Ah, summer. It’s the time of year for being outdoors, barbecues, super fresh produce, and fun in the sun. One of the things I really love about New York this time of year is taking advantage of all the farms, orchards, and sources of natural bounty and beauty across the state.

Climate pollution is a having a major impact on our economy, public health and environment. Poor air quality is making our children sick. Rising temperatures, prolonged heat waves and severe storms are costing our economy billions in lost production and infrastructure and property damage. In directing the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to move forward with the Clean Power Plan, President Obama has demonstrated the leadership needed to finally address one of the root causes of our changing climate.

Anyone who believes New York is safe from the environmental and public health consequences of fracking is mistaken. Right now, frackers working in other states are dumping their toxic waste inside our borders. Incredibly, a bill that would block this practice was recently voted down in the state Senate’s Environmental Conservation Committee. At a recent hearing our Katherine Nadeau told legislators what they should be doing to address the issue.

Thomas DiNapoli, the New York State Comptroller issued a startling report on April 4th that detailed the growth in health costs that the taxpayers bear to treat this widespread and sometimes deadly disease. The Medicaid program costs to treat asthma have jumped 26 percent in the past five years. and the overall annual “asthma bill” is now $1.3 billion.