New York Action Agenda for a Climate in Crisis 2024
Because... Climate Can't Wait

We demand:

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• No new fossil fuel infrastructure and stop subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. No CO2 fracking, and no expansion of the Iroquois or Maple Hill pipelines. 

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• State mandates that ensure we meet or exceed the greenhouse gas emissions targets in New York’s climate law.

  • Adequate funding for the transition to renewables

  • Greenhouse gas reduction benchmarks with penalty provisions

  • A plan and timeline to build out renewables including public renewables and to shut down current fossil fuel facilities

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• Help for low- and moderate-income communities and communities of color to transition homes and businesses to renewable energy, to address the harms to their communities from fossil fuel facilities like health impacts, and to meet basic needs like housing.

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• No false solutions including carbon capture, renewable natural gas or biofuels.

 

Administrative Proposals:

 

Cap Trade and Invest Regulations

The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) are in the process of developing regulations to cap harmful climate-altering greenhouse gas emissions and invest in programs to combat climate change while advancing environmental justice and investing in disadvantaged communities statewide. We call for comprehensive reporting, year by year greenhouse gas reductions, strong enforcement measures and no trading of allowances.
---Lead group: NY Renews

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Budget proposals:

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1. Climate Change Superfund Act (A3351 Dinowitz / S2129 Krueger)​
Require companies that have contributed to the buildup of climate-warming gasses in the atmosphere to pay for the damage they have caused. Will raise $3 billion annually for projects to repair damages from storms and other severe weather, and build resiliency to protect against future climate destruction. More info here.
---Lead group: NYPIRG

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2. The People’s Climate Justice Budget for 2024 
Provide at least $1 billion for the state’s Climate Action Fund in 2024 for critical climate, transportation, housing and energy programs developed by communities, for communities. More info here.
---Lead group: NY Renews

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3. Support for the IONY funding package
A multi-bill package focused on tax fairness and raising revenue through taxes on the wealthiest New Yorkers and large corporations. Revenue would go to the general fund for priorities including housing, climate and education. More info here.
---Lead group: Invest in our New York (IONY)

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4. Stop Climate Polluter Handouts Act  (A7949 Simon / S3389 Krueger) 
Eliminates over $330 million in tax handouts to the fossil fuel industry targeting the highest polluting fuels and their most unreasonable uses, including commercial airline fuel, low-grade “bunker” fuel and the operation of fracked gas infrastructure. Tax breaks that benefit the public such as home heating are not eliminated. More info here.
---Lead group: Stop Climate Polluters Handouts Coalition

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Legislative Proposals (which may be included in the budget):

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​1. NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY Heat) (A4592 Fahy / S2016 Krueger)
Aligns the Public Service Law with New York’s climate law to transition our homes and buildings off dangerous and expensive fossil fuels while lowering utility bills for low and moderate income families and supporting a just transition for gas utility workers to new green jobs. More info here.
---Lead group: Renewable Heat Now (RHN)

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2. Cap and Invest Protections (A8469 Kelles)
Ensures that the Cap Trade and Invest program currently under development meets the goals of New York’s climate law and supports disadvantaged communities by prohibiting allowance trading and enacting strong enforcement mechanisms.
---Lead group: NY Renews

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3. CO2 Fracking Ban (A8866 Kelles / S8357 Webb)

Prohibits well permits for carbon dioxide fracking to extract goas or oil. This bill is in response to a proposal in the Southern Tier to frack using CO2 despite new York's longstanding ban on hydraulic fracturing.

---Lead group: Food and Water Watch

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4. GAP Fund (A9170 Kelles / S8535 Gonzalez) 

Establishes a green affordable pre-electrification program to fund and provide technical assistance for homes and buildings in need of a wide-range of currently unfunded retrofits that are necessary for healthy buildings and achievement of New York’s climate mandates.

---Lead group: Alliance for a Green Economy (AGREE)

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5. Just Energy Transition Act (JETA) (A 4866 Kelles / S2935 Parker)
Requires studies of competitive options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement and redevelopment of New York State’s oldest and most-polluting fossil fueled generation facilities and their sites by the year 2030, and relevant state agencies like the Public Service Commission to develop programs based on the studies.

---Lead group: NYC Environmental Justice Alliance

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6. Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A5322 Glick / S4246 Harckham)
Requires plastic packing to be cut in half in twelve years. Packaging that remains must be reusable, or reach a 70% recycling rate. The bill also prohibits some of the most toxic chemicals from packaging. More info here.
---Lead group: Beyond Plastics 

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7. Renewable Capitol Act (A5633 Fahy / S2689 Breslin)
Requires the Office of General Services (OGS) and the New York Power Authority (NYPA) to ensure that all operations that power, heat or cool State buildings in downtown Albany including the Empire State Plaza and the Capitol transition to renewable systems within three years. More info here.

---Lead group: Sheridan Hollow Alliance for Renewable Energy (SHARE)

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8. Teachers Fossil Fuel Divestment Act (A1101 Kelles / S899 Brisport)​
Requires the New York State Teachers Retirement System (NYSTRS) to divest any stocks, securities, equities, assets or other obligations of corporations or companies included on an exclusion list of any coal, oil or gas producers. More info here.
---Lead group: Divest NY

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9. Tropical Rainforest Economic & Environmental Sustainability Act (TREES) formerly Deforestation-Free Procurement Act (A9711 Zebrowski / S8898 Krueger)Requires that companies contracting with the state do not contribute to tropical primary forest degradation or deforestation directly or through their supply chains. More info here.---Lead group: 350 BK

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We oppose:

 

1. An Act to Weaken Greenhouse Gas Emissions Accounting (A6039 Barrett / S6030 Parker)
Changes the method of the state’s greenhouse gas emission accounting system to allow for increased methane emissions and exempts emissions from biofuel (a false solution) in the greenhouse gas emissions limits under New York’s climate law. More info here.

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2. Dirty Clean Energy Fuel Standard (A964 Woerner / S1292 Parker)
Establishes the so-called “clean fuel standard” to reduce “carbon intensity” from the on-road transportation sector by 20% by 2031. This encourages the continued use of fossil fuels in the transportation sector.

 

Background:

 

If New York State were an independent nation, it would rank as the 10th largest economy in the world with a GDP of $2.053 trillion in 2022. With our large economy and talented workforce, we have the ability and the obligation to lead the way to the necessary transition to a fossil-free future.

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The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), which passed in 2019, mandates a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and 70% of electric generation from renewables by 2030. That’s just six years away. By 2050, the state must reduce its emissions by 85%. The law also contains important provisions to help low-income communities and communities of color transition to a renewable energy economy on just terms. New York needs a plan to meet or exceed the targets of the CLCPA.

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Our 2024 policy agenda is made up of the bills and policy proposals that are the priority of at least three of our supporting organizations. Our agenda may be amended as new proposals arise during the year.

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For more information contact ccw-admin@googlegroups.com