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GET INVOLVED WITH OUR COMMUNITY TASK FORCE
Village of Ardsley community members.
Our Vision
Our Vision
The success of the Green Task Force will be anchored in four key pillars: Expertise-Driven Decision-Making, Collaborative Innovation, Global Policy Coordination, and Impactful, Sustainable Action. These pillars collectively form the foundation for crafting effective, evidence-based policies that foster meaningful change in the fight agains climate change and the promotion of global sustainability.
Through these guiding principles, the Green Task Force aims to create solutions that are not only innovative, but also practical, scalable, and enduring, ensuring a lasting positive impact on the environment and society.
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) Certification program is a leadership recognition program for local governments in New York. Local governments that are designated as Certified CSCs have undergone a rigorous review process to confirm their completion of a suite of actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change at the community level.
Bronze Certification
Bronze Certification
The Climate Smart Communities (CSC) program began in 2009 as an interagency initiative of New York State. The program is jointly sponsored by the following New York State agencies: Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC); Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA); Department of Public Service (DPS); Department of State (DOS); Department of Transportation (DOT); Department of Health (DOH); Division of Homes and Community Renewal (HCR); and the Power Authority (NYPA). DEC acts as the main administrator of the program.
Ardsley, Village (Westchester) is a Bronze Certified Climate Smart Community. The Village was certified on September 25, 2021 with 162 points earned from 22 completed actions.
The Bronze Certification is the initial level of certification - for local governments that have acted their commitment to climate action and taken steps to implement climate-smart policies and projects.
Sophia N. Johnson, Ph.D. was appointed Chair of the Green Policy Task Force in the Village of Ardsley, January 2025.
A Message from the Chair
A Message from the Chair
This year, we mark the 63rd anniversary of Rachel Carson’s Silent Spring, a groundbreaking book that, in 1962, revealed the dangers of the pesticide DDT and eloquently helped lay the foundation for the modern environmental movement.
One of the Green Task Force’s primary goals is to advance the Village’s environmental objectives and align them with state and federal initiatives, such as New York State’s Climate Smart Communities program, which recognizes and rewards local sustainability efforts. Another key objective is to educate the public on these important issues. In addition, we are focused on global climate action, looking toward COP30 - the annual international conference where world leaders, scientists, NGOs, and civil society representatives gather to negotiate solutions and actions to combat climate change.
This means the Green Task Force closely monitors data on both economic activity and the quality of life experienced by our residents. We are dedicated to bridging the gap between research and public policy, ensuring that policymakers fully understand the correlations between economic activity and its positive and negative externalities. Currently, we are working on a Sustainability Action Plan (SAP) and exploring innovative ways to promote environmental sustainability. This includes community initiatives to reduce our carbon footprint, the promotion of renewable energy sources, strategies to enhance resource efficiency, and efforts to minimize environmental impact. We also aim to collaborate with stakeholders to raise awareness and cultivate a culture of sustainability, regularly tracking our progress and reporting on these outcomes.
As we look to the future, we are reminded of Rachel Carson’s legacy. Her courage and vision helped spark a movement that continues to inspire and challenge us today. By reimagining environmental sustainability, we can honor her work and make a lasting positive impact for future generations.
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