Hundreds of NY Renews Coalition Members Rally for Life- and Cost-Saving Climate Measures in 2025 NYS Budget
***FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE***
March 20, 2024
Contact: Marie Scarles | (646) 389-8429 | marie@nyrenews.org
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
Advocates call on NYS Assembly and Governor to Adopt NY HEAT,
Climate Superfund, and other critical climate justice bills in the NYS Budget
on the back of a new report showing a household taxpayer tally of $2.2 billion in climate costs in 2023
Livestream link of Million Dollar Staircase legislative and community speakers
Livestream link of War Room youth speakers
Photo and video available here
Albany, New York — On March 20, 2024, the NY Renews coalition, member organizations, and state legislators joined for a mass rally and roaming action throughout the NYS Capitol Building, calling for the passage of the NY HEAT Act, Climate Change Superfund Act, and other key Climate, Jobs & Justice bills and spending priorities in the upcoming state budget.
On the eve of the action, NY Renews and member organization NYPIRG released a report showing a region-by-region analysis of the statewide taxpayer tally per household of $2.2 billion in climate costs in 2023.
Environmental and climate justice groups and activists rallied at the Million Dollar Staircase, joined by state legislators including Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, sponsor of the NY HEAT Act; Senator Jessica Ramos, Senate Labor Chair; Senator Robert Jackson, Assemblymember Patricia Fahy, sponsor of the NY HEAT Act, and Assemblymember Marcela Mitaynes. Community leaders also spoke to the need for passing the full NY HEAT Act, Climate Change Superfund Act, and more, including Dawn Wells-Clyburn, Executive Director of PUSH Buffalo, Rami Dinnawi, Environmental Justice Campaign & Policy Manager at El Puente; and Nella Pineda-Marcon, BSN, RN-BC, Board Secretary and Chair of the Climate and Environmental Justice Committee, New York State Nurses Association. Livesream link available here: https://fb.watch/qWVVsgIVoQ/.
The event included stops at the Million Dollar Staircase, Assembly Chambers, War Room, and Legislative Office Building for community testimony, song, and more, focused on the need for bold climate and environmental justice action on the part of the Governor and state legislature to save both money and lives in the coming years. Livestream link to the War Room youth speakers from El Puente, TREEage, and more, here: https://fb.watch/qWVZlcOXZk/.
Assemblywoman Michaelle C. Solages said, “In this budget, we need to put New Yorkers first in our energy transition by making sure working people are not footing the bill. I am proud to stand with my colleagues in calling for passage of these bills focused on climate, jobs, and justice. Our communities cannot wait.”
"New Yorkers shouldn't have to foot the bill for Big Oil's mess. The NY HEAT Act and Climate Change Superfund Act offer more than just legislative remedies; they're lifelines for families struggling with the dual burdens of climate costs and economic hardship. Let's pass these bills and forge a future where justice, affordability, and sustainability go hand in hand. It's time to alleviate the pressure of climate inaction on our communities,” said State Senator Robert Jackson.
“The climate crisis is here, and it’s devastating our communities. When will the people’s call for crucial, life-saving reform be listened to? When will our landmark, nation-leading Climate Law—the CLCPA—be taken seriously and fully funded? Governor Hochul and New York legislators have an obligation to follow state law so that communities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Utica, Albany, and beyond can build meaningful solutions that will protect our resources, respond to this growing crisis, and save lives. There is no more time: The people demand that you pass the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package and the People’s Climate Justice Budget now!” —Dawn Wells-Clyburn, PUSH Buffalo, Executive Director
"UPROSE is proud to stand alongside NYRenews in the Mobilization to Albany on March 20th. As we advocate for equitable climate solutions, we emphasize the urgent need for bold action to address environmental injustices and safeguard our communities. Together, we can drive meaningful change and a path for a just future,” said Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director of UPROSE.
“My colleagues and I fought and secured aspects of the NY HEAT Act in the one-house budget and the Senate included the Climate Change Superfund Act in their one-house. But we have to keep pushing. We cannot ignore the climate crisis as it continues to transform the way we live. New York is experiencing devastating weather changes and communities of color and low-income residents suffer the most from our inaction. With the anticipated rise in the cost of energy, residents who are already burdened will be at severe risk of heat-related illnesses and greater economic disparities this summer. The NY Heat Act protects New Yorkers from bill hikes and will increase energy efficiency with upgrades to every household. Our low-income community members should not carry the burden of climate change caused by the fossil fuel industry. I urge our leadership to include the NY Heat Act and Climate Change Superfund Act in the enacted budget," said Assembly Member Jessica González-Rojas.
“The costs for climate inaction are piling up, and New Yorkers are tired of footing the bill. We are tired of the hurricanes, the blizzards, and the floods that are destroying our infrastructure and killing our communities. We know who is at fault and now we must hold them accountable. Big Oil destroyed our communities decades ago and they continue to do so with consequences intensifying even beyond what scientists predicted. It is scary but the people of conscience move with hope and resilience. The climate and environmental justice movement has an alternative path forward, a plan that puts urgency and moral clarity at its center, resonant with the Black, Brown, and Indigenous communities most affected by climate destruction. New York state leadership, we call on you to invest in a climate plan that will get us out of this mess. It is your moral duty and responsibility,” said Theodore Moore, Executive Director of ALIGN.
"The climate crisis is not something far into the future, but it is impacting on the communities we serve right now, in the form of pollution, the destruction brought on by storms, and health problems from hotter summers,” said Rosemary Rivera, Executive Director of Citizen Action of New York. “The Legislature and the Governor must act boldly in light of the crisis we face. This means getting off gas through the NY HEAT Act, and making sure the cost of preventing future climate damages falls on the oil companies that created the crisis, not residents in the form of higher property taxes."
“The 42,000 members of the New York State Nurses Association strongly support NY Renews. Nurses and healthcare workers understand climate change is a public health crisis and achieving climate and environmental justice should be a priority for all New Yorkers. As members of the coalition’s Steering Committee for many years now, NYSNA champions bold, ambitious action on climate. New York has the ability to continue being a leader on these issues. We support the passage of climate bills in this budget that will help us create a just energy transition with good jobs and hold polluting corporations accountable. We must not let the same communities that have had to bear the brunt of the climate crisis have to foot the bill for its cleanup,” said Nella Pineda-Marcon, BSN, RN-BC, Board Secretary and Chair of the Climate and Environmental Justice Committee, New York State Nurses Association.
“El Puente joined the NYRenews coalition, unwavering in our commitment to two vital initiatives: the People’s Climate Justice Budget and the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package. The People’s Climate Justice Budget, a $1 Billion investment in essential projects, charts a path towards a pollution-free, resilient future for New York State. Notably, our community-driven project, BQGreen in Los Sures, exemplifies our dedication to environmentally just spaces and healing historical wounds. We urge swift passage of the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package, aligning gas utilities with emission reduction mandates, transitioning from fossil fuels, and holding major polluters accountable. This package embodies not only policy objectives but moral imperatives. As we mobilize, let's remember: bold action is imperative now for the future of our planet,” said Rami Dinnawi, Environmental Justice Campaign & Policy Manager at El Puente.
“The scientific and moral imperative is clear: climate scientists have issued a clarion call to massively fast-track climate action on all fronts if we are to avert critical tipping points in the climate system. Today we are back in front of the NYS Assembly and the Governor once again to amplify that call: there must be no incrementalism in funding and implementing our landmark Climate Act. We have all the knowledge and tools to transition the NYS economy from fossil fuels to renewables; what is missing is political courage and political will,” said Michael Richardson, Third Act Upstate New York
"Legislators will make a choice on behalf of millions over the next few weeks: will we invest in healthy homes, proven clean energy solutions, and good green jobs, or will we continue to waste ratepayer and taxpayer money on fossil fuel pipelines and outdated power plants that harm New Yorkers' health and do irreparable damage to our climate?" said Justin Wood, Director of Policy at New York Lawyers for the Public Interest.
“The Senate’s full support of the NY HEAT Act is a big step towards fixing unfair energy costs that hurt our communities. The Assembly’s move to limit utility bills is good, but not including the rule to stop gas hookups shows we’re missing a piece in our fight for fair climate action. It’s time for New York to show the way with a budget that meets all our climate goals. This means fully backing the HEAT Act, making it quicker to get permits for important power projects, and funding climate action by making sure those who pollute, pay,” said Conor Bambrick, Policy Director for Environmental Advocates NY.
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NY Renews is a coalition of over 380 environmental justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law. We fight for good jobs and climate justice for New Yorkers statewide.