By Kate Hill

Staff Writer

On Nov. 14, the United Climate Action Network (UCAN) presented the third regional Climate Action Leadership Summit via Zoom.

UCAN is a grassroots organization that advocates environmentally sustainable policies and actions in New York’s 22nd Congressional District.

The group also engages with businesses, schools and other local community organizations to advance environmental literacy and sustainable practices.

The summit brought together a group of around 50 community leaders to discuss the regional impacts of climate change and to develop ideas on how to mitigate and adapt to the harmful effects at the local level.

The diverse group of attendees included public servants, farmers, educators, financial planners, industry experts and a representative of the Oneida Indian Nation.

Organized by Phil Rose, Mary Bartlett, Nancy Paolozzi, Jack Stevens, Laurie Dudley, and Geoffrey Navias, the event began with an overview of the summit agenda and goals, and remarks from Brian Patterson of the Oneida Indian Nation Bear Clan.

The introduction was followed by small group discussions on the topics of plastics/recycling, trees, water, renewable energy, communication/advocacy, and agriculture.

Each action group featured a moderator, a support person and four to seven additional members. Participants had the opportunity to relay their personal goals for the coming year before working together to brainstorm potential climate action projects.

Following the 45-minute work session, each group reported on its proposed initiatives.

Plastics/Recycling

Town Councilor Kyle Reger announced that the plastics/recycling group plans to work directly with local pizza shops to spread the message that used pizza boxes — even those with grease and food residue — belong in the recycling bin, not the trash.

According to Reger, an estimated 350,000 pounds of paper from pizza boxes are put into the landfill in Madison County each year.

“If it’s recycled within a two to six week period, that paper can come back in the form of a new box on your doorstep,” Reger said. “The average vehicle in the United States is 2,871 pounds, so in terms of weight that’s the equivalent of 122 cars going into the landfill in our county.”

The group also plans to place Madison County recycling posters in stores and other heavily trafficked areas to help inform residents about what items can and cannot be recycled.

Trees

Dudley announced that one of her group’s goals is to complete the Stone Quarry Hill Art Park (SQHAP) 220 Trees Project by planting 220 saplings of varying species on the park’s grounds.

The initiative is the result of a partnership between SQHAP, UCAN, the Cazenovia Preservation Foundation (CPF), and SUNY ESF Landscape Architecture graduate students led by Professor Matthew Potteiger.

“We are using the Art Park as a jump off for other projects [throughout Cazenovia]. . .” Dudley said. “We want people to see our success so the community becomes more involved, so that they not only help us with these projects, but they also start planting in their own backyards.”

Water

Stevens reported that his group’s long-term plans include the development of local runoff-related ordinances designed to help curb harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Cazenovia Lake.

The group also hopes to help bolster the Earth Day Chittenango Creek Clean Up — an annual event organized by Dr. Thad Yorks, professor and program director of the environmental biology and biology programs at Cazenovia College.

“If we could make that a wider effort and maybe market it to some fishermen, that would be a [great] short-term thing we could do,” Stevens said.

Renewable energy

During the breakaway session, the renewable energy group discussed several topics, including a potential 600 kW town solar project; legislation to loosen up solar guidelines and codes; concerns regarding the agricultural impact of “mega” solar projects in rural areas; the development of a solar array installation “how-to” guide for homeowners; the village’s ongoing sustainability initiatives, and the creation of an educational virtual tour of the Fenner Renewable Energy Education (FREE) Center at the Fenner Wind Farm.

Communication/Advocacy

Bartlett reported that her group aims to increase awareness of the UCAN website, improve the organization’s social media presence, and resume the monthly UCAN newsletter.

The action group also plans to advocate proposed legislation requiring climate change education in public schools.

Bartlett added that a group member is currently working to collect data on the ways in which climate change is impacting the Cazenovia area.

“We have data at the national level, the global level, and the state level, but we don’t have that much locally,” she said.

Agriculture

According to Rose, the group’s overarching goal is to promote sustainable and economically feasible farming techniques.

“Farmers really are pressed economically,” Rose said. “[So it’s important] to show that it can be economically profitable to do these techniques and to become more sustainable.”

The group also hopes to have additional conversations on ways to educate farmers on the best practices for climate resiliency.

The summit concluded with remarks from two guest speakers.

Kristin Williams, deputy chief of staff for New York State Senator Rachel May, provided an overview of May’s climate-related bills and encouraged UCAN to advocate for locally important legislation by submitting letters/memos of support.

Geovaira Hernandez, a lead coalition organizer for New York Renews, also addressed the group.

NY Renews is a multi-sector statewide coalition that campaigns for ambitious climate policies grounded in equity and justice for communities and working people.

A version of the coalition’s first bill, the Climate and Community Protection Act (CCPA), was passed as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). According to Hernandez, NY Renews is now working on implementing the law and passing the Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA), a “Just Transition” bill paid for by a polluter penalty.

To join or learn more about the coalition, visit nyrenews.org.

“We live in a beautiful part of the world; it’s absolutely exquisite,” concluded Rose. “Let’s preserve it, let’s [continue to] build our community and share our influence, our intelligence and our power to . . . improve it even more.”

According to Rose, the UCAN Steering Committee will be producing a summit report to document the group’s 2020 accomplishments and summarize its climate action plans.

UCAN organized its first climate summit in March 2019 to develop a strategic five-year plan. The event brought together 42 knowledgeable stakeholders and leaders to help identify the area’s most critical environmental issues. A follow-up summit was held three months later to celebrate the group’s accomplishments, evaluate its plans, and develop strategic working groups.

To learn more about UCAN and get involved, visit unitedclimateaction.org or the United Climate Action Network Facebook page.