Clean Energy Communities
Climate Smart Communities Certification
This page details the steps your community needs to take to get certification for this Action Item by NYSERDA and how Genesee/Finger Lakes Regional Planning Council (G/FLRPC) can assist you. As the Finger Lakes Region Clean Energy Communities Coordinator, we are available to help you through any step in this process. Please email David Zorn at dave.zorn@gflrpc.org, or if you have been in touch with other Clean Energy Community Coordinators at G/FLRPC, email them directly for help completing this action item.
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program provides municipalities with a robust framework to guide their local climate action. CSC Certification recognizes high-performing communities for their leadership in reducing emissions and adapting to a changing climate. Designed around 10 pledge elements, the CSC Certification program honors communities for their accomplishments through a rating system leading to four levels of award: Certified, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Communities can choose from more than 120 individual actions to earn points toward certification.
To be certified for this action item by NYSERDA, you will need to complete all the steps required by the Department of Environmental Conservation, who run the Climate Smart Communities Program.
Step 1: Take the Climate Smart Communities Pledge
The first step is to have your board or council pass a resolution adopting the Climate Smart Communities Pledge. A sample resolution can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/65494.html. When you have passed this resolution, submit the certified resolution to: climatechange@dec.ny.gov.
Step 2: Create a Community Task Force and/or Appoint a Coordinator
The DEC's website contains more details and tips on how to accomplish these tasks. The individuals on the task force should include municipal employees, politicians, advocacy organizations, and interested citizens. You can find more direction for setting up the task force/coordinator here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/65489.html.
Step 3: Get started
There are more than 120 different activities and projects your municipality can choose from to achieve certified status. More information, along with downloadable documents and checklists can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/96511.html. Your community will need to be certified as a Climate Smart Community by the Department of Environmental Conservation BEFORE you can apply to NYSERDA for certification of this Action Item.
The DEC can help answer any questions you might have about this program. Email them at: climatechange@dec.ny.gov.
When you have become a certified Climate Smart Community, submit a screenshot of the NYSDEC website that demonstrates the applying jurisdiction has been listed as a Certified Climate Smart Community through the NYSERDA portal at: https://nyserda-site.secure.force.com/CEC_HighImpact_Action_Item_Document_Page
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program provides municipalities with a robust framework to guide their local climate action. CSC Certification recognizes high-performing communities for their leadership in reducing emissions and adapting to a changing climate. Designed around 10 pledge elements, the CSC Certification program honors communities for their accomplishments through a rating system leading to four levels of award: Certified, Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Communities can choose from more than 120 individual actions to earn points toward certification.
To be certified for this action item by NYSERDA, you will need to complete all the steps required by the Department of Environmental Conservation, who run the Climate Smart Communities Program.
Step 1: Take the Climate Smart Communities Pledge
The first step is to have your board or council pass a resolution adopting the Climate Smart Communities Pledge. A sample resolution can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/65494.html. When you have passed this resolution, submit the certified resolution to: climatechange@dec.ny.gov.
Step 2: Create a Community Task Force and/or Appoint a Coordinator
The DEC's website contains more details and tips on how to accomplish these tasks. The individuals on the task force should include municipal employees, politicians, advocacy organizations, and interested citizens. You can find more direction for setting up the task force/coordinator here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/65489.html.
Step 3: Get started
There are more than 120 different activities and projects your municipality can choose from to achieve certified status. More information, along with downloadable documents and checklists can be found here: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/96511.html. Your community will need to be certified as a Climate Smart Community by the Department of Environmental Conservation BEFORE you can apply to NYSERDA for certification of this Action Item.
The DEC can help answer any questions you might have about this program. Email them at: climatechange@dec.ny.gov.
When you have become a certified Climate Smart Community, submit a screenshot of the NYSDEC website that demonstrates the applying jurisdiction has been listed as a Certified Climate Smart Community through the NYSERDA portal at: https://nyserda-site.secure.force.com/CEC_HighImpact_Action_Item_Document_Page