The Town of Mansfield has been notified its Silver level status has been reaffirmed with Sustainable CT. Sustainable CT, a statewide, voluntary certification program that supports sustainability best practices in Connecticut municipalities, announced that Mansfield is among the list of 2022 certified communities recognized by the program.
Twenty-four municipalities earned 2022 Sustainable CT certification. In addition to Mansfield, towns that achieved silver-level certification, the highest level of certification currently offered by Sustainable CT, are Coventry, Darien, Essex, Guilford, Manchester, New Haven, Vernon, and Wilton. The following towns met high standards in a broad range of sustainability accomplishments to qualify for bronze-level certification: Ashford, Cheshire, Deep River, East Haddam, East Lyme, Goshen, Lyme, New London, Rocky Hill, Southbury, Stonington, Torrington, Waterford, West Haven, and Windsor.
“We are extremely proud of this designation,” says Town Manager Aylesworth, “and appreciative of the Sustainability Committee and Town staff who took the lead in updating our enhanced application for Silver this year. Recycling Coordinator Virginia Walton, along with Intern Thomas Bonitz and Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Kaufman, all did a great job of organizing our application process. They helped ensure that all of our great work linked to Sustainability, including equity and community connectedness, was included as part of our story. We are proud of our elevation within the Silver certification building on our past successes.”
Sustainable CT offers support to help towns implement actions that build community connection, social equity, and long-term resilience. Certified communities demonstrated significant achievements in at least twelve sustainability impact areas, ranging from thriving local economies and vibrant arts and culture to clean transportation and affordable housing. In addition, certified municipalities addressed issues of equity and inclusion when implementing sustainability actions.
“This rating sets Mansfield as an example among other Connecticut municipalities – showcasing best practices, “says Town Manager Aylesworth. All of the submitted materials are available for communities to look over in building their own sustainability plan, so we are part of a peer support network. We encourage our residents, businesses and municipal peers to review our update that earned us this Silver certification. Now we just need to continue to live these practices in our daily work,” he adds.
“Congratulations to our first-ever Sustainable CT Climate Leaders and our 2022 certified communities,” said Lynn Stoddard, executive director of Sustainable CT. “We are inspired by the leadership and commitment of these communities. From elected officials and town staff to resident volunteers, these certified towns and Climate Leaders are improving opportunities and the quality of life for all.”
“We are thrilled to recognize additional communities that are using the Sustainable CT framework to build long-term resilience to climate change,” said Bryan Garcia, co-chair of Sustainable CT and president and CEO of the Connecticut Green Bank. “Our support for equitable communities, affordable housing, clean and efficient transportation and energy, and resilient and accessible food systems, helps to strengthen and unify our communities faced with the impacts of climate change and its effect on our economy.”
In addition, Sustainable CT awarded its first-ever Climate Leader designations this fall. The program was piloted in 2022 to support the acceleration of municipal actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the changing climate. Through successful implementation of multiple climate actions, five towns earned distinction as the first cohort of Sustainable CT Climate Leaders: Fairfield, Glastonbury, New Britain, Stratford, and West Hartford.
Sustainable CT is celebrating its fifth anniversary this November and has seen strong momentum and growth as a valuable, high-impact program. One-hundred twenty-nine municipalities are participating in this free program, representing nearly 90% of the state’s population. Collectively, sixty-two municipalities, nearly 37% of the state’s communities, have earned Sustainable CT certification. Certification lasts for three years, with submissions rigorously evaluated by independent experts and other Sustainable CT partners.
All 2022 certified communities and Climate Leader award recipients will be recognized this year at Sustainable CT’s Awards Celebration being held at the West Hartford Town Hall on Monday, November 14, from 3–6 p.m. For more information about this, visit sustainablect.org/celebration.
Sustainable CT is independently funded, with strong multi-year support from the Emily Hall Tremaine Foundation, Hampshire Foundation, Connecticut Green Bank, Common Sense Fund, and the Community Foundation of Eastern Connecticut. For more information, visit www.sustainablect.org.