By Kitty Gifford, on behalf of the Newfield Climate Smart Communities Task Force
In 2022 the Town of Newfield completed a community greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions inventory, using information from 2019 as a baseline. A community GHG emissions inventory identifies activities responsible for GHG emissions, quantifies the level of each activity, and then calculates the associated emissions within a given geographic boundary. Newfield’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory report is available here.
The Town of Newfield created 283.23 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent (MTCO2) in 2019. This is equivalent to driving 790,000 miles in an average passenger car. Newfield’s emissions contribute to the overabundance of GHGs in the atmosphere that are causing climatic changes to the region and the world. The Town of Newfield is dedicated to reducing its emissions.
Greenhouse gases are heat-trapping pollutants –specifically carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, water vapor, and synthetic fluorinated gases.
Previous climate-smart actions taken by the Town of Newfield include:
- Updating interior lighting
- Adopting the NYStretch energy code
- Undergoing energy code enforcement training
- Performing a clean heating and cooling community campaign
The town is currently an active member of the New York Clean Energy Communities (CEC) and Climate Smart Communities (CSC) programs.
What’s Next?
This GHG Emissions Inventory will act as a baseline to help guide the Town of Newfield’s efforts to mitigate the impacts of climate change. The results here will inform our future municipal Climate Action Plan, which will guide the town’s process of reducing GHG emissions to mitigate climate change.
Newfield remains fully committed to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, working with other local municipalities to learn and share best practices, and building a more sustainable Town.
View the greenhouse gas inventory report compiled by Cornell Cooperative Extension Tompkins County:
View the CEC Annual Benchmarking 2020 Report: