Oneonta responds to climate change

Apr. 16—Last month was the warmest March on record for the planet and the tenth month in a row of record heat, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Upstate New Yorkers have felt the significant impact that climate change is having globally on the local environment — from milder winters that have more rain and potential for flooding, to wildfire smoke blown down from Canada that blanketed the region last June.

Enter the picture Morgan Whittington, a 22-year-old senior at SUNY Oneonta, who has served as the city of Oneonta's sustainability intern since January 2023, working to bring awareness and programming about the changing climate to city residents, as well as climate policies into local city planning.

She's a double major in environmental sustainability and sociology, with a concentration in community and environment.

As part of her work, Whittington developed a climate vulnerability assessment for the city and a greenhouse gas inventory report, measuring the environmental impact of city government operations.

The studies were done under the Climate Smart Communities program, which the city signed on to in 2014, but is just now seeking certification from the state.

Climate Smart Communities is a state program that offers guidance and resources on municipalities doing climate action work and working to be a more sustainable community.

Certification would mean that the state confirmed Oneonta's completion of a list of concrete actions that mitigate and adapt to climate change, including inventorying emissions and decreasing energy use.

"I thought that that would just be the most beneficial thing to our city, so I started just delving into that," Whittington said about Climate Smart Communities.

Common Council member Cecelia Walsh-Russo, D-Secord Ward, said Tuesday that community engagement is crucial for raising awareness and implementing effective climate action measures.

"There have been some pretty rapid changes in the in the local environment," she said. "Last summer, not only was there heat increased, but also we saw the effects of the Canadian wildfires in June ... I think now has been a really fortuitous moment for us in the city, and surrounding areas have been doing their part as well."

Walsh-Russo, who serves as the council liaison to the city's Environmental Board said that the city is working on a climate action plan for how to adapt or mitigate the effects of climate change locally.

Whittington said her work could be used as a baseline for the city in setting goals to reduce emissions.

Walsh-Russo said that if Oneonta is selected as a climate smart community under the state program, the city would join about 137 communities in New York state that are a part of the program and have access to state grants.

"I think this aligns with what [Mayor Mark Drnek] is trying to do," she said, "in terms of attracting and retaining residents, but there may be folks out there who are concerned and want to be in a community that really takes what's happening, in terms of these changes, makes it a priority."

Another project Whittington spearheaded is the inaugural Oneonta Earth Day Festival, scheduled for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 27 in downtown Oneonta, to promote environmental awareness and a culture of sustainability.

Whittington said that activities will take place in the closed portion of lower Dietz Street, from Main Street to Wall Street, and Muller Plaza.

About 40 groups have signed up to table, including environmental offices and clubs from SUNY Oneonta and Hartwick College and local environmental advocacy organizations, she said.

Main Street and downtown businesses will be offering sidewalks sales and other promotions.

Other features include live acoustic music, yoga in the park by Yoga People, hands-on activities for children and families, trail tours by the Oneonta Trail Association and a tree identification walk by city arborist Fred Hathaway.

Plans for food trucks are still in the works.