Westchester Reporter

Westchester County has received a $115,000 grant from the NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities Program to implement a new climate action plan starting in June. The Hudson Valley Regional Council and Local Governments for Sustainability (ICLEI) will oversee the project, which aims to assist nine municipalities in developing localized strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and enhance sustainability.

County Executive Ken Jenkins stated, "The rollout of this Climate Action Plan in 2025 is a critical step toward a more sustainable future for our communities. This is an extension of our serious commitment to protecting our environment and our very real understanding of what is at stake if we fail to act when we have the chance. Thanks to the support of the NYSDEC Climate Smart Communities program, we are equipping our local governments with the tools they need to combat climate change at the local level while expanding our collective efforts by a magnitude of nine. Together, we are building a greener, more resilient County for generations to come."

The initiative builds on Westchester's 2020 Climate Action Plan, which involved eight other municipalities and focused on reducing carbon emissions and promoting sustainable practices within county operations.

Peter McCartt, Director of Energy Conservation and Sustainability, remarked, "This initiative is about empowering our communities with the resources and guidance they need to take meaningful climate action. With the support of the CSC grant we are helping our local governments develop tailored strategies to reduce emissions, enhance resilience and build a more sustainable future for all."

Mary Lambert from Hudson Valley Regional Council expressed gratitude for Westchester's role in making this program possible: "HVRC is proud to continue assisting Mid-Hudson local governments in creating essential planning documents through the Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI) and thankful to Westchester County for making this program a reality. The CAPI cohort program leverages economies of scale and collective engagement to help the Hudson Valley communities realize their vision for a resilient, climate-smart future."

Kale Roberts, ICLEI Regional Director, praised Westchester's efforts: "Westchester is a role model with far more action plans for their municipalities than any other county in the country. I applaud their leadership, vision and tenacity in this monumental fight for our planet that we are not prepared to lose."