Climate Change
Harmony with Nature:
Climate Change
Since 1989, public awareness of global climate change has increased as the international scientific community has learned more about its causes and effects. A variety of climate change impacts have already been observed and recorded in New York State and across the northeastern United States. Breeding bird and oceanic fish population ranges in the State have shifted northward over the last several decades. Sea levels along New York’s coast have risen more than a foot since 1900. According to some models average sea levels along New York’s coast are expected to rise as much as 2.5 feet above the averages seen from 2000 to 2004 by 2050. Additionally, modeling has predicted that New York is likely to experience increased and more variable or inconsistent precipitation. These impacts, along with many others, have altered and will continue to alter the balance within natural ecosystems and landscapes across the State.
The Town of New Castle recognizes the ways in which climate change can adversely affect the community and has acknowledged that the Town has a role to play in mitigating against and adapting to the impacts of climate change. In 2011, the Town Board adopted the Climate Action Plan (CAP), acknowledging this responsibility and the environmental and economic benefits that come along with addressing the issues associated with a changing climate. The CAP was adopted with the goals of increasing energy efficiency, increasing the use of renewable energy sources, reducing vehicle miles traveled, and reducing the generation of solid waste. Since the adoption of the CAP, the Town has partnered with New York State and other localities in running programs and adopting policies that reduce municipal and community energy use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In December of 2016, New Castle became a Clean Energy Community, earning the opportunity to utilize $100,000 in State funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects in the Town. As a reflection of today’s best practices in sustainable planning, this Plan establishes policies that will enable New Castle to continue to mitigate the effects of global climate change by further embracing energy efficiency, renewable energy, green building and green infrastructure practices. This will include updating the Town’s CAP and setting new municipal GHG emission reduction goals.