We fight climate change, conserve land and water, and protect public health in New York State through political action.

The EPA is supposed to be our nation’s environmental watchdog, and their most fundamental responsibility is to ensure that Americans have clean air and clean water. No one wants to go back to the days of smog-filled skies and contaminated water. Yet this administration is seeking to roll back decades of bipartisan environmental protections that ensure those most basic rights, while at the same time gutting their own agency. And while the Trump administration wants to pretend that climate change doesn’t exist, New York knows better.

Replacing just one mile of old gas pipeline costs $6 million — and New Yorkers foot the bill through rising utility rates. The NY HEAT Act offers a better path forward: modern, efficient, and clean energy upgrades for entire neighborhoods — at no cost to residents. This Yonkers community was transformed — see how it can work for all of New York.

This role allows you to be on the frontlines of environmental advocacy, representing the organization in Albany during a critical time for climate and sustainability policy.

While the budget may seem like an accounting exercise that leads to a dense, numbers-heavy document, it is in fact a policy blueprint that shapes nearly every aspect of life in the Empire State—from public transportation and healthcare to environmental protection and clean energy investments. The budget is one of the key opportunities for NYLCV to advance policies that fight climate change, protect public health, and promote sustainability. But how does the process work? Let’s break it down.