Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a New York State program that helps local governments take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to a changing climate. Benefits include leadership recognition, free technical assistance, and access to grants.

Registered communities have made a commitment to act by passing the CSC pledge. Certified communities are the foremost leaders in the state; they have gone beyond the CSC pledge by completing and documenting a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the local level. DEC Hudson River Estuary Program developed the CSC Certification program in 2013 with funding from the New York State Environmental Protection Fund and created the certification portal through NYSERDA funding.

Protecting the Pathways

Scenic Hudson has released Protecting the Pathways, a new interactive guide to preserving Hudson River tidal wetlands. Here, you can explore interactive maps, learn about the Hudson’s tidal wetlands and their fate under sea-level rise, and find out what you can do to help.

At the heart of Hudson River estuary ecosystem are approximately 7,000 acres of tidal wetlands. Encompassing both salty and freshwater habitats such as mud flats, grassy marshes, and forested swamps, the Hudson’s tidal wetlands are vital for the species and functions of the estuary.