climate change

Recognized as the greatest environmental challenge of our generation, global climate change poses countless threats to New York State, including:

• Increased risk to infrastructure and coastal property;

• Increased heat-related illness and death;

• Increased ground-level ozone and asthma;

• More intense storms and flooding; and

• Economic impacts as a result of the above, estimated to reach $10 billion dollars a year by mid-century.

Click here  for more information on the impacts from global climate change.

New York is a leader in implementing policies to reduce global warming pollution. Environmental Advocates of New York has worked with leaders on both sides of the aisle to implement policies that reduce climate pollution and adapt to our already changing climate. Our work with former Governor Pataki lead to his proposal to other Northeastern states to undergo a regional effort to reduce climate pollution from power plants, which eventually became the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. In addition, thanks in parts to our efforts, former Governor Paterson implemented a state goal to reduce climate pollution by 80% by the year 2050 and develop a climate action plan.

But in order to avert the worst effects of climate change, the state must do more. Environmental Advocates promotes policies that reduce the state’s share of climate pollution to meet this goal.

Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative

In 2003, New York State spearheaded the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative—the first market-based effort to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. Nicknamed “RGGI,” the effort began operation in 2008.

RGGI is a cap-and-trade system for carbon dioxide emissions from power plants in 10 Northeastern states, including New York. Thanks to RGGI, climate pollution has decreased by 34% since 2005 in the participating states. As an added benefit, RGGI auctions have helped New York State raise more than $344 million to invest clean energy projects.

Click here to learn how RGGI money is being invested in New York.

Environmental Advocates has been involved in the design and implementation of RGGI since its inception, and we continue to work diligently to ensure it’s reducing climate pollution. Currently, we:

• Serve on the advisory group for spending proceeds from the RGGI allowance auction, most recently having submitted comments in response to a proposed change to state’s investment plan;

• Promote policies that invest RGGI funds in clean, renewable technologies; and

• Promote improvements to RGGI during its 2012 comprehensive review that realign the program with its environmental goals and increase its efficiency.

State Climate Action Plan

In 2009, then-Governor Paterson set a goal for New York State to reduce its climate-altering pollution 80% by the year 2050 and created a council to develop an economy-wide plan to meet this goal. Environmental Advocates was invited to provide mitigative advice on transportation and land use issues and actively participated throughout the process to develop the plan. Click here for the plan's interim report.

Transportation

Environmental Advocates promotes policies that advance the development of smarter, less auto-dependent communities, including:

• Increasing support for public transit;

• Stopping the diversion of dedicated transit dollars, thereby avoiding fare increases and cuts to dozens of bus routes and subway lines; and

• Serving on the Climate Action Council's Transportation & Land Use Technical Working Group.

State Energy Plan

Environmental Advocates actively participates in New York’s energy planning. Currently, the state is developing a new energy plan. A draft plan is scheduled to be released on September 30, 2012.
 
We continue to advocate for the state to move away from polluting fossil fuels to cleaner, renewable sources of energy for electricity, heating, industry, and transportation. In addition, we are advocating for a target to cut statewide greenhouse gas emissionbs by 80% by mid-centry and develop a climate adaptation plan to protect the state’s infrastructure and natural resources. The goal should contain an aggressive interim greenhouse gas reduction target calling for steep reductions by the year 2020.

The plan should also include a greater emphasis on meeting energy needs through energy efficiency and renewable development.

Click here for more information about the New York State Energy Plan.