Guilford Receives Climate Leader Designation: Here's What It Means

GUILFORD, CT – Town of Guilford was recognized among the Connecticut Municipalities for achieving Sustainable CT Climate Leader designation.

Guilford Town officials said the town is one of the first nine municipalities in Connecticut to earn the Sustainable CT Climate Leader designation.

“Once again, I am proud of our community for having supported so many initiatives that have allowed us to attain the Climate Leader Designation,” Matthew Hoey said, Guilford First Selectman. “As Guilford joins a select group of CT communities, I want to thank the Guilford Sustainable Task Force for their leadership and work documenting our successes.”

Sustainable CT is a statewide initiative that inspires and supports communities in becoming more efficient, resilient and inclusive.

In 2022, Guilford achieved Sustainable CT Silver-level and now adds to the prestigious Climate Leader designation to its accomplishments for exceptional leadership in addressing climate change and fostering resilience.

“Members of the Sustainable Guilford Task Force are proud to help highlight the important work of our Town’s officials and staff toward implementing sustainable policies and practices to ensure the resiliency of our community now and into the future,” Force Chair Terri Cain said, Sustainable Guilford Task. “Focusing on these actions outlined by Sustainable CT brings our community together to improve our quality of life at the local level and raises awareness of our interconnections with global climate issues.”

In its application for Sustainable CT climate designation, Guilford demonstrated significant achievements in implementing strategies and initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, enhance climate resilience and promote sustainability.

“Congratulations to our Climate Leaders,” Lynn Stoddard said, executive director of Sustainable CT. “The decisions of local government – from zoning to transit systems, sidewalks, and building codes - play a huge role in determining residents' and businesses' carbon footprint and resilience. The leadership and commitment of these communities inspire us.”

The efforts of Guilford to receive the Sustainable CT Climate designation encompassed a broad spectrum of activities such as community engagement, green infrastructure development, clean energy adoption and climate adaption planning.

Specifically, Guilford completed actions including developing an open space plan, increasing and improving preserved open spaces, achieving Bronze status in the SolSmart program, adopting Complete Streets policy and implementing Complete Streets projects, assessing locations for installing additional electric car charging stations and implementing the Heat Smart campaign.