Planning for Climate Change

Madison County and its municipalities continue to actively collaborate in climate change and sustainability efforts. Multiple plans have been created in the last ten years and include the following:

2013 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory: A greenhouse gas inventory compiles the energy (kWh, therms, gallons) consumed by an entity and/or community to determine the amount of greenhouse gases emitted to the atmosphere during a specific period of time. Ultimately, this report is a data resource that details current energy consumption to show exactly where energy is being used to help identify opportunities to become more efficient.

Madison County's GHG Emissions Inventory focuses on emissions from two categories:

1) Madison County Community

2) Madison County Government Operations

The baseline year for the data collection was 2010. Results are reported in metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (mtCO2e).

2014 NY Rising Countywide Resiliency Plan (PDF): The damaging floods of 2013 negatively affected the economy and residents of the County. Further, the floods reflected the need for the County and each municipality to mitigate future climate risks and build resiliency. The Plan incorporates bottom-up community input and state provided technical assistance. Based on an assessment of the risks and needs of the communities affected the hardest, the planning committee was able to create resiliency strategies and projects.

2016 Energy and Sustainability Plan (PDF): The Madison County Energy and Sustainability Plan represents a coordinated effort to reduce the County's greenhouse gas emissions, while increasing the economic vitality and quality of life in our communities. The Plan is part of Madison County's commitment to participate in the New York State Climate Smart Communities program and includes the actions the County is committed to undertaking to further address the critical issue of sustainability.

2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan (website): Madison County and each of its local jurisdictions joined together to create the 2017 Hazard Mitigation Plan. The goal of the Plan is to reduce the risks associated with natural disasters and limit the hardships created by them. Municipalities are successful in doing so by documenting each of their environmental, economic, and social assets and then identifying and ranking mitigation strategies for them based on the specific hazard being assessed.

2021 Solid Waste Management Plan (PDF): The Solid Waste Management Plan evaluates and executes an environmentally sound and economically feasible strategy for handling the County’s solid waste. The Plan highlights current and alternative solid waste management strategies to promote sustainability and reduce waste.

All of the plans listed have public outreach components such as public meetings to engage with businesses and community members. Public meetings for county-based plans are published in the newspaper such as the Oneida Dispatch and are typically posted on the Madison County Planning website.