Climate Stewards

Join the Cornell Climate Stewards!

Volunteers committed to addressing climate change.

Register here

2026 Volunteer Application 

Cornell Climate Steward Program Mission: Train volunteers who help villages, towns, and cities become “Climate Smart Communities” by planning and implementing climate change mitigation, adaptation, and education projects at the local level.

Introductory Session:  June 25,  6:00 – 8:30 pm Zoom
Full Day Workshop: June 27,  8:45 am – 3:30 pm

Torn Space Theater
612 Fillmore Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14212

We will be covering the 12-module training in a retreat style setting with time to reflect as we learn

Training is Free! Thanks to support from Cornell Climate Stewards program and NYS DEC.

The Climate Stewards training consists of 12 modules.  Training is offered in-person or hybrid.     The first 10 modules cover specific climate change topics, with additional outside readings, videos and group activities designed to develop skills needed to lead and educate their communities in climate science, adaption, and mitigation.  

• Module 1: Orientation
• Module 2: Background Science
• Module 3: Impacts Part 1
• Module 4: Impacts Part 2
• Module 5: Working with Local Communities
• Module 6: Intro to Mitigation
• Module 7: Local Mitigation Strategies
• Module 8: Intro to Adaptation
• Module 9: Local Adaptation Strategies
• Module 10: Effective Science Communication
• Module 11: Volunteer Project Planning
• Module 12: Volunteer Project Presentations

Over the course of the training, participants will begin to formulate and design an individual or group community action project that they will present during the final session. This program’s curriculum was developed by Cornell University in partnership with CCE-Monroe.

Climate Smart Communities

Climate Smart Communities (CSC) is a multi-state agency effort led by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYDEC). CSC outlines concrete action lists of steps communities can take to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, adapt for a changing climate, and become more resilient in the face of new environmental challenges. Climate Stewards volunteers will use the CSC action list to determine what municipalities have already done and opportunities to take action.

Last updated June 12, 2026