Hundreds of New Yorkers Rally at Governor’s Offices across the State to Call for Bold Climate Leadership
March 25, 2025
Contact: Marie Scarles | (646) 389-8429 | marie@nyrenews.org
Web: @NYRenews | www.nyrenews.org
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In the Wake of Devastating Federal Climate Spending Cuts, Groups Called for Increased Climate Justice Investments in State Budget and the Release of NY’s Emissions Cap Program Regulations for a Healthier, Safer, and More Affordable New York.
New York State — From March 20 to March 24, NY Renews coalition organizations launched a series of rallies at Governor Hochul’s regional offices in Buffalo, Long Island, New York City, Syracuse, and at the New York State United Teachers (NYSUT) offices in Rochester. The events were part of the NY Renews coalition’s March Week of Action calling on Governor Hochul to protect New Yorkers’ health, safety, and wallets in the wake of the Trump administration’s authoritarian cuts to climate initiatives and to release the long-awaited regulations for the state’s cap-and-invest program, which will cap and make corporate polluters pay for their toxic emissions.
While the cap-and-invest program was set to roll out this year, Governor Hochul has decided to indefinitely stall its release, despite the fact that it would generate $3 billion in revenue for clean energy and climate mitigation and adaptation projects in its first year and ultimately save low- and middle-income households hundreds of dollars annually.
Instead, the Governor and both houses of the State Legislature proposed a $1 billion investment in climate for the 2025-2026 fiscal year—a fraction of what’s needed. To ensure that these funds benefit middle- and working-class people from the Bronx to Buffalo, organizers demand that this money go through the state’s Climate Action Fund. All dollars spent through the Climate Action Fund will reduce greenhouse gas emissions, create good, family-sustaining jobs with gold-star labor standards, and prioritize community-led projects and investments in state-designated Disadvantaged Communities, which are largely Black, brown, and low-income.
Event organizers also called on state leaders to pass critical climate legislation in the final budget, including the Cap-and-Invest Guardrails Bill, the NY HEAT Act, and the GAP Fund. Together, the cap-and-invest program and these key climate bills will secure cleaner energy, cheaper bills, and safe, weatherized, and climate-ready homes for hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers statewide.
A selection of quotes from rally speakers can be found below, along with links to photo and video coverage of select events.
BUFFALO
“The Trump administration is gutting funds left and right for community resiliency and climate protection – with no hope for grace or reconsideration,” said Rev. Dr. Majadi Baruti, Climate Justice Organizer at PUSH Buffalo. “What else would we expect from a wannabe fascist dictator? What does shock us, however, is the continued silence and compliance of NYS Governor Kathy Hochul on funding the people’s Climate Law! New Yorkers are living and dying in a Climate Crisis of unprecedented proportions, including the tragic loss of nearly 50 Buffalonians in the 2022 blizzard right here in Hochul’s hometown. We ask you today: Where are Hochul’s interests in matters of Climate Leadership and Community Protection? Where are you, Kathy Hochul?”
LONG ISLAND
Photos can be found here; livestream recording can be found here
"Climate Change isn't just an environmental crisis, it's a healthcare crisis as well. The effects of corporate pollution have not only made Long Island ecologically unwell, it has made Long Island residents sicker. At a time when the federal government is slashing climate protections and healthcare funding, it is more important than ever for Governor Hochul to take the lead in protecting New Yorkers," said Melanie D'Arrigo, Executive Director of the Campaign for New York Health.
NEW YORK CITY
3/20 Climate Families Rally
Photos and video can be found here
“With Trump illegally undoing billions in federal climate investment and dismantling the EPA, I’m terrified for my children’s future,” said Shokoofeh Rajabzadeh, lead organizer of Climate Families Westchester and parent of two. “That’s why I pulled them out of school today. Governor Hochul must fight back and lead on climate by pushing the Assembly to include NY HEAT in the budget and implementing Cap-and-Invest to fund climate.”
“Many of us should be in school today, but instead, we came here to have an action outside your office, because a livable future is the most important thing,” said Rory, age 13, a member of Climate Families NYC. “We wanted you to see our passion and our fear. Please look at these drawings and consider: what decision will benefit the people? Most of all, what is your commitment to the kids of New York?”
3/24 Rally at the Governor’s Manhattan Office
Livestream link here; photos here
"We can live in a state that puts people and the planet first. We can spend money effectively to make sure that those who are being impacted first and worst by climate chaos have all their means met, and that we can do it in a way that is sustainable. We're here to to tell Governor Hochul that we know how to do it and will build the power to make you do it," said Rev. Dr. Liz Theoharis, Director of the Kairos Center and the CoChair of the Poor People’s Campaign: A National Call for Moral Revival
"The Trump administration has gutted the EPA, cut funding to grassroots climate groups, and stripped worker protections. We know more cuts are coming, and it’s up to us to make sure New York has clean air and green jobs," said Faiza Azam, Climate & Labor Organizer at ALIGN. "Governor Hochul must aggressively fund clean renewable energy, make homes across the state climate-ready and lower their energy bills, create green jobs for a just transition, and ensure that polluters pay their fair share for the harms they’ve caused to fund our climate future. No more delays — we need action!"
ROCHESTER
Event recording here; photos available here
LaWanda Shipman, Vice President of Federation of Social Workers said “the Federation of Social Workers is a member of NY Renews because we know that by Funding Climate, we’d generate billions to upgrade all low and moderate income homes in the area - lowering costs for Rochester residents, where we have the third highest energy burden in the Country. We’re the workers who see how hard hit our people are. Labor and Community groups are united: we need Hochul and the Legislature to stand up and fight for New York and to fund climate this year.”
Dr. Michi Wenderlich, Campaign and Policy Coordinator of Metro Justice, said “In a federal landscape marked by authoritarianism and the slashing of already threadbare public services, anything less than bold, visionary leadership on climate justice is condemning our communities to climate and pollution-related illness, injury, and death. It’s time for Governor Hochul to fulfill her legal obligation to NYers and stand up to the Trump administration: She needs to Fund Climate this year!”
Dan Maloney, President of the Rochester & Genesee Valley Area Labor Federation and President of United Auto Workers Local 1097 said, “the Area Labor Federation calls on Governor Hochul and the Legislature to fund climate to release billions that can be used in Rochester for projects like a Sustainability Workforce Development Training Center that would create paid apprenticeships and new jobs for those shut out of the workforce to upgrade area homes while holding fossil fuel corporations accountable for the pollution they dump into our air.”
SYRACUSE
“As the stakes continue to rise due to attacks from the Trump administration, it’s clear that New York State needs strong climate leaders at the helm,” said Ethan Gormley, Climate Justice Organizer for Citizen Action of New York. “Unfortunately, instead of displaying leadership, Governor Kathy Hochul is delaying a crucial piece of our state’s climate law by suppressing regulations for the emissions-reducing Cap and Invest program. By immediately releasing all the Cap and Invest regulations to the public, Gov. Hochul can show that she’s capable of standing up strongly to a hostile federal administration beholden to the oil and gas industry.”
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NY Renews is a coalition of nearly 400 climate, labor, youth, environmental justice, and community organizations across New York State, and the force behind New York’s landmark Climate Law.