Contact: Larisa Manescu larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org
STONY BROOK, NY -- This morning, at the Stony Brook Long Island Rail Road (LIRR) Station, New York State Assemblymember Steve Englebright, Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine, and Port Jefferson Village Trustee Bruce Miller joined transportation and climate advocates, including the Sierra Club, to bid farewell to a Sierra Club activist en route to Albany via rail to deliver a petition from over 7,000 New Yorkers to Governor Cuomo on Thursday.
Transportation accounts for 36 percent of New York’s total greenhouse gas emissions, with vehicles accounting for the majority. The petition calls on Governor Cuomo to commit to reducing emissions from on-road passenger vehicles 55% by 2035 in his 2020 State of the State in order for New York to reach the climate goals it laid forth in the historic Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) passed this summer.
Highlighting the successes and challenges of electrifying transportation on Long Island, this event is one of several launch events for a "Get Set, Go Green!" relay happening this week, where people from across New York, including Buffalo, Rochester, the Lower Hudson, New York City, and Plattsburgh, are traveling to Albany on multiple modes of low-carbon transportation.
“When I announced my Green Energy Initiative in 2015, I called for a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from Town operations by the end of 2020. We are well on our way to achieving that goal and I hope the Governor will join me and the Sierra Club to follow through on our call to action and commit to ‘55% by 2035.’ It will be a major step to preserving the environment for future generations,” said Town of Brookhaven Supervisor Ed Romaine.
“Mayor Garant, the Village of Port Jefferson and its residents take seriously our responsibilities to present and future generations in responding to green energy in transportation. We are spending for experiments and practices that take people out of their cars. We are a transportation hub and are actively seeking better and greener transportation alternatives,” said Port Jefferson Village Trustee Bruce Miller.
“Despite releasing the nation’s most ambitious climate legislation this summer, Governor Cuomo still hasn’t set a target for reducing emissions from transportation,” said Jessica Enzmann, Long Island organizer with the Sierra Club. “We’re uplifting the call from thousands of people across the state asking Governor Cuomo to begin 2020 with a bold vision to tackle New York’s most polluting sector.”
“Transportation is the biggest contributor of greenhouse gases in New York. Mothers Out Front calls on our elected officials to electrify transportation now, especially school buses that expose our children to noxious fumes and particulate matter. These contribute to asthma and other respiratory conditions. Children, especially those in environmental justice areas, must be kept safe and healthy going to and from school,” said Mothers Out Front Volunteer Leader Billii Roberti.
“It is imperative we adopt aggressive policies to increase electric vehicle adoption because vehicles sold today will be on the road and emitting greenhouse gases for 15 to 20 years, said Rosemary Mascali, USGBC-LI Sustainable Transportation Committee Co-Chair. “Reaching our goal will also require reducing total vehicle miles traveled through transit oriented development and investments in public and active transportation infrastructure for pedestrians, bikers, and mass transit riders.”
Background:
As reported in The Times Union and POLITICO New York in September, the Sierra Club and partners are advocating for the 55% by 2035 reduction target based off a Sierra Club report that shows this target to be bold, achievable, and necessary for New York to achieve its emissions reductions goals and deliver on its ambition and leadership in tackling the climate crisis.
Increasing electric vehicles and decreasing reliance on cars would provide billions in public health and economic benefits, keep tens of billions of transportation fueling dollars in the New York economy, increase mobility, benefit communities most overburdened by air pollution, and create good manufacturing jobs for workers across the state.
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.