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Community Solutions for Climate Change

Community Solutions for Climate Change. “Global warming is now local warming.” – Terry Tempest Williams. Allison Chatrchyan Presentation to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Community & Energy In-service Training November 16, 2010 . Outline.

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Community Solutions for Climate Change

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  1. Community Solutions for Climate Change “Global warming is now local warming.” – Terry Tempest Williams Allison Chatrchyan Presentation to the Cornell Cooperative Extension Community & Energy In-service Training November 16, 2010

  2. Outline Challenges/Ideas on Incorporating CC into Extension Energy and CC Team and CC Program Work Team Key Audience: Outreach to Municipalities Climate Smart Communities Pledge and Case Studies Resources

  3. Incorporating CC into Existing Programs How many have answered calls about CC, done a presentation on CC, started to incorporate CC into current programs? Would like to in the future? CC can be incorporated into Youth, Ag, Nutrition, Home Energy and Community Planning Extension Work; presentations to Staff; Board; County Planning Agencies; Municipalities. Why Its Important: NIFA, other State Extensions, History of Extension – Dust Bowl Dutchess County CC Outreach

  4. Resources Available Links/Resources on CCE Energy and CC Website. Forming New PWT – Proposal for List of Project Ideas. Support ongoing communication; work on extension projects together; apply for funding – meeting at noon today; Email Listserve: cce-climatechangepwt-l@list.cornell.edu Training/uploading materials and PP presentations: climate change basics, common misunderstandings/skeptics; communicating about Climate Change; communities and climate change.

  5. This presentation is the result of collaboration between:Members of the Hudson Valley Climate Change Network (2010) Hudson River National Estuarine Research Reserve

  6. Climate Change is Unequivocal US Global Change Research Program: • Primarily due to human-induced emissions of GHGs; • Climate changes are already underway in the US and are projected to grow. • The amount and rate of future climate change depends on choices made today - including reducing GHG emissions, and adapting to the changes that are unavoidable.

  7. NY’s Climate is Already Changing • Since 1970: • Global annual average temp. up nearly 1° F • US annual average temp. up 1.8° F • New York annual average temp. up nearly 2° F • New York winter temperatures almost 5° warmer F

  8. Continued Climate ChangeImpacts in NYS Higher Temperatures Water Intense storms Drought Health Heatstroke and chronic conditions Insect-borne illnesses Sea Level Rise

  9. Addressing Climate Change • International Action: UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol • Federal Action: Research; Federal Policy; Upcoming Regulations • New York State Climate Change Leader: RGGI, Executive Order 24 (80x50 Goal); etc. • Local: Thinking Globally, Acting Locally

  10. Key New York State Programs NYS Energy Plan (2009) http://www.nysenergyplan.com/stateenergyplan.html NYSERDA - Focus on Local Government: http://www.nyserda.org/municipalities NYS Climate Action Council and draft Plan (Nov 2010): http://nyclimatechange.us/ NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force & draft Report (Nov 2010): http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/45202.html ClimAID: NYS Climate Impacts Assessment Inter-Agency CC Adaptation Initiative

  11. Local Municipalities are Key • Control buildings and land use decisions • Consume energy for services • Manage solid waste • Respond to & Lead citizens

  12. Climate Change Action: Mitigation • Climate Change Mitigation: the actions taken to permanently eliminate or reduce the long-term risk and hazards of climate change to human life and property • New York State Goal: Reduce GHG emissions 80 percent by 2050

  13. NY State Emissions Reductions

  14. What Can Municipalities Do? www.nyclimatechange.us • Energy & Climate Change Planning • Energyefficiency/conservation • Electricity: • Near-zero-carbon • “Smart” transmission • Transportation: carbon-neutral • Buildings:carbon-neutral • Carbon sinks: Land Use

  15. Climate Change Action: Adaptation Climate Change Adaptation: planning for the changes to the climate that will occur and taking into account the future risks of climate change when planning and making decisions. Communities: Assess vulnerability to climate change impacts and begin to prepare for climatic changes. Climate Change Planning and Win-Win Strategies

  16. Win-Win Strategies Climate Change Planning Smart growth & Low Impact Development Forestry and Watershed Management Open space & Farmland Preservation Natural Resource Inventories Habitat Planning & Ecosystem Management

  17. NYS Climate Smart Communities Program & Pledge • New York State Office of Climate Change • Completely Voluntary Program • More than 88 NYS communities signed onto Program Statewide - acting locally to protect our climate. • Model resolution available for municipalities to adopt. • More Info at: www.dec.ny.gov/energy/56876.html

  18. NYS Climate Smart Communities Program & Pledge • Pledge to Combat Climate Change • Set Goals, Inventory Emissions, Move to Action • Decrease Energy Demand for Local Government Operations • Encourage Renewable Energy for Local Government Operations • Realize Benefits of Recycling and Climate Smart Solid Waste Management • Promote Climate Protection Through Community Land Use Tools • Plan for Adaptation to Unavoidable Climate Change • Support a Green Innovation Economy • Inform and Inspire the Public • Commit to an Evolving Process

  19. Climate Smart Community Projects Establishing Task Forces & coordinators Completing Energy audits; GHG inventories and plans Addressing Recycling, waste reduction Energy management; efficiency improvements On-site renewable energy Public Education events : Farmers markets, Community Days Green Building programs: Public, residential; New, retrofit Efficient vehicles, VMT reduction Open space, tree ordinances, farmland protection Energy standards in codes, zoning Green workforce partnerships

  20. Benefits of being a Climate Smart Community • Save taxpayer dollars; Build the local economy and create Green jobs • Improve air quality and public health • Invest in long-term community livability • Inspire community engagement and create a legacy of leadership • Receive CSC information and funding updates; May receive extra points in NYSERDA funding applications • Share information and resources – leading to efficiencies and cost savings • Listed on DEC’s CSC website: http://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/56876.html

  21. Case Study: RedHook, NY Active Conservation Advisory Council Joined ICLEI; Signed Climate Smart Communities Pledge  Since 2005, working on a Smart Growth, Centers and Green Space Plan with County Completed GHG inventory 2005-2008 - intern from Bard College (800 hours work) 2009, passed Local Law requiring Energy Star standards for new construction - 14th municipality in the state to adopt such a law. Awarded 2 NYSERDA grants for installation of a large PV system on the Town Hall (they already have a 3+ watt demo on the roof) and another on the Firehouse. 2010 NYSERDA grant to hire Energy Manager to prepare Climate Action Plan. Passed resolutions committing to 10% challenge, working with Sustainable Hudson Valley; held Community Awareness event on 10/10/10, with numerous public events; local AmeriCorps students went door to door giving away CFLs and reusable bags provided by Central Hudson. Both the town and the village are tree cities and have planted trees.

  22. Case Study: City of Kingston, NY • NYS Climate Smart Community • 2007, completed Energy Efficiency Study • through the NYSERDA Flexible Technical • Assistance Program.  • Completed Energy Performance Contract, upgrade of: Lighting and Controls, AHU Economizer, EMCS and HVAC Controls, Infrared Heating, Building Envelope, Steam System, Effluent Pump Replacements, Ultraviolet Disinfection System, Sludge Pump, and Solids Handling .  • Project completed in 2009; total project costs $2,102,825, which saved 896,492 kWh in annual electric savings and $170,610 in annual savings.

  23. City of Syracuse, NY • Both City and Onondaga County joined ICLEI and signed Climate Smart Communities Pledge • Partnerships: Syracuse University and Syracuse Center of Excellence • City is securing 217-acre plot as a “forever-wild” forested low-impact public recreation area, and has proposed to sell carbon credits on the Chicago Carbon Exchange (CCX) – the city expects to join CCX by this year’s end. Hope to use funds from the sale of carbon credits to help maintain their carbon sinks/permanent recreation areas. • Awarded $500,000 EPA grant for climate change to Central New York Regional Planning and Development Board.

  24. Case Study: Town Caroline, NY 2004 – Purchased 27% Wind Power; later 100% wind power for three years. 2005 – Formed Energy Independent Caroline, worked on community wind assessment, planning to install two small, community owned wind turbines. Community education – 2008 Lighten Up Caroline, 1400 CFLs donated door to door 2009-2010 – Conducting town energy audits; received $60,000 stimulus funds for upgrades Built high energy efficient office building

  25. Resources for Communities • Climate Smart Communitieshttp://www.dec.ny.gov/energy/50845.html • ICLEI Local Govt’s for Sustainability: http://www.icleiusa.org/ • NYSERDA: http://www.nyserda.org/municipalities • NYS Energy Efficiency Clearinghouse: http://www.nyserda.org/clearinghouse/localgov.asp • How Green is my Town? http://www.grassrootsinfo.org/hgimtindex.html

  26. Resources for Educators • Cornell Northeast Regional Climate Center: http://www.nrcc.cornell.edu/menu_climate • Cornell Climate Change: http://blogs.cornell.edu/climatechange/ • Washington State Extension, Climate Masters Program: http://whatcom.wsu.edu/carbonmasters/syllabus.html • TNC Climate Fact Sheets: http://www.nature.org/initiatives/climatechange/files/new_york_factsheet_5.pdf • US Global Research Program/Northeast Impacts: http://www.globalchange.gov • Columbia Guide Psychology of CC: http://www.cred.columbia.edu/guide/pdfs/CREDguide_full-res.pdf

  27. Thank you. Allison Chatrchyan, CCE Dutchess and Statewide Energy and Climate Change Team amc256@conell.edu 845-677-8223

  28. Greenhouse Gases Trap ExcessHeat in the Earth’s System

  29. Long-Stored Carbon is Moving into the Atmosphere

  30. Human and Natural Causes of Climate Change

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