Syracuse computing its greenhouse gas output and forming climate action plan

Syracuse, N.Y. — Syracuse Mayor Ben Walsh on Tuesday unveiled a state-funded project aimed at reducing the city’s carbon footprint and preparing for climate change impacts.

Walsh used an Earth Day event at the SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry to announce the Sustainable Syracuse program.

Sustainable Syracuse is being funded through a $100,000 grant from the state Department of Environmental Conservatio Climate Smart Communities Program. City planners will work with C&S Cos., which was selected through a request for proposals process last fall, to develop a community and municipal Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventory and Climate Action Plan that will guide city efforts to mitigate its climate impact. Community engagement around the program is expected to start in the fall.

Walsh has established a city government sustainability task force that is advising on both the climate action plan’s formation and efforts to tie that into the city’s comprehensive plan, which is being revised this year.

More information on Sustainable Syracuse is available at syr.gov/sustainable-syracuse.

In addition to the program launch, Walsh honored ESF Professor Emanuel Carter with a proclamation for his career teaching landscape architecture and community service.

City reporter Jeremy Boyer can be reached at jboyer@syracuse.com, (315) 657-5673, Twitter or Facebook.