Climate change is no longer a distant threat we sometimes experience in subway stations. It exists in every corner of our lives. It crept into my daily commute and is now seeping into my education.
Serving as TREEage’s Queens Borough Organizer for almost two years, I want students to find resilience in unpredictable climate moments and connect with other students through these shared challenges.
Read MoreIt’s official: New York is being sued over delays in implementing its climate law.
Four environmental and climate justice groups filed a lawsuit Monday in a state court, claiming that New York is “stonewalling necessary climate action in outright violation” of its legal obligations. By not releasing economy-wide emissions rules, the suit alleges, the state Department of Environmental Conservation, or DEC, is “defying the Legislature’s clear directive” and “prolonging New Yorkers’ exposure to air pollution … especially in disadvantaged communities.”
Read MoreThe crowd gathered on the corner of Mississippi and Perry Street, featuring several local climate organizers fueled by their anger with the Governor's recent decisions on certain climate legislation, and their outlook of the upcoming State budget deadline not prioritizing environmental policies.
PUSH Buffalo Climate Justice Organizer Dr. Majadi Baruti says actions such as an indefinite pause to the Cap-and-Invest program for fossil fuels, which was announced in Hochul’s State of the State address, have fractured trust from some.
Read MoreThrough this program, we can see new funds made available for energy affordability, which is especially important as National Grid seeks massive rate hikes across Upstate New York. Not only that, Cap and Invest has the ability to improve Central New York homes by funding projects to increase energy efficiency measures, like insulation and important home repairs, while also assisting in the transition to clean electric heat pumps to heat and cool homes without the use of polluting and harmful gas.
Read MoreNY HEAT lays the groundwork for a managed, equitable transition so that as more homes inevitably stop using gas, the remaining gas customers aren’t left footing skyrocketing bills. It also helps us transition away from energy sources that are inherently unpredictable, vulnerable to geopolitical conflicts and supply shortages. Electric heating solutions, such as heat pumps, are far more efficient and have proven to be safer than gas furnaces, cutting household energy use and insulating consumers from price spikes.
Read MoreBy refusing to implement NYCI, Governor Hochul is depriving our state of at least $2 billion in additional annual revenue. NYCI would support thousands of new jobs. It would facilitate new efficient electric heat pumps for homes across the state, which would save the average household $1,000 per year in energy bills. It would enable the buildout of EV infrastructure and empower communities to develop and implement a range of local clean energy initiatives. And at a time when the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is facing a severe budget shortfall, NYCI would help make public transit more efficient, accessible, and reliable. All of that would reduce pollution—meaning a cleaner future for all.
Read MoreThe New York Climate Change Superfund Act is a precedent-setting law and it would create a fee on big greenhouse gas emitters, big oil and gas companies who are making tremendous profits. They would be sharing a fee that would create $3 billion a year for three projects from the climate crisis: repair, resilience and community protection programs.
Read More"It’s time to get New York’s polluter pays program up and running and generate upwards of $3 billion to fund the transition toward a clean, green economy that benefits working people across the state,” Executive Director Stephan Edel said in a statement. “There's no more time for delays. We’ll mark our calendars.”
Read More“Our state should be a leader in clean energy creation. Instead, because of government flip-flopping and cowardice, we cannot even stick to a plan of action.”
Read MoreSupporters of the NY Heat Act say it’s a solution to New Yorkers’ rising energy bills. The legislation would curb the expansion of gas infrastructure and stop utility customers from picking up the hefty tab.
Read MoreA coalition of 69 environmental, faith, human rights, and good governance groups from across New York State are demanding that three developers withdraw their applications to site a data center at the Western New York Science and Technology Advanced Manufacturing Park (STAMP). In their letters, the groups cite the threat data centers pose to regional environmental quality, local quality of life, and the sovereignty and well-being of the federally recognized Tonawanda Seneca Nation, whose Reservation Territory abuts the parcel under consideration for a data center.
Read MoreThis day of lobbying Jan. 22 was organized by NY Renews, a coalition of environmental, justice, labor and faith groups and featured volunteers from around New York state. The main topics for discussion? The implementation of the state’s cap-and-invest program and the NY Heat Act.
Read MoreIt looked like 2025 could be a tipping point for climate action in New York. Instead, the governor is backtracking on key parts of her agenda.
Read MoreTwo reports backed by environmental advocates found distributing money raised from a cap-and-trade program would leave households better off.
Read MoreThe state is due to unveil a “cap and invest” program — its biggest effort yet to fund climate initiatives. But fears about hiking prices may limit its scope.
Read MoreAdvocates for the environment and working-class New Yorkers held rallies last Thursday across the state to pressure Gov. Kathy Hochul to include money in next year’s budget that would cap energy prices for residents.
Read MoreBy 2050, climate leaders in New York state are envisioning an era in which all the state’s electricity will come from carbon-free sources, eliminating almost all greenhouse gas emissions.
Read MoreThe November presidential election is pivotal, environmental advocates say: Americans are deciding between Vice President Kamala Harris, who has a track record in climate action, and Donald Trump, who continuously denies that climate change exists.
Read MoreWe are years behind on the pace of reaching the goals of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
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