Sierra Club Commends New York’s Historic, Nation Leading Climate Legislation

Albany, NY — Last night, the New York State Senate passed the strongest climate legislation in the nation as part of a three-way agreement with the Assembly and Governor Andrew Cuomo. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act’s road to passage was the culmination of a multi-year effort, deeply rooted in climate justice, and widely supported and led by frontline community groups, environmental justice organizations, labor, environmental organizations including the Sierra Club and everyday New Yorkers who made their voices heard.

Assemblyman Steve Englebright, Senator Todd Kaminsky, and Governor Cuomo showed tremendous leadership by coming together at the end of session to work toward an agreement that millions of their constituents demanded. This bold, historic legislation represents a framework by which New York can lead the nation and the world in addressing the climate crisis while building a clean energy economy that works for all New Yorkers.

The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act:

• Sets the highest standards in the nation by mandating 85 percent greenhouse gas emissions reductions economy-wide by 2050, with incentives to reduce the impact of the last 15 percent;

• Mandates that New York sources 70 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, like wind and solar, by 2030, and achieves a 100 percent carbon-free electric sector by 2040;

• Codifies the Governor’s existing clean energy commitments, including a 3 percent utility energy efficiency target, 9 gigawatts of offshore wind, 3 gigawatts of energy storage and 6 gigawatts of distributed solar;

• Invests 35 percent of state climate funds in frontline communities through efficiency, renewable energy, jobs programs and more;

• Protects disadvantaged communities by requiring an air quality monitoring program and prohibiting carbon offsets for the electric, transportation, and building sectors;

• Creates a framework by which the Department of Environmental Conservation, in consultation with the climate council and others, must craft regulations to implement emissions reduction targets across the economy, including the electric sector, performance standards for buildings, industry and other sectors, and transportation sector emissions reductions programs, including electrification

Roger Downs, Sierra Club Atlantic Chapter Director made the following statement:

“Elections matter. Thanks to the new progressive shift in the Senate, led by Andrea Stewart-Cousins, the nation’s most aggressive climate justice legislation is about to become a reality. This legislation bridges the strength of the Governor’s current energy policies and Assembly speaker Carl Heastie's passion for climate justice and combines the practicality of  ‘knowing what we can accomplish’ with the obligation of ‘knowing what we must do.’

“No single issue threatens New York like the climate crisis, and the legislature and Governor have responded. Beyond the growing frequency and intensity of severe weather events, New Yorkers will be facing the economic and social costs of dying oceans, agricultural blight, rapid changes to ecosystems, and rising sea levels.   

“The Sierra Club has been privileged to work with the over 180 environmental justice, social justice, and labor organizations that have brought this climate legislation to the forefront. The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act will only be as strong as we make it over the next decade. It’s an invitation for all of us to roll up our sleeves and make a fossil fuel-free future a reality.”