Climate Change News: State Wide

Action and legislation to decarbonize buildings in New York State is a top priority for the New York League of Conservation Voters in 2023. Our reason is simple: Buildings are the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions and co-pollutants in New York State.

There’s a good reason the New York League of Conservation Voters recently honored Logical Buildings in Westchester County. They are doing cutting-edge work to help builders, landlords and other stakeholders decarbonize buildings. 

We at the New York League of Conservation Voters Congratulate Governor Hochul for being the first duly elected woman to hold the office of Governor of New York State! Governor Hochul continues to make history as the first woman Governor of New York, but also by her bold support of the environment and is a national leader in the fight against climate change.  

Each passing day is a struggle against the clock in the fight against climate change, with continuous emissions increasing the already-heavy strain on the ozone layer. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), in 2020, transportation made up 27% of the total United States greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, taking the lead over electricity and industry, and contributing to already-dangerous rising temperatures by putting out carbon dioxide emissions from petroleum-based fuel options. The Clean Fuels NY Coalition, led by the New York League of Conservation Voters, was formed to showcase the widespread support for New York State to create a clean fuel standard (also known as a low-carbon fuel standard) and reduce GHG emissions from the transportation sector, which accounts for 35% of overall state emissions.

NYLCV has partnered with the Alliance for Clean Energy and several other environmental and industry stakeholders to push for the Governor to include legislation that allows for the direct sales of electric vehicles in her 30-day budget amendments.

Read more about The New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV) and NYLCV Education Fund (NYLCVEF) 2022 State Policy Agenda.

As soon as Kathy Hochul was sworn in as Governor it became clear that she would be consciously implementing an environmentally-focused policy agenda. New York State (NYS) has some of the most ambitious goals in the country, outlined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), and Governor Hochul has shown that she is working to ensure that those goals are met. Now, at the three-month mark of her tenure, we review some of the exciting advancements in New York State’s fight against climate change.