Ryan chosen to serve on statewide climate committee

ALBANY – Ulster County Executive Pat Ryan has been chosen as the new chairman of the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) Climate Resilience Committee replacing Tompkins County lawmaker Martha Robertson, who is retiring. The bipartite committee is made up of officials in the county positions most directly affected by climate change. Its members come from all parts of the state and work in various areas of county and state government, including emergency services, public health, environmental health, solid waste, and elected office.

“Climate change is the defining challenge of our time and counties have incredible potential to drive meaningful change in our communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and build our resilience to the effects of climate change,” Ryan said. “I am incredibly proud to have been chosen by my colleagues to lead this committee, and I look forward to working with county leaders across the state and our state partners to develop local solutions to this challenge. worldwide. “

The NYSAC Climate Resiliency Committee was established in June 2018 to help counties in the state work cooperatively on climate change to identify needs and influence state policies, programs or enabling legislation. .

In April, the Ryan County Executive released its Green New Deal Plan for County Ulster. Joined by environmental leaders from across the Hudson Valley, the report includes more than 30 goals and targets making Ulster County the first county in New York State and one of the first in the country to publish a full Green New Deal plan.