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Lynn Stoddard, executive director of Sustainable CT, speaks at East Rock press conference.
New Haven is the first and only Connecticut city to win gold — for sustainability, at least.
The 6‑year-old certification program Sustainable CT celebrated the award during a press conference at the summit of East Rock on Monday, along with Mayor Justin Elicker and other city officials. The press conference can be watched here.
Laura Francis, the board co-chair for Sustainable CT, explained that New Haven received its status because of steps that the city has taken toward listening to underrepresented residents, combating climate change and decreasing greenhouse gas emissions, and collaborating with other municipalities on projects such as the improvement of watershed protection and support for those experiencing homelessness.
“We are inspired by the way New Haven’s cultural equity plan and multiple complete street projects are creating more welcoming and safe roads [for] New Haven neighborhoods based on input from those residents in those neighborhoods,” Francis said.
Mayor Justin Elicker, who received praise for creating a position for an executive director of climate and sustainability, pointed behind the group in the direction of Wilbur Cross High School, where there are solar panels on the roof. He described plans for the installation of more solar panels across the city, as well as initiatives with organizations like Neighborhood Housing Services for more equitable housing in the city.
“People are wanting to live in a place like New Haven because it allows people to be climate-friendly and live lives that are actually better for themselves as well,” Elicker said, describing plans for more bike- and pedestrian-friendly streets.
New Haven, which has previously won Sustainable CT’s bronze and silver status, stands alone at gold.
“I think that’s an opportunity for us to strive to force Sustainable CT to create yet another tier of platinum,” Elicker said, smiling. “We have a lot more work to do, and we need to make space for others at the gold section.”
I applaud the Gold award for sustainability. I think that the Sound School would be ideal location for solar panels. There are 4 buildings whose roofs face south and I I have hoped for many years that this location would be considered for panels.