January 5, 2005

Environmental Advocates of New York Responds to
Governor’s Annual Message

Statement of Executive Director Robert Moore

New York Gov. George Pataki delivered his eleventh State of the State address at the Capitol today. New environmental initiatives were modest, while a review of past accomplishments made up the majority of the Governor's environmental remarks. Two new Executive Orders will affect operations at state agencies -- one to use non-toxic cleaning products, the other to phase in the use of bio-fuels for heating government buildings and powering state-owned vehicles. In addition to ordering the use of non-toxic cleaning products, the Governor said he would introduce legislation requiring public schools to do the same. We don't know the details, but these are positive reminders of the dangers posed by unnecessary toxic cleaners and air pollution from gasoline use. We are pleased that New York's agencies may be reducing their own negative environmental impacts.

The Governor also announced the successful negotiation of a deal to conserve 104,000 acres of land in the northern Adirondacks, including 17,000 acres that will become part of the Forest Preserve. With the announcement, Pataki is more than nine-tenths of the way to achieving his legacy goal of preserving a million acres of land.

Unfortunately, the Governor ignored two of the New York’s top environmental issues: global warming and state investment in the environment.

Regarding global warming, New York is on the cusp of critical decisions to take action to cap carbon emissions from power plants and adopt California's new carbon dioxide standards for cars. Pataki initiated the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative in 2003, bringing together nine northeastern states to develop a regional carbon cap-and-trade program. In the past, Governor Pataki has supported these initiatives, and they are among the most important environmental policies being debated in the state today. These are also legacy issues, and we were hoping to hear a recommitment from the Governor on these key initiatives today.

New York's environmental investments have dropped dramatically relative to the total state budget – from 1.6% of General Fund spending in 2001 to 1.2% today -- and the Department of Environmental Conservation has 700 fewer scientists, engineers, and other employees working to protect clean air, water, and land than it did a decade ago. Meanwhile, the Clean Water/Clean Air Bond Act is spent, and the needs are mounting. We hope these issues will be addressed by the Governor in his upcoming budget proposal.