Nearly everyone knows of the foretold apocalyptic future promised to all as the world descends deeper into a climate crisis. The general public, especially younger generations, have become keenly aware of these dangers and need for rapid change, both locally and on an international stage. Dr. Papernik, advisor of the Greeley Sustainability Club and teacher of Greeley’s new greenhouse classes states, “it’s important for students to learn about sustainability and climate change because we are at a juncture where the choices we make will affect the future of life on this planet.” The community of New Castle is attempting to address this urgent call to action.
Recently, New Castle was recognized for leading the way towards sustainability by Climate Smart Communities, a New York organization that provides communities with frameworks to take sustainable action. In 2008, New Castle became the first of 364 Climate Smart Communities in New York, and on July 8, 2022, New Castle was appointed as one of only eight silver-certified members of CSC in all of New York. The silver award not only cements New Castle’s status as a climate-conscious town, but also reinforces it as a model for other towns to follow.
This award enables the municipal government to acquire more money in the form of grants which can then be used to further the town’s sustainability in simple ways, such as installing electric vehicle charging stations around town or purchasing electric batteries for leaf blowers used in public parks. Kellan Cantrell, the designated CSC contact for the town, gives much of the credit for this achievement to the residents of New Castle themselves: “Most people in town are pretty forward thinking… Really, residents have led the effort.” Cantrell goes on to say the municipal government has also worked tirelessly for years toward securing both the award and the community’s status as a leader in climate change initiatives: “The town board, every town board since 2008, [has] really taken up the cause…the sustainability advisory board, the conservation board, and now the CSC task force have really pushed this as something that’s a priority for the town, and that’s what really made it [the silver certification] happen.”
Though the silver award is an extremely important achievement, in the words of Cantrell, “things don’t stop there.” The task force member continues, describing the town’s current efforts to use renewable energy through energy audits on the Town Hall building, Community Center, and the Performing Arts Center, as well as persistent efforts to install more EV charging stations. Cantrell points out that since buildings like the Town Hall are already in need of updates, it makes sense to use these updates as opportunities to reinforce sustainable energy as the norm in town buildings. This thought is echoed by Greeley Senior and leader of the Sustainability Club, Regina Velasco, who believes that climate change is a generational issue that will affect current generations and those after, stating, “The world is moving towards a more sustainable future because that is the only choice we have left. Soon enough sustainable efforts will affect every aspect of our lives, jobs, and economy.” Chappaqua’s environmental goals are not only addressed through administrative initiatives, but also through students’ own efforts: the Greeley Sustainability Club, for example, works with young students around New Castle to teach them about sustainability, and hosts schools-wide events such as Earth Week to promote a surge in awareness.
Some specific examples of New Castle’s environmental efforts include the 2017 Paris Accords Resolution, The 2021 Hazard Mitigation Plan, and The 2017 Comprehensive Plan, all of which are available on The Town of New Castle’s website for curious residents to view. The Paris Accords Resolution in particular committed to reducing carbon emissions by at least 26% by 2025, in comparison to what they were in 2005; outlined methods for achieving this goal include supporting locally grown and sustainable food systems, increasing the usage of more sustainable power sources like geothermal and solar energy, and implementing a carbon tax. These efforts all echo the same sentiment: the journey to sustainability is an ongoing battle in which no individual, group, or community, can ever falter.