Capturing Community Benefits

Every kind of action we take to end the climate crisis and invest in resilient communities pays back richly.  Benefits include economic development, jobs and business opportunities, environmental justice and increased community control of assets, and a knowledgeable, confident population that is taking control of its own future.  Keeping these benefits in mind as we plan and carry out projects can only increase their value.


  • Meeting New York’s climate commitment will involve a complete shift to renewable sources for current power demands, as well as an expanded use of electricity to replace fossil fuels MORE

  • The most common way to heat and cool buildings today is by burning fuel; but combustion has climate consequences by its nature. The Climate Act’s overall vision is to shift heating and cooling of buildings from fossil combustion to heat pumps powered by electricity, with increasing shares of that electricity being supplied by renewables year by year MORE

  • The largest segment of New York’s climate emissions and a big issue for the Hudson Valley… MORE

  • The materials management system in the Hudson Valley is complex, involving numerous county, local and private programs and services with limited coordination. Recycling rates have plateaued around 40%. The fate of many materials is determined by economics, with many materials MORE

  • New land use priorities are essential to meeting NYS’ climate goals, as well as to capture the economic opportunities of regenerative agriculture and a strengthened food and forest economy. Climate Act advisory panels have developed a robust vision of climate resilient agriculture and an increase in regenerative agriculture practices MORE

  • More conservation of land is a key strategy emphasized in the Scoping Plan, with a call for expanded state investment for this purpose. Protecting thirty percent of land in undeveloped form is a New York State goal MORE

  • The work of adapting to climate change and promoting community resilience can be daunting, yet is necessary and can give rise to enormous creativity. The Climate Act mandates carbon reduction along a specific timeline. But for climate change adaptation and resilience, MORE

  • A regional economic development strategy must work in a systemic way to nurture industry clusters, investment and financing resources, and the workforce supports such as housing and transportation that – together – will create widely accessible good jobs doing necessary work to stabilize the climate and revitalize communities MORE

  • Build community based partnerships in priority communities to advance environmental justice, economic development, and climate resilience through creative placemaking that involves diverse and extensive networks and locally owned social enterprises in developing renewable energy, green infrastructure, electric transportation and charging, resilient and net zero buildings, cool roofs, gardens and parks, and other assets that promote climate resilience and enhance health, wellness and environmental justice MORE

  • Education has a key role to play in building understanding of the causes of climate change and the solutions, validating public concern, and building consensus and confidence for action. MORE

Capturing Community
Benefits