New Rochelle releases updated climate action plan with racial equity emphasis
City officials say the plan places racial equity at the heart of their climate strategy.
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Officials from the City of New Rochelle have released an updated version of their GreeNR Climate Action Plan to get ahead of climate change.
According to city Council member Sara Kaye, the updated version addresses everything from clean energy upgrades to waste reduction by expanding on their previous plan from 2011.
"Given that climate change, back 15 years ago, we were thinking about it very differently," Kaye said. "Now, today, we're seeing the impacts of climate change affecting our everyday lives like from air pollution [to] flooding," Kaye said.
City officials said they adopted the updated plan last month.
According to them, it places racial equity at the heart of their climate strategy.
"Climate change does not impact everyone the same way and certain communities are affected differently, in particular, low income communities and communities of color," Kaye said.
News 12 went to downtown New Rochelle to ask residents how they feel about officials trying to combat climate change in their community.
Resident Paul Renda said, "I think it's a necessity."
"I think it's a good thing," resident Jaelen Billy said.
Resident Al James added that "everybody doesn't believe in it and, of course, we have some politicians that don't believe in it either."
Paul Presendieu, the chair of the city's Ecology and Natural Resources Committee, said the majority of people he's talked to are in favor of their efforts.
"People that we've been working with in New Rochelle haven't really been roadblocks. They've more been thinking about, 'that's a great idea, how can we put together partnerships and coalitions to make it a reality,'" Presendieu said.
Council member Kaye said the plan will have "budget implications," but added that the city has received grants that support their climate efforts.
