Building Community Resilience to a Changing Climate
Building Community Resilience to a Changing Climate
Each community is unique in terms of its strengths and vulnerabilities to climate-related health impacts. Communities across New York State are protecting health in the presence of climate change by participating in New York's Climate Smart Communities or Cleaner, Greener Communities Programs. You can view the links below to discover how these activities are making communities more sustainable and resilient to climate health impacts.
Climate Smart Communities
The Climate Smart Communities program provides local governments with guidance on how to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and advance community goals for health and safety, economic vitality, energy independence, and quality of life. This program is jointly sponsored by six New York state agencies, including the Department of Environmental Conservation, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Department of Transportation, the Department of Health, the Department of State, and the Public Service Commission.
Climate Smart Communities: Connections with Public Health: This webcast describes the Climate Smart Communities’ Program and how actions within the program can lead to public health benefits. The webcast addresses the impact of climate change and greenhouse gas emissions on public health, and ways that local health departments can get involved in reducing this impact. Local agencies can also learn more about the benefits of becoming a Climate Smart Community and the actions they can take to get certified. Information in this webcast can benefit local health department staff, public health professionals, physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners, and other medical and public health professionals.
Clean Energy Communities Program
Administered by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, the Clean Energy Communities Program provides grants, technical support, and recognition to local governments that demonstrate leadership in the area of clean energy. Participating governments can earn Clean Energy Community designation as well as a grant, up to $250,000, with no local cost share, to support projects.
New York Rising Community Reconstruction
Administered by the New York State Department of State, the New York Rising Community Reconstruction program provides assistance through a community-driven initiative to develop distinct comprehensive recovery plans which increase resilience and economic development in the regions affected by Hurricanes Sandy and Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
