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Ulster County is strengthening its climate action initiatives with a new executive order signed this week by County Executive Jen Metzger, establishing two bodies to guide climate planning and emissions reduction efforts across the region.
The order creates a Climate Smart Community Task Force composed of county departments and partner organizations that will coordinate climate mitigation and resiliency initiatives. It will also oversee the renewal of Ulster County's Silver-level certification as a New York State Climate Smart Community and help develop the county's forthcoming Community Climate Action Plan.
Additionally, a Local Government Climate Action Partnership will be formed as a subcommittee of the Ulster County Environmental Management Council. This partnership will focus on sharing best practices among municipalities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to changing climate conditions.
"These efforts are about protecting our communities, our public health, and our local economy," Metzger said. "Climate solutions don't just reduce emissions — they can lower energy costs, improve air quality, and help our communities better withstand extreme weather."
The initiative comes at a time when federal climate initiatives are being rolled back. Over the past year, the federal government has eliminated hundreds of billions of dollars in climate and clean energy funding and moved to weaken major environmental regulations.
Ulster County has already made significant progress in its climate efforts, reducing greenhouse gas emissions from county operations by more than 29 percent since 2012. The county has expanded its electric vehicle fleet, installed over 90 EV charging stations, and now derives 16 percent of electricity used in county buildings from on-site solar generation.
County buildings use 15 percent less energy per square foot than in 2012, and the county has created an $18 million County Decarbonization Fund to support building electrification and energy efficiency.
"At a time when the federal government has walked away from national and global efforts to avoid the severe consequences of run-away climate change, Ulster County remains steadfast in its commitment," Metzger emphasized.
The Ulster County Department of the Environment will provide administrative support for these initiatives, with additional technical assistance from the Hudson Valley Regional Council.