The following municipalities (and county ) within the IAS district are currently certified as 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. The program offers grants, rebates for electric vehiclesand free technical assistance:
Town of Clifton Park (Bronze) certified April 2025 Town of Ballston (Bronze) certified April 2025 City of Saratoga Springs (Bronze) certified March 2020 City of Glens Falls (Bronze) certified September 2021 Town of Queensbury (Bronze) certified September 2021 Warren County (Bronze) certified May 2020 Village of Lake George (Bronze) certified March 2020 Town of Lake George (Bronze) certified March 2020
Additionally, the following municipalities are registered with the program but not certified: Town of Milton Village of Stillwater Village of Schuylerville Town of Bolton Town of Chester Town of Hebron Town of Salem Village of Cambridge
Warren County (Bronze recertified spring 2025)
Climate/Environmental/Pollution Groups
WARREN/ WASHINGTON/SARATOGA COUNTIES (page in progress)
NORTH COUNTRY EARTH ACTION: response and action team. www.northcountryearthaction.org North Country Light Brigade, Visibility Brigade. Town of Queensbury: Climate Smart (CSC) and Clean Energy (CEC) committees, affiliated with NYSERDA and DEC. promoting Tree City status for a tree inventory, renewable installation options and incentives, a Climate Action Plan and a community based consumption GHG inventory. Warren County: CSC committee, similar to above projects and umbrella to area climate action committees. CAT: (Climate Action Team - information support team to County Supervisors and to the County CSC), The 2 team committee attends the Board of Supervisors meeting quarterly and is in communication with the County Environmental Economic Concern committee, promoting interaction between Supervisors and community. IndivisibleADK/Saratoga: Climate Team https://indivisiblesaratogaadk.com/climate addressing US and NYS climate legislation and policy, industry, banking, transportation etc. issues, while keeping focus on the overall urgency of “Putting out the Planetary Fire” (Mark Dunlea, co-founder NYS PIRG) even as the present administration fans its flames. Establishing a resource bank of useful information. Assembly Point Water Quality Coalition:www.assemblypt.com. Protection of water quality through best practices on land; action through lobbying, engagement with officials and town boards, zoning and planning boards and comprehensive plans, research and partnering with other lake wide environmental organizations (LGA Waterkeeper, Cleverdale/Rockhurst Stewardship Group). Clean Air Action Network:www.cleanairactionnetwork.org Addressing polluters and pollution in the Greater Glens Falls area, eg: Wheelabrator (largest air polluter in Warren and Washington Counties). Zero Waste Warren County: working with the County and ACEC (non profit) grassroots advocacy group for county recycling and compost capacity. Partnering with the Town of Queensbury promoting the Queensbury Re Use shed at the Ridge St. Transfer Station, the Farmers Market Compost collection booth. www.zerowastewarrenco.org Sustainable Saratoga:www.sustainablesaratoga.org/climate-of-hope. Saratoga Springs certification is up for renewal in September 2025. The Climate Smart Task Force initiated Solarize Saratoga to help homeowners and small businesses through the process of going solar while saving up to 20% of total installation costs. www.saratogasprings.org/2413/Climate-Smart-Task-Force
AND: (please submit any additional groups we may not have listed)
Protect the Adirondacks: Claudia Braymer, Executive Director The Lake George Association and the Lake George Waterkeeper: (Chris Navitsky) The Lake George Land Conservancy Darrin Freshwater Institute The Jefferson Project The Adirondack Council
Albany Area: Capital Area Climate Network: [email protected]. PAUSE: http://www.pausenergy.org/ People of Albany United for Safe Energy GELF:Green Education and Legal Fund Inc. Climate Reality: Lois Gudrun Judith Enck: Beyond Plastics (former Obama appointed EPA environmental regional director) Bob Cohen: Citizen Action of New York and Public Policy and Education Fund
Statewide and Regional Coalitions: NY Renews Advocates for environmental justice, clean energy, and climate policy aligned with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). Notable Campaigns: NY HEAT Act, Climate, Jobs, and Justice Package. Website Environmental Advocates NY Policy advocacy on climate, water, waste, and clean air at the state level.: Key player in legislative lobbying and tracking environmental legislation. Website New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) Non-partisan organization that evaluates legislators and promotes pro-environment voting. Initiatives: Clean transportation, climate-resilient infrastructure, and renewable energy. Website
Grassroots & Community-Based Groups 350Brooklyn / 350NYC: Local branches of the 350.org movement working on fossil fuel divestment, public banking, and local climate resilience. 350Brooklyn / 350NYC SANE Energy Project: Opposes fossil fuel infrastructure, promotes community energy and public power in New York. Fighting gas peaker plants and National Grid expansions. Website ALIGN NY (Alliance for a Greater New York): Labor and climate justice coalition. Leads the Climate Works for All campaign for green union jobs and equitable climate action. Website
Environmental Justice Organizations WE ACT for Environmental Justice: Harlem, NY, Racial and environmental justice, especially in frontline communities. Works on air quality, transit, housing, and clean energy access. Website UPROSE: Sunset Park, Brooklyn, Youth-led, climate justice organizing with a focus on coastal resilience and just transition. Website Youth-Led & Academic Groups Sunrise Movement NY Hubs (e.g., NYC, Ithaca, Buffalo): Youth-led movement advocating for the Green New Deal and climate equity. Website Climate Justice Cornell (CJC) & Columbia Climate School: Student-led campaigns for university divestment, green campus policies, and community climate justice partnerships. Earth Justice Food and Water Watch: Eric Weltman, NYC Fridays for Future NYC: Part of the global climate strike movement inspired by Greta Thunberg. Organizes mass mobilizations and policy advocacy actions Statewide & Policy-Focused Organizations New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG): (https://www.nypirg.org) A student-led advocacy group active in clean energy policy, climate education, and legislative campaigns. Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter: The New York State chapter of the Sierra Club, one of the largest and oldest environmental organizations in the U.S. Active in fighting fossil fuel infrastructure and promoting renewable energy. Community & Environmental Justice Organizations WE ACT for Environmental Justice: (https://weact.org) Based in Northern Manhattan, WE ACT is a national leader in environmental justice organizing, especially around air quality, housing, and climate resilience. Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE): Based in Syracuse, AGREE promotes a clean, just energy future for New York, with a focus on shutting down fossil fuel infrastructure and supporting communities in transition. Groups Fighting Fossil Fuel Expansion Stop the Williams Pipeline Coalition:Coalition that successfully fought against the Williams Northeast Supply Enhancement pipeline. Still active in resisting new fossil fuel projects.