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Overview
Overview
The North Country Region takes pride in its strong social ties within and among communities. With support for and implementation of regional climate resilience goals, including fostering and enhancing existing and new partnerships, and increasing funding for infrastructure, ecosystem management, and the social safety network, the region can serve as a model for rural communities in New York State and elsewhere in the nation. The North Country can offer inspiration for creative problem-solving, neighbor-to-neighbor connection, and strengthening the rural voice to make the people and landscapes of rural America a key part of the solution for community-driven climate resilience.
Check out the full report to read more about the efforts specific organizations in the North Country are undertaking to tackle these issues and the solutions proposed by listening session participants.
Cover photo courtesy of ANCA.
Education
Education
Climate education helps foster a sense of place through an understanding of unique local and regional history and natural science. It also highlights the root causes of environmental justice issues and can help to support projects that work to provide equitable access to a safe and sustainable environment.
ACORN participants noted that climate education serves to reduce “climate anxiety” through fact-based knowledge that allows students and their communities to effectively target and implement climate solutions, which creates hope, fosters connection, and increases resiliency. Climate resilience education offers opportunities beyond traditional educational settings through workforce training, including the development of relevant emergency preparedness skills and management, critical home repairs, and clean energy technology installation.
Young people participating in Climate Action Planning through The Wild Center's Youth Climate Program
ACORN participants, including youth and professionals, discussed the importance of statewide mandated climate education curriculum to support multidisciplinary critical thinking and innovation for present and future needs and increase youth civic engagement. In the past few years, many bills related to climate change education in public schools have failed to move forward.
Food Systems
Food Systems
Food insecurity was a topic of concern at listening sessions, and, within the North Country, Herkimer County has the highest level of food insecurity in the state outside of New York City. Food insecurity is tightly linked with disaster management because disasters increase food insecurity, and food insecurity weakens disaster resilience. Often, with disaster planning, the focus is on emergency feeding sites and food pantries, but North Country regional food systems experts note that the entire food system (food pantries, local farms, food hubs, grocery stores, schools, emergency hubs, etc.) is important to include, particularly for rural areas. Conversations have taken place around mapping the geographic location of key local and regional food storage, production, and distribution sites as an important first step in addressing how the aggregated food system can help solve rural food insecurity.
Speakers at the Adirondack Food System Network’s 2025 Food Justice Summit, “Recipe for Resilient Food Systems,” highlighted the key ingredients needed to build a food system that can thrive even in the face of challenges. Strong partnerships help keep supply and distribution networks reliable and give local communities more control over how food is grown, processed, and shared. Identifying and addressing gaps, whether in infrastructure, services, or equity, helps make sure that all aspects of the system are supported. Uniquely, these partnerships allow small businesses and rural communities to adapt quickly, which is a key strength.
Social Cohesion
Social Cohesion
Numerous studies around the world involving disasters like hurricanes, tsunamis, and heatwaves, demonstrate that community social ties are a more significant factor in safety, survival, and post-disaster recovery than any other single element. The strength of neighbor relationships within a community is directly correlated with higher survival rates and more successful recovery outcomes. Social cohesion, which is the strength of community ties and mutual support, consistently emerged in ACORN listening sessions as a foundational element for building lasting resilience.
"Typically your neighbor is the first one to get to you (in a disaster). We all become a first responder when things become super serious."
-Alexandra Tamburro, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Herkimer County
The interconnections between livability, housing, jobs, and empowerment, plus the factors that weaken these connections
The ACORN outreach program has focused on fostering social cohesion, cultivating relationships, promoting community engagement, and discussing the shared opportunities that climate resilience presents. ACORN’s work helps to ensure that regional climate resilience efforts are inclusive, equitable, and effective, and encourages individuals to determine how their actions can play a pivotal role in their communities. The concept of neighbors looking out for neighbors underpins success in managing climate challenges and all other community livability concerns.
Workforce Development
Workforce Development
In the North Country, workforce development challenges directly affect communities and quality of life. The actions required to implement regional climate resilience offer an opportunity to simultaneously build workforce pathways and improve community livability. Across all sectors, creating pathways to quality, well-paying jobs will require regional coordination, expanded training programs, and a focus on equity and inclusion.
Sectors in need of workforce development include:
Forestry
Healthcare and Public Health
Emergency Management
Clean Energy
Agriculture and Food Systems
Infrastructure - including Stormwater, Buildings, and Municipal
Tourism and Recreation
“Every community and every sector in New York State has the potential to contribute to innovative climate solutions that reduce vulnerabilities, foster resilience, and enhance equity.”
-New York State Climate Impacts Assessment (2024)
Additional Human Services
Additional Human Services
Beyond those listed above, additional social issues of concern in the North Country include:
Poverty
Addiction treatment
Support for unhoused people
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