Activities

U-CAN’s most significant contribution is in bringing a cross section of local individuals, groups, and governmental bodies together in conversation, education, planning, and most importantly actions to confront and solve our climate crisis.

Public Outreach and Education: started with 2017 & 2018 Farmers Market weekly education tables. In 2018 & 2019 U-CAN hosted Seize the Power, Renewable Energy Fairs at Cazenovia College. 

Develop a Strategic 5 year Plan: U-CAN organized Climate Summit I in March 2019 bringing together 42 key knowledgeable stakeholders and leaders to help Identify the area’s most critical environmental issues.  Summit II was held 3 months later to celebrate accomplishments, evaluate the planning, and develop 8 strategic working groups.

Working with governing bodies:   U-CAN has worked to build a direct presence at local, regional, state and national levels to bring our community voice to public policy. Village & Town of Cazenovia passed resolutions establishing working relationships with U-CAN. U-CAN initiated the Climate Action Coalition of Central NY.  A U-CAN member is on Congressman Anthony Brindisi’s Environmental Advisory Council. U-CAN worked actively to get the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act  bill funded on the state level, attending the Dept. of Environmental Conservation Budget hearing January 27^th 2020

Youth Outreach: Reaching out, listening, and supporting youth leaders in the climate movement has taken a number of different pathways most recently creating a zoom  panel of Student Climate Leaders from Cazenovia High School, Cazenovia College, Hamilton College and Colgate University, and creating a virtual Science Climate Fair.

Action Groups:Within U-CAN six action groups work on various ways to improve our environment and address a variety of issues related to climate change. These groups are Trees, Water, Renewable Energy, Recycling/Plastics, Agriculture, and Communication/Advocacy.

50th Anniversary of Earth Day + 1 yr:  Postponed to April 2021.  More than 20 diverse local groups have come together to plan and participate in this local endeavor with daily events though out the week focused on celebration, education, and taking action. 

First Annual Community Earth Day Report: To encourage area groups, organizations & institutions to consider climate issues throughout the year & report annually on what has been accomplished, what are the problems to be faced, and what are their plans for the coming year.  This first year the report is made up of both individual organizational reports and the League of Women Voters “Local Response to Climate Change Report, April 2020.

Climate Leadership Summit III: Approximately 50 community leaders will come together to address issues related to climate change and to develop some local workable solutions.