New York's Climate Smart Communities Program: A Study of Climate Policy Capacity in NY Towns and Villages

New York’s Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program is administered by the state’s Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and provides a framework for counties, cities, towns, and villages to receive certification as climate smart after completing a series of actions and accomplishments related to climate change mitigation and adaptation, including activities related to planning, preparedness, and community building. We sampled twenty CSC-participating towns and villages and conducted interviews with community leaders to learn about their experiences as well as the promises and challenges related to program participation. This report provides an overview of our findings. This research was supported by the Colgate University Office of Undergraduate Research, the Colgate University Public Affairs & Policy Research Initiative, the Colgate University Research Council, and the Colgate University Upstate Institute. We also acknowledge research assistance from Colgate University students Nicolas Flores and Olivia Hotaling.