Since first taking office in 2018, County Executive George Latimer has been committed to using County Government as a tool to make change on an environmental level. Dedicated to fulfilling at that goal, Latimer’s appointed Director of Energy & Sustainability Peter McCartt has been working with stakeholders County, State and nationwide.
Earlier this year, the New York State Association of Counties (NYSAC) announced the creation of a new Climate Action Standing Committee and appointed McCartt as one of its inaugural members.
Latimer said: “Peter has been a major architect of our County’s environmental priorities, working with municipal leaders countywide to benefit all the residents of Westchester. His dedication to making progress for our planet is unparalleled and I am honored to share his expertise with NYSAC and other leaders Statewide.”
Since McCartt began his role in 2018, the County has undertaken environmental projects, large and small, aimed at reducing our carbon footprint, utilizing natural resources and expanding cooperation among local municipalities on “green” efforts.
McCartt said: “It is an honor to represent this County, this Administration and the work we have done on this newly formed Standing Committee. I am eager to get to work to find real solutions to some of the largest challenges we face today.”
According to NYSAC, the new bipartisan NYSAC Standing Committee will discuss ways to address climate change in New York and identify county opportunities to work collaboratively toward creating more resilient communities. It will also generate and collect concerns and recommendations from county departments that will be affected by climate change and engage local government and the state to work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and protect residents from climate change impacts.
The Climate Action Committee becomes the 13th NYSAC Standing Committee, joining committees on Agriculture, Children with Special Needs, Economic Development, Intergovernmental Affairs, Medicaid and Human Services, Native American Affairs and Gaming, Public Employee Relations, Public Health and Mental Health, Taxation and Finance and Transportation and Public Works.
In the coming months, the Climate Action Committee, and all the NYSAC Standing Committees, will collect resolutions from their respective members for discussion and adoption during the NYSAC Legislative Conference in March.