What Others Are Doing

Beyond the city's efforts, other local governments and organizations are also taking measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, combat global warming, and create a thriving and healthy living environment for all members of the community.

Tompkins County has adopted a goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions in the community by 80% by the year 2050. To achieve this goal, the county has taken various steps, including the development of a Local Action Plan, the "2020 Energy Strategy," the addition of an "Energy and Greenhouse Gas Emissions" component in its Comprehensive Plan, and more.

Ithaca

The Town of Ithaca has taken significant action to integrate sustainability into decision-making, planning, and overall government operations, highlighting its commitment to sustainability and climate protection. In 2011, the Town conducted its first Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and developed an Energy Action Plan.

Dryden

The Town of Dryden is working to create a plan and a planning process that will integrate sustainability principles into Town policy and decision-making activities. Among the first steps towards this effort, a "Community Snapshot" was carried out as a baseline to generally assess where the Town is today, the changes people would like to see, and the road map for getting there.

The 3 higher education institutions in Tompkins County have signed the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, pledging to pursue climate neutrality.

Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative

The Tompkins County Climate Protection Initiative is a multisector collaboration that brings together leaders from the business, non-profit, local government, and education sectors, whose organizations have made significant commitments to climate protection. This coalition seeks to leverage climate action commitments made by institutions and organizations throughout the county to mobilize a countywide energy efficiency effort and accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy.

Sustainable Tompkins

Sustainable Tompkins is one of the leading citizen-based organizations in the area, working towards the long-term well-being of our communities by integrating social equity, economic vitality, ecological stewardship, and personal and civic responsibility.

Green Resource Hub

The Green Resource Hub of the Finger Lakes is a non-profit organization working to expand the marketplace for sustainable living in the Finger Lakes region. The Hub offers a variety of programs and events designed to help accelerate the transition toward a sustainable and vibrant regional economy.

Finger Lakes ReUse

Finger Lakes ReUse is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping the community benefit from reuse by reducing waste, relieving poverty, and teaching job skills. The organization operates a ReUse Center in Ithaca (accepting and selling quality used furniture, salvaged and surplus building materials, housewares, and home electronics), provides deconstruction services as a green alternative to demolition, and has developed a computer reuse program - the eCenter - that accepts and refurbishes computers for reuse in the community.