Town of Rhinebeck Climate Action Planning
05/27/2025: We Need Your Feedback!
Before the Town can adopt the Climate Action Plan and Adaptation Plan (see links to PDFs below), we need your input. Your feedback is crucial to ensure these plans are effective and reflect the needs of our community.
After reviewing the Climate Action Plan and Adaptation Plan, please use the Google Form linked below to share your comments and suggestions for improvement.
If you have any questions, or if you'd prefer to send your feedback in a non-anonymous way, please email: [email protected]
Inventory of Government Operations Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In 2023, the Town of Rhinebeck produced an inventory of local government greenhouse gas emissions from the year 2019. This inventory was produced with assistance from the Hudson Valley Regional Council and ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability.
| Town of Rhinebeck 2019 LGO GHG Emissions Inventory |
Climate Action Plan
Based on the results of the Town’s Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory, the Town has created a draft Municipal Climate Action Plan. The purpose of this plan is to guide Rhinebeck’s sustainable development over the next decade, and provide a path to reduce the Town of Rhinebeck’s emissions to 33% below 2019 levels by 2030, per the CLCPA guidelines.
Public input on this plan is essential. Please send any comments or suggestions for the draft climate action plan to [email protected].
| Town of Rhinebeck Climate Action Plan Draft |
Climate Adaptation Plan
The Town of Rhinebeck Climate Adaptation Plan is a plan, based on the results of the Climate Vulnerability Assessment, which recommends strategies for increasing the Town’s resilience to the effects of climate change and mitigating potential damage to people and places.
| Town of Rhinebeck Climate Adaptation Plan Draft |
Climate Vulnerability Assessment
The Town of Rhinebeck Climate Vulnerability Assessment is a summary of the Town’s environmental, infrastructural, and social vulnerabilities to the effects of climate change. It includes the results of a focus group for Rhinebeck’s older adults held in Summer 2024 on the topic of climate hazards.
| Town of Rhinebeck Climate Vulnerability Assessment Draft |
Climate Action Planning – Process
The Town of Rhinebeck’s climate planning work as listed above began in 2023 with participation in the Hudson Valley Regional Council’s (HVRC) Climate Action Planning Institute (CAPI). Through CAPI, the Town of Rhinebeck created the Local Government Greenhouse Gas Emissions Inventory and the draft Climate Action Plan.
In February 2024, the Town of Rhinebeck kicked off participation in the HVRC’s 12-month workshop focused on climate vulnerability, adaptation and resilience called CAPI Adapt. As part of this effort, Rhinebeck has produced two documents: the TOR Climate Vulnerability Assessment and the TOR Climate Adaptation Plan.
Background Information
For more information about predicted changes to the climate in Dutchess County over the next century, please refer to the summary below from NYSDEC's Hudson River Estuary Program.
| Dutchess County Climate Summary |