Sustainable CT Certification Process
November 30, 2021- the Town of North Stonington received recognition of its recertification as a bronze certified town as part of the Sustainable CT program during the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities Annual Convention luncheon. North Stonington is among twenty-three Connecticut municipalities to be recognized this fall for achieving Sustainable CT certification. The Town met high standards in a broad range of sustainability accomplishments to qualify for the prestigious bronze-level certification. The highest level of certification currently offered is silver.
Sustainable CT is a voluntary certification program to recognize thriving and resilient Connecticut municipalities. It was developed in 2016 and 2017 as a collaborative effort between municipal leaders and residents from across the state, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, and people from key agencies, non-profits and businesses, and has been led and coordinated by The Institute for Sustainable Energy at Eastern Connecticut State University. Municipalities choose Sustainable CT actions, implement them, and earn points toward certification.
The Town of North Stonington first participated in the Sustainable CT program in 2019, receiving its Bronze-level certification. The Town also achieved the recertification of its Bronze status within the Sustainable CT program in 2020 while striving for the Silver (currently highest level) certification. The Town has a goal of obtaining Silver status in 2022.
Within this context, the Town of North Stonington would like to establish a formal Sustainability Town Committee to help direct efforts of the community towards the vision embraced by Sustainable CT, notably to be thriving, resilient, collaborative, and forward-looking. This Committee’s mission would be to support the cultural fabric of the community and the local economy while promoting the health and well-being of current and future residents, and respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. By spearheading and supporting the Town’s initiatives in the areas embedded in the Sustainable CT program, the Town believes that we would not only benefit from access to greater resources such as Sustainable CT grants, but would also further our efforts to create a dynamic and collaborative community environment.
As such, the Town is seeking volunteers for this Sustainability Committee who have an interest in at least one of the following areas which comprise the principal action categories of Sustainable CT:
- Inclusive and Equitable Community Impacts: Equity and Inclusion in the Town’s engagement with constituents
- Thriving Local Economies: Support of local businesses
- Well-Stewarded Land and Natural Resources: Water management, open space and wildlife
- Vibrant and Creative Cultural Ecosystems: Arts and Culture
- Dynamic and Resilient Planning: Sustainable Development, Climate vulnerability and preservation of historical resources
- Clean and Diverse Transportation Systems and Choices: Smart commuting, public transit and municipal fleets
- Renewable and Efficient Energy Infrastructure and Operations: Energy use and renewable energy deployment
- Inclusive Engagement, Communication and Education: Community communication, civic engagement, and municipal collaboration
- Strategic Materials Management: Waste reduction, recycling and composting
- Optimal Health and Wellness Opportunities: Health assessments and sustainable food networks
- Healthy, Efficient and Diverse Housing: Affordable housing
- Effective, Compassionate Homelessness Prevention: Addressing homelessness
- Innovative Strategies and Practices: Implementing our own sustainability action
More about Sustainable CT: An independently funded, grassroots, municipal effort, Sustainable CT provides a wide-ranging menu of best practices. Municipalities choose Sustainable CT actions, implement them, and earn points toward certification. Sustainable CT also provides opportunities for grant funding to help communities promote economic well-being and enhance equity, all while respecting the finite capacity of the natural environment. Sustainable CT empowers municipalities to create high collective impact for current and future residents.
To learn more about Sustainable CT, visit their website here: https://sustainablect.org/