Gold Star Standard in Climate Readiness

Municipalities play a significant role in adapting and strengthening the community to reduce climate change-related impacts. The Gold Star in Climate Readiness identifies specific actions and a level of performance for municipalities to adapt to climate change through the Built, Natural, Social, Economic, and Governance Systems. For a more detailed description of the Systems Approach, see the Guide to Local Climate Change Adaptation Planning.

The impacts of climate change necessitate a forward-looking, holistic approach across municipal efforts. The suite of certification actions across the Sustainable Jersey categories that comprise the Gold Star in Climate Readiness are designed to:

• Comprehensively assess which climate hazards represent a risk for specific features and aspects across the whole of the community.
• Develop strategies across all municipal planning and procedural frameworks that incorporate reducing climate vulnerabilities for people, environment, and economies.
• Implement climate adaptation plans and actions that foster long-term sustainability.

Each municipality has a unique set of conditions determining its vulnerabilities to climate hazards and the actions it can take to effectively reduce them. The Gold Star in Climate Readiness is designed to provide flexibility for specific actions, while fostering a holistic, systems approach to addressing climate change impacts. Municipalities can earn a Gold Star in Climate Readiness if they successfully complete a combination of certification actions spanning the Built, Natural, Social, Economic, and Governance Systems.

Gold Star Standard in Climate Readiness Requirements

Achieving the Gold Star in Climate Readiness requires a municipality to successfully complete and be currently approved for selected certification actions. The completion of the Comprehensive Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment Action is required, as it is an important first step in climate readiness planning. The Sustainable Land Use Pledge Resolution is also required, as it demonstrates the municipality’s commitment to taking actions that improve local sustainability and thereby reduce climate vulnerability. The strategies identified in the climate change-related hazard vulnerability assessment planning process for the municipality to reduce climate hazard vulnerabilities may inform which actions are pursued in the Gold Star framework.

To qualify for the Gold Star in Climate Readiness, municipalities must complete a total of seven actions. Two specific actions are required, and the remaining five required actions include one action from each of five System categories, as indicated in the checklist here. One innovative action may be substituted for one action in either the Built, Natural, Social, or Economic System categories. :

1. Required Two Actions:
   1. Comprehensive Climate Change-Related Hazard Vulnerability Assessment
   2. Sustainable Land Use Pledge Resolution

2. A Third Action: One action addressing climate readiness through the Built System.
3. A Fourth Action: One action addressing climate readiness through the Natural System.
4. A Fifth Action: One action addressing climate readiness through the Social System.
5. A Sixth Action: One action addressing climate readiness through the Economic System.
6. A Seventh Action: One action addressing climate readiness through the Governance System.

Download Action Checklist