Stony Brook University, a core partner of The New York Climate Exchange, plays a significant role in supporting climate resilience initiatives through its partnership with the New York City Housing Authority (NYCHA).
The Exchange, in collaboration with the Public Housing Community Fund, has announced the launch of the NYCHA Resident Climate Action Grant Program, which provides up to $5,000 for residents to implement sustainability projects in their communities.
The program invites NYCHA residents to apply for funding to support community-led climate initiatives, such as recycling efforts, community gardening, tree planting and beautification projects. Now in its third year, the program aligns with The Exchange’s mission to drive urban climate solutions by empowering residents to take an active role in building more sustainable and resilient neighborhoods across NYC.
“The New York Climate Exchange is excited to partner with The Public Housing Community Fund and NYCHA to bring resident-led climate solutions to life in communities across [NYC],” Vicki Cerullo, the director of Urban Engagement at The New York Climate Exchange, said. “Residents know their communities best, and their ideas are critical to building a healthier, more sustainable [NYC]. We look forward to surfacing bold ideas through this challenge and leveraging the power of our Exchange partner network to support impactful climate action, with the potential to scale.”
This year’s program is sponsored by Rise Light & Power and will culminate in an awards ceremony on April 19 on Governors Island, N.Y.
“We are thrilled to support NYCHA residents wishing to lead the way on climate action in their communities,” Lisa Bova-Hiatt, the chief executive officer of NYCHA, said. “By empowering them to spearhead climate and sustainability projects, we’re addressing environmental challenges while investing in stronger, healthier neighborhoods.”
Stony Brook University faculty, students and staff are also contributing their expertise to the upcoming Climate Solutions Summit NYC event, which is led by The Exchange. The summit aims to foster discussions about climate science, emerging technologies and environmental justice. Kevin Reed, associate provost for Climate and Sustainability Programming at Stony Brook and chief climate scientist at The Exchange, is serving on the organizing committee alongside experts from the NYC Panel on Climate Change, Urban Climate Change Research Network, Pace University and IBM Research.
“I’m excited to see our community share interdisciplinary research, leadership and expertise in climate science and coastal environments, especially as it affects the [NYC] area and surrounding region[s],” Reed said.
According to Cerullo, the summit is designed to highlight interdisciplinary research and real-world climate applications.
“By bringing together community partners with academic researchers, equity and justice will be central to the discussions happening throughout the event,” she said. “In its inaugural year, The Exchange put forward a Summit submission process driven by our partners and wider network. This approach allows us to incorporate innovative solutions that may have been overlooked by other planning models.”
The conference will feature breakout discussions, lightning talks, research poster presentations and pitch sessions, providing a platform for university scholars and community members to collaborate on innovative climate solutions.
“The organizing committee for the summit will create a two-day conference schedule based on the submissions The Exchange receives from practitioners and researchers from Stony Brook University and other institutions,” Cerullo said. “Attendees will have the opportunity to explore climate science and emerging research, build relationships with a dozen university partners and develop collaborations with external organizations.”
Through its leadership in The New York Climate Exchange, Stony Brook continues to drive impactful climate initiatives, fostering collaboration between universities, government agencies and private organizations. By integrating academic expertise with community-driven solutions, the University is shaping a more sustainable and resilient future for NYC and beyond.
Former Interim President Richard L. McCormick, who serves as co-chair of The Exchange’s board, remarked, “As the anchor institution of The New York Climate Exchange, we are uniquely positioned to lead these dialogues, foster partnerships and further the impactful research and innovation taking place at our university. We are thrilled to contribute to this inaugural summit and remain committed to our dedication to this vital work.”
