Climate Action Plan

Background: Starting in 2021, the Hastings-on-Hudson Climate Smart Communities Task Force began the process of drafting a Climate Action Plan (CAP) that outlines the key actions our municipality and residents can take to mitigate and adapt to changing climate conditions in our Village. The goal was to develop a set of agreed goals, targets, and initiatives that will help our community reduce emissions and address climate change locally.

Process: Since initiating the project, the CSC Task Force has undertaken research to identify what should be included in the CAP. It has reviewed the CAPs of other municipalities for inspiration, and it has solicited input from Village staff, other Village Boards and Commissions, and members of the public.

Public Outreach: As part of the effort to engage the community, the Village has sponsored two workshops:

1. The first workshop took place on April 20, 2022 and was designed to seek input from residents about the climate actions Hastings-on-Hudson might include in its CAP. Four key focus areas were identified to help shape the conversation: Transportation & Land Use; Buildings & Energy; Waste & Water; and Adaptation & Resiliency. At the outset of the workshop Kale Roberts from ICLEI explained the purpose of a CAP and its benefits for a local community. His presentation was followed by an explanation from members of the CSC Task Force on what has already been done in Hastings-on-Hudson in each of the four focus areas. This introductory presentation was followed by small group sessions where participants were invited to brainstorm about new actions in each of the key topics areas. Links to material about the workshop can be found below:

2. The second workshop took place on May 31, 2023. During the event, the members of the Village’s Climate Smart Communities Task Force presented the actions and key performance indicators (KPIs) they had identified and selected for the CAP. The team outlined the process used to develop the CAP, provided a summary of the objectives of the CAP as well as a set of specific actions the Village might undertake and the benefits of those actions. They also outlined a range of solutions and KPIs. Input was then invited from the public. Links to material about the workshop can be found below:

If you're interested in learning more about the work being done in the Village on climate change, please email climatesmart@hastingsgov.org.