Upstate climate activists, Diane Collins and Lisa Adamson (NCEA Earth Action Squad), and CAAN founder, Tracy Frisch, activist writer Lale Davidson and Albany Lawyer Bob Cohen in CAC audience waiting to deliver testimony at the CAC March Scoping Plan meeting.
IN November 2022 vote for politicians that do not take Fossil Fuel or industry related campaign donations. Pressure Hochul to become a climate active governor and for NYS to set the pace for climate legislation and to sign the bills still pending on her desk.
As of June 2022:
NYS Legislature Fails to take action on climate
Climate Can’t Wait was a collaboration of 40 climate groups in NY which urged the NYS legislature to take action on 12 legislative proposals and policy issues. Almost all of them failed to pass, the third year in a row where state lawmakers punted on climate. Climate also did not fare well in the state budget, with the request for $15 billion in funding for climate action was ignored. (See GELF budget testimony)
The legislature did pass a 2 year moratorium on the expansion of proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining due to their high emissions levels from running computers, but the All Electric Buildings Act and the Public Power (NYPA to build renewables) were defeated despite much campaigns. Legislation to expand geothermal did pass as well as a bill to require that permits for polluters look at the cumulative impact in local communities.
GELF endorses the Renewable Heat Now campaign, which includes using air heat pumps and geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings rather than natural gas or other fossil fuels.
NYS Legislature Fails to take action on climate
Climate Can’t Wait was a collaboration of 40 climate groups in NY which urged the NYS legislature to take action on 12 legislative proposals and policy issues. Almost all of them failed to pass, the third year in a row where state lawmakers punted on climate. Climate also did not fare well in the state budget, with the request for $15 billion in funding for climate action was ignored. (See GELF budget testimony)
The legislature did pass a 2 year moratorium on the expansion of proof-of-work cryptocurrency mining due to their high emissions levels from running computers, but the All Electric Buildings Act and the Public Power (NYPA to build renewables) were defeated despite much campaigns. Legislation to expand geothermal did pass as well as a bill to require that permits for polluters look at the cumulative impact in local communities.
GELF endorses the Renewable Heat Now campaign, which includes using air heat pumps and geothermal energy to heat and cool buildings rather than natural gas or other fossil fuels.
What is the CLCPA?
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most progressive climate bill in the US, passed in the NYS legislature in June 2019, remains unfunded in areas of just transition. The CCIA is the bill being proposed to tax polluters and fund communities most impacted by climate, to train workers transitioning out of fossil fuel jobs into the renewable workforce.
Statement based on NY Renews CLCPA implementation:
Implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) means a rapid transition to a 100% renewable economy. This requires us to eliminate fossil fuels in the power sector first and to achieve at least an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the goal of zero emissions statewide by 2050. We need a timeline (CAC) for regulations for the enforcement of GHG and co-pollutant reductions by industry sector (i.e. transportation, buildings) that is enforceable and that puts us on a path to achieve CLCPA GHG reduction statutory mandates. Doing this in line with the law also means ending fossil fuel subsidies and further investments in infrastructure, ensuring equitable allocation of resources so that at least 40% of investments go to disadvantaged communities, (CCIA) a significant investment in communities most impacted by the climate crisis, and a shift in all state operations to consider climate impacts and environmental equity. These goals have to be reached with clear guardrails around the alternative compliance mechanisms for the final 15% of GHG emissions in the CLCPA, without false solutions like waste-to-energy projects (garbage incineration)and biofuels used for energy or transportation purposes as well as strict limits on offsets and other energy technology reliant on combustion. It means not only effective enforcement of GHG emissions targets but also a co-pollutant reductions approach that necessitates implementation of fossil fuel bans. The "scoping plan" (CAC) will be the basis for New York State binding climate regulations..
Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the most progressive climate bill in the US, passed in the NYS legislature in June 2019, remains unfunded in areas of just transition. The CCIA is the bill being proposed to tax polluters and fund communities most impacted by climate, to train workers transitioning out of fossil fuel jobs into the renewable workforce.
Statement based on NY Renews CLCPA implementation:
Implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) means a rapid transition to a 100% renewable economy. This requires us to eliminate fossil fuels in the power sector first and to achieve at least an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, with the goal of zero emissions statewide by 2050. We need a timeline (CAC) for regulations for the enforcement of GHG and co-pollutant reductions by industry sector (i.e. transportation, buildings) that is enforceable and that puts us on a path to achieve CLCPA GHG reduction statutory mandates. Doing this in line with the law also means ending fossil fuel subsidies and further investments in infrastructure, ensuring equitable allocation of resources so that at least 40% of investments go to disadvantaged communities, (CCIA) a significant investment in communities most impacted by the climate crisis, and a shift in all state operations to consider climate impacts and environmental equity. These goals have to be reached with clear guardrails around the alternative compliance mechanisms for the final 15% of GHG emissions in the CLCPA, without false solutions like waste-to-energy projects (garbage incineration)and biofuels used for energy or transportation purposes as well as strict limits on offsets and other energy technology reliant on combustion. It means not only effective enforcement of GHG emissions targets but also a co-pollutant reductions approach that necessitates implementation of fossil fuel bans. The "scoping plan" (CAC) will be the basis for New York State binding climate regulations..
James Hansen, scientist testifying at the Albany March 2022 CAC Scoping meeting.
What is the CAC?
On Dec.30, 2021:
The Climate Action Council--- (implementors of the climate bill timeline) released their draft scoping plan: (http://view.nyserda.ny.gov/?qs=959fcdd146db453f78b73c506df96893a7737194d4def8942f22e2eb93f403bd455618cebab0b4a9a928b1b4a322c5e53351cad206b81faeeab26a17da0b6caaa08c4c7c79693c3647b52804ea330db3)
A public comment form was posted on the website so readers could submit their comments in response to the plan. The 120-day public comment period began on January 1, with at least six public hearings. The public input will be used to help develop the Final Scoping Plan, which will be released by January 1, 2023
New York needs to commit to 100% clean, renewable energy by 2030. Enact a Green New Deal. Halt new Fossil Fuels. Statement by GELF and Albany based Green Party Environmental Legal Fund
A Green New Deal for New York would tax the rich over $10 billion per year to fund everything from energy efficient social housing to mass transit and renewable energy to electric vehicles. These programs would maximize good, union jobs and investments into low income communities and communities of color. While legislation will be introduced in the next session, the political battle is primarily to win incorporation into state budgets.