Community Progress Monitor Launches to Track Climate Action and Co-benefits in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 6, 2025
Community Progress Monitor Launches to Track Climate Action and Co-benefits in the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region
Rochester, NY – The Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective and the Climate Solutions Accelerator of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Region are proud to announce the launch of the Community Progress Monitor, a free online platform that provides data and actionable insights to help individuals, organizations, and local governments track climate progress and guide the region toward a healthier, more regenerative future.
The Monitor features indicators on greenhouse gas emissions by sector, clean energy jobs, solar generation capacity, energy burden, respiratory diseases, and more. Users can explore interactive visualizations, download data, and learn from local success stories.
“The Community Progress Monitor will play a key role in supporting continuous learning and systems-level climate solutions,” said Simeon Banister, President & CEO of the Rochester Area Community Foundation and Co-Chair of the Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective. “It keeps us on track toward our shared vision of becoming a thriving, sustainable region for all community residents.”
The Climate Collective’s shared vision includes reduced greenhouse gas emissions, clean energy and a regenerative economy, affordable and energy-efficient housing, public and zero-emission transportation, healthy communities, and protected agriculture. “The Monitor goes beyond tracking data,” said Valerie Lou, M.D., Co-Chair of the Climate Collective. “It provides context, highlights positive actions, and serves as a catalyst for data-driven climate action.”
“At a time when public access to climate and equity-related data is declining, the Monitor provides a vital hub for information at the intersection of climate, energy, economy, and health,” said Kristen VanHooreweghe, Ph.D., Senior Director of Programs at the Climate Solutions Accelerator. “It also helps communities hold authorities accountable for climate commitments.”
The platform will be updated annually each January, and user feedback is actively encouraged to guide improvements. The Monitor was developed with funding from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) via the Finger Lakes Clean Energy Hub (AMPED).
Join us for an upcoming info session webinar to learn more about the Community Progress Monitor and how community members can use it to drive regional climate action.
When: Thursday, November 20, 2025 | 12:00–1:00 PM ET
Takeaways: Navigate the Monitor, read key indicators (e.g., clean energy jobs, GHG emissions), and apply insights to programs, advocacy, and decision-making
Who: Residents, students, business owners, community advocates
Presenter: Omar Aponte, Data Manager, Climate Solutions Accelerator; Adjunct Professor, RIT
Register Here to Attend: https://go.ampedproject.org/webinar-17
Explore the Community Progress Monitor: climategfl.org/monitor
Media Contact:
Alexis Russell, Communications and Events Manager
Phone: 585-270-0682
Email: alexis@climategfl.org
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About the Climate Solutions Accelerator
The Climate Solutions Accelerator is an inclusive, nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring and facilitating a large-scale climate mobilization in the nine-county Genesee-Finger Lakes Region. Our mission is to create a healthier, more equitable, and regenerative community by catalyzing local efforts to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions and address the effects of climate change. Our vision is a thriving region on a healthy planet, accomplished through bold, systemic climate solutions that promote prosperity and security for all. We are committed to inclusivity, nonpartisanship, solution-focused strategies, collaboration, scientific rigor, transparency, and justice–social, racial, economic, environmental, and intergenerational justice.
About the Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective
The Genesee-Finger Lakes Climate Collective is a group of stakeholders representing business, health, housing, transportation, agriculture, and more. Using the principles of Collective Impact, the Collective coordinates bold action to expedite the region’s transition to a clean, regenerative economy. In 2022, the Collective released its Climate Action Strategy, a framework to guide local climate action rooted in equity, health, economic development, and ecological stewardship.