Climate Action Goals

New York State Climate Smart Communities Certified Silver Opens in new window

Climate Action Goals

2020 Goals

Under Supervisor Lee Roberts in 2009, the Town adopted a Climate Action Plan to set goals and identify actions to protect natural resources and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2020. At the same time the community launched an independent not-for-profit organization to work in partnership with the Town as well as with businesses, not-for-profits, houses of worship, and residents to join in a community-wide coalition known as Bedford 2020. After 10 years of an outstanding public-private partnership, a greenhouse gas inventory in 2020 showed that Bedford exceeded its initial goal, reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Bedford by 44%!

2030 Goals

The community and the Town renewed their intentions in 2020 with a new Climate Action Plan, and set goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in municipal operations and throughout the community by 80% by 2030. The community organization renamed Bedford 2030 continues to work in partnership throughout the community on community-wide education and partnerships and works directly with the Town to help the municipality reach its 2030 goals.   

Climate Smart Community

Climate Smart Communities is a New York state program that encourages municipalities to take a variety of actions that reduce emissions, save energy, reduce waste, and conserve resources. Under the CSC program Bedford has earned the highest level, Silver, one of 10 municipalities in the state to reach this status. High status in the program helps municipalities to obtain grant funding for conservation and climate action projects. 

Clean Energy Community

Bedford also is on the leaderboard in the NYSERDA contest known as Clean Energy Communities which focuses on high impact actions and rewards action with grant funding for more clean energy efforts. In 2023 Bedford held the #1 position for a time, but is constantly vying for top position.  The competition is fun and everyone wins with clean energy actions and grants to do more. 

For More Information email Bedford NY Director of Energy and Sustainability.