Climate Change Action - New York

A host of New York's local governments have begun to measure and reduce GHG emissions from their facilities, fleets, and operations. Additional opportunities include using their land use plans, zoning, building codes, and public education to promote community-wide GHG reductions. Local land use planning can reduce GHG emissions by encouraging buildings that are energy efficient, limiting sprawl, and enabling renewable energy projects that are compatible with existing land uses. Local land use planning is also a vital tool for helping communities adapt to climate change impacts.

An example of efforts underway in one community is the town of New Castle in Westchester County. The town began working with NYS DEC a year ago. Since then, they have purchased hybrid vehicles, installed high-efficiency lighting and variable-speed pumps at their wastewater treatment plant, posted information online to reduce paper use, purchased wind power to meet some of their energy needs, and operated household chemicals clean-up days. In addition, the town recently assessed their carbon footprint and set a goal of reducing it by 20 percent by 2015.