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Climate Action Planning Institute Project
Climate Action Plan
The City of White Plains recognizes that greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are catalyzing climate change, the consequences of which pose risks to the future health, wellbeing, and prosperity of our community. This recognition is reflected within our One White Plains Comprehensive Plan and addressed in the greenWP section of the plan. The City is using 2019 as the baseline year for all goals.
The City of White Plains has already taken a leadership role, both locally and regionally, to mitigate impacts on the climate. The Mayor, Common Council, City departments, and the Sustainable White Plains Committee have all prioritized sustainability initiatives, which have led to significant strides in recent years.
The City of White Plains welcomes public comments on our Government Operations Climate Action Plan. Please email any comments to jholman@whiteplainsny.gov
Download and view the presentation slides for the Climate Action Plan
Download and view the Local Government Operations Climate Action Plan
Desired Outcomes
1. Explore Renewable Energy: Continue to explore investments in energy sources like solar, hydro, and geothermal power, as well as in infrastructure and policies that promote the adoption of clean energy technologies.
2. Promote Energy Efficiency: Encourage the use of energy efficiency appliances and promote sustainable building practices.
3. Promote Public and Alternative Transportation: Strengthen the efforts to encourage the use of public transit, bicycles, and EVs or hybrid vehicles.
4. Implement Waste Management Strategies: Promote waste management strategies, including recycling programs and reduction of single-use plastics.
5. Adopt a Government Operations Climate Action Plan.
6. Educate and Involve the Community: Increase environmental awareness and highlight the importance of protecting our planet.
Download and view the Local Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Inventory
Climate Adaptation and Mitigation
Draft Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan
Climate change leads to a wide range of hazards, with rising concerns due to the increasing rate of climate events. Based on scientific data collected over decades, the largest threats to the City of White Plains stem from hazards associated with increasing temperatures, rising sea levels, and changing precipitation patterns. These hazards cause social, environmental, and infrastructure damage and losses outlined in this climate vulnerability assessment (CVA). To avoid such damage today and into the future, the City of White Plains administration must work with partners, such as community-based organizations, regional planning organizations, states, and federal agencies, to increase the City's resiliency and adapt to new, more hazardous conditions.
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Program provides a framework for implementing Climate Smart resiliency actions. This Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan (CVAAP) is one of the fundamental actions in the Pledge Element (PE) 7 category among the CSC program certification actions. The CSC Program ensures that recommendations to promote community resiliency are based on climate science and relevant data and address the top hazards in a community.
The framework mandates an inclusive process, with public outreach and engagement each step of the way. Members of the White Plains CAPI Adapt Team met with municipal officials and committees, tabled at local events, leveraged the municipal web site and social media platforms to solicit feedback, and participated with CAPI Adapt cohort.
The City of White Plains welcomes public comments on our Draft Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan. Please email any comments to jholman@whiteplainsny.gov
Please review our Draft Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan below.
Download and view The Draft Climate Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Plan
If you're interested in learning more about, or getting involved with, the work being done in the City of White Plains on climate change mitigation and adaptation, please email melgueta@whiteplainsny.gov.
Image retrieved from District of Squamish website (British Columbia, Canada) (https://squamish.ca/climate-action/local-action/adaptation/)