Climate Change News: State Wide

The Environmental Bond Act, officially known as the Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act, will be on the ballot November 8 (with early voting starting Oct. 29), giving New Yorkers the opportunity to pass the state’s first environmental bond initiative this century.

The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) has a relatively new “stretch” energy code called the NYStretch Energy Code 2020, or NYStretch. Its goal is to promote higher energy efficiency standards during construction of both new and renovated buildings.

New York State passed a strong, pro-environment budget last week. It includes policies we have been advocating for over many years and included as top priorities in this year's State Policy Agenda.

To create the next generation of environmental leaders who will achieve climate goals, three bills are aiming to establish a curriculum for public schools to educate youth about current and future environmental challenges.

Two recent UN reports indicate that the world’s ecosystems and climate are already undergoing dramatic change, and that parties to the Paris Agreement have failed to halt greenhouse gas emission growth.

New York State’s Environmental Protection Fund supports a wide variety of environmental projects through four programs, which focus on solid waste, parks and recreation, open space, and climate change mitigation and adaptation.

New York can require fuel suppliers to reduce their emissions through an innovative program known as a low carbon fuel standard (LCFS).

Single-use plastics must be reduced to address climate change and meet NYC’s goal of Zero Waste by 2030.