Climate Action Planning 2020
In October 2009, the City of Kingston adopted the “Climate Smart and Green Jobs Community Pledge.” The pledge follows guidelines developed by the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation and NYS Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) Climate Smart Communities program along with the “Local Government Green Jobs Pledge” sponsored by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability. This pledge outlines ten steps the City of Kingston will strive to undertake to combat climate change.
As a Climate Smart Community, Kingston was able to secure a one-year grant from NYSERDA to hire a ‘climate analyst’ to conduct a baseline energy assessment, develop a greenhouse gas inventory and create a Climate Action Plan for the City of Kingston. The ‘climate analyst’ will work with the Kingston CAC, the Climate Smart Green Jobs Community Task Force, its subcommittees and the Climate Smart Community Coordinator to conduct a GHG inventory and identify GHG reduction strategies for the Climate Action Plan.
The mission of the Climate Smart Green Jobs Community Task Force is to create and implement an action plan including comprehensive policies and programs for the City of Kingston to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance operational and energy efficiencies, reduce energy costs, support local job growth, and adapt to a changing climate while improving quality of life, saving taxpayer dollars, and promoting social justice.
In August 2011, the City of Kingston became a member of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability . The Climate Analyst will be using the tools and resources available through the ICLEI membership to develop the City's greenhouse gas emissions data and emissions reduction strategies as part of the Climate Action Plan.
Resources for Reducing Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions:
Climate Action Plan 2020
On October 2, 2012, the Common Council of the City of Kingston adopted the Kingston Climate Action Plan unanimously. This 268 page document (including Kingston's Greenhouse Gas Inventory and many other resources) is available below in full, as well as the executive summary. A printed copy of the full Climate Action Plan is available at the Parks and Recreation Office, 467 Broadway,Kingston.
The City of Kingston Climate Action Plan presents a summary of the findings of the community and local government energy assessments and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventories. A GHG emissions forecast is presented and GHG reduction goals are proposed. The plan also outlines the recommended measures to achieve energy and GHG reduction goals according to six different subject areas:
a. Energy and Renewables: Buildings and Facilities
b. Land Use and Transportation
c. Materials Management: Waste Reduction & Recycling
d. Sustainable Resource Management
e. Outreach, Education & Training, and
f. Climate Adaptation.
For each section there is a brief introduction and overview, findings, and recommended measures.
In the Spring of 2013 with the help of Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc (VHB), Climate Smart Kingston was able to execute a prioritization exercise in order to begin to implement the Climate Action Plan. A complete profile of the City of Kingston was also completed, demonstrating Kingston's execution of each element of the 10 point commitment to the Climate Smart Communities Pledge to date.
Climate Smart Communities Profile: Kingston