June 1, 2020
by Roger Downs, Atlantic Chapter Conservation Director
Sierra Club Applauds Leadership of Governor, Legislature in Passing Strategic Environmental Measures in Budget Amid COVID -19 Crisis
When the legislative session began in January 2020, there was great optimism that the governor, Senate and Assembly could build upon the remarkable environmental policy achievements from the previous year and further advance the goals of achieving a carbon neutral society by 2050, in a way that follows principles of equity and justice.
But this momentum to combat climate change, protect clean water and curb persistent sources of pollution was stalled by the global Covid-19 pandemic. Like most aspects of society, the workings of the legislature came to a standstill, as several lawmakers contracted the virus and congregating in the legislative chambers could no longer be done safely. It would have been understandable if the legislature scrapped its environmental agenda altogether and pursued just the bare necessities of an austerity budget in a time of crisis. But it appeared that Governor Cuomo, Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie understood that this public health crisis will only deepen if we do not live up to our environmental and climate commitments.
With especially difficult negotiating and voting conditions, and deepening deficit projections, Governor Cuomo and the New York State Legislature still came together to pass a budget that addressed the Covid-19 crisis without losing sight of other global threats, like the climate crisis. Some of the notable environmental agreements between the governor and the legislature include:
- A $3 billion “Restore Mother Nature” Bond Act that will go before the voters in November for approval. This once-in-a-generation fund will finance projects that protect critical habitats, restore wetlands, prevent floods and safeguard our drinking water.
- The “Accelerated Renewable Energy Growth and Community Benefit Act” will remove significant renewable energy siting barriers that are currently undermining our ability to meet NY’s nation-leading climate goals. As part of this streamlined new permitting program, communities will have greater environmental and economic opportunities to benefit from hosting wind and solar projects as we see a vast new expansion of renewable energy resources in NY.
- A fully funded $300 million Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) will ensure that NY’s primary funding source for critical programs, such as land acquisition, farmland and open space protection, drinking water infrastructure and waste reduction, will continue to support the health and prosperity of all NY communities.
- The enshrining of NY’s historic fracking ban into law, which will ensure that the state can continue to move forward in protecting our air, water and public health while we build a better renewable energy future.
- A ban on disposable polystyrene food containers and packing peanuts that will end the scourge of this non-recyclable material clogging our waterways and endangering wildlife across NYS.
- Important amendments to implement the groundbreaking Child Safe Products Act, comprehensive toxic chemical reform that will require harmful and toxic chemicals to be disclosed, and the eventual phase-out of the most toxic chemicals in children’s products in NYS.
While these are significant policy accomplishments that outshine what Albany lawmakers typically accomplish, what remains unclear is whether the work of the legislature has concluded until 2021, or whether the Senate and Assembly will return — with some form of remote voting — to continue helping New Yorkers during this crisis. As a grim counterweight to New York’s leadership, the Trump administration has vowed to suspend most environmental regulations during the pandemic, allowing wonton violations to the Clean Water and Air Acts.
In these grim times NY, should be bracing for the potential destruction of wetlands, degradation of our waterways and the blackening of our skies if indeed our federal regulators abandon their posts as the president has decreed. Still left on the legislative table are bills that would strengthen the protection of wetlands and streams, ban the use of pollinator-killing insecticides, incentivize the purchase of electric vehicles, eliminate harmful chemicals in everyday products and strengthen citizen’s rights to uphold neglected environmental laws (to name a few).
It appears that all these crucial issues will have to wait for another time. It’s clear that when New York fully and finally emerges from the Covid-19 crisis it will be a time of great economic upheaval and recovery. Recent history tells us that when there are significant budget deficits, environmental funds and staffing are the first to get raided and cut. We have always maintained that short-changing the environment in times of austerity hurts the economy more than maintaining small but powerful investments in clean drinking water and protection of natural resources.
For the rest of the year, our push with the legislature will be for it to maintain its historic commitment to environmental funding — despite pressure to claw back funds and fill deepening budget holes. But projects financed through the “Restore Mother Nature Bond Act,” the Environmental Protection Fund or even the new renewable energy siting law will not only protect critical environmental resources and jumpstart wind and solar development — they will also provide thousands of New Yorkers with family-supporting jobs when the Covid-19 emergency finally passes.
Until that day comes, the Sierra Club invites you to join us in protecting New York’s environment against those who would use this public health emergency as a means to subvert environmental laws and profit from the degradation of the natural world and our most vulnerable communities. Together we can make a difference.