Preparing for Climate Change While We Work to Prevent It

By Daniel McCoy, Albany County Executive

All around us, we continue to see the detrimental effects of climate change here and around the globe. The Capital Region experienced record-levels of rainfall this summer forcing residents to deal with frequent flooding.

Hurricanes are becoming more intense than ever before. Hurricane Ida and Tropical Storm Henri were just the latest to reach Upstate New York, taking lives throughout the state and causing hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of damage. On the West Coast, extreme drought and wildfires are becoming the norm rather than the exception.

Climate scientists have been warning us of this new reality for decades, and we know our nation has not done enough to respond. So what do we do to address this existential crisis?

There is a role for all of us, and county leaders, with the help of organizations like the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC), are well positioned to respond.

Albany County is leading by example by prioritizing electric vehicles and charging stations, investing in renewable energy, and focusing on energy efficiency to reduce our carbon footprint.

I am also thrilled that the Port of Albany will be home to America’s first offshore wind turbine manufacturing site, a critical component of New York State’s ambitious renewable energy goals.

While these climate mitigation steps are essential, this is a war we must fight on two fronts. Adaptation and resilience measures to protect life and property will be increasingly important as we continue to feel the impacts of climate change on a regular basis. That is why Albany County is undertaking a Countywide Climate Resiliency Plan with support from New York State’s Department of State. Through extensive stakeholder and community outreach, our Resiliency Plan will complete a risk assessment for key assets in the county and develop strategies and projects to increase our resilience.

When we say resilience, we are analyzing and improving the resilience not just of our hard infrastructure, but also our economic systems; our natural systems, our health and social services, and finally our housing stock, all with a focus on vulnerable populations.

The result will be tangible actions that the county and our community partners can take to increase our preparedness and minimize the impacts of flooding and other severe whether events. All of the plan’s recommendations will be rooted in smart growth principles such as redevelopment and investment in existing communities, increasing transportation options, and preservation of open space.

Now is the time for this kind of planning and we hope our process can serve as a template for other counties. The potential availability of federal infrastructure funds and a state Environmental Bond Act to address climate change could give counties a once-in-a-generation opportunity to invest in the resilience of our communities.

Counties that position themselves to take advantage of this opportunity will be able to advance projects and programs that make their communities safer, more prosperous, and better prepared for the inevitable impacts of climate change.