achieving net zero emissions for not only its facilities, and fleet, but also the community as a whole. The Climate Smart Communities program helps to lay out a framework to enhance the County’s work towards those goals.
The Climate Smart Communities recertification application was a part of a larger effort by Tompkins County to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and invest in more environmentally sustainable activities through Green Facilities and Green Fleet programs. “Several of the projects in phase one of the Green Facilities project contributed to our Climate Smart Communities recertification application,” said Terry Carroll, Chief Sustainability Officer for Tompkins County. “Including water-efficient fixture upgrades, updated building energy management systems, and LED light bulb replacements.”
“Undertaking recertification through the Climate Smart Communities program is a big task, it requires collaboration across departments and our legislature. I am proud of the work our staff and legislature did to be successful in this application and to show that Tompkins County is a leader in Climate action,” said Shawna Black, Chair of the Tompkins County Legislature.