About CCE
Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE) was formed in 1985 by a small group of concerned citizens who recognized the need to provide public involvement to advance stronger environmental policy. Today, CCE has grown to a 120,000-member organization with offices in Farmingdale, NY, Albany, NY, Syracuse, NY, and Buffalo, NY. CCE continues to work to empower the public by providing members with opportunities to participate in the political process and thereby advance a strong environmental agenda.
CCE engages in extensive education, research, lobbying and public outreach. One of our primary goals is to help citizens increase their influence and participation in important environmental campaigns. Through such activism, the public has a stronger voice in the development of public policies and legislative agendas.
CCE's experienced program staff works to identify key environmental concerns in communities across New York State and Connecticut. By working with other organizations in diverse coalitions and through ongoing communication with local, state and federal elected officials and environmental and public health agencies, CCE has been successful in advancing programs that benefit the natural environment and public health. Our achievements through public involvement have resulted in greater awareness and protection of drinking water quality, preservation of open spaces, protection of beaches, bays, rivers and Great Lakes waters, advancing renewable energy and a reduction in pollutants that impair our air and water resources.
Victories
Citizens Campaign for the Environment: Celebrating Major Grassroots Accomplishments Since 1985
1985
Suffolk County passes Article VII to protect Long Island drinking water.
1986
A $60 million Open Space Fund protects 46,000 acres of Suffolk County land from development
1988
Long Island’s first household hazardous waste facility is established in the Town of Southold.
1989
EPA requires drinking water suppliers to inform residents about their water quality.
1991
Long Island Sound Study is formed to restore and protect the Long Island Sound.
1993
The Environmental Protection Fund is established to preserve open space, protect drinking water, and promote recycling in New York.
1996
Commercial logging is banned in Allegany State Park.
1997
NY “Fisherman’s Right to Know” Law requires posted notifications at the point of polluted discharge in all waterways.
1999
As chair of the Peconic River Task Force, CCE pushes Suffolk County to test for dangerous radioactive chemicals in the river.
2000
NY passes Acid Rain Control Act to reduce acid rain.
MTBE, a carcinogen gasoline additive, is banned in New York.
Town of Hempstead establishes $15 million bond issue for environmental projects.
2001
Long Island South Shore Estuary Reserve Comprehensive Management Plan is created.
Suffolk County implements voluntary No Spray List for pesticides.
2002
A federal proposal to allow the dumping of untreated sewage into waterways is halted.
2004
NY adopts Renewable Energy Portfolio, requiring 25% of electricity to come from renewable resources by 2013.
2005
CT becomes the first state in the country to require that elementary schools (K-6) stop using chemical pesticides on playing fields.
2006
Nassau County authorizes $100 million Bond Act to preserve open space, protect drinking water, and promote recycling.
2007
CCE opens its first year-round campaign office in Connecticut.
CT school pesticide ban is extended to include middle schools.
Congress approves Great Lakes Restoration Initiative, providing much-needed funding for Great Lakes protection.
2008
The Federal Great Lakes St. Lawrence River Basin Water Resources Compact is formed to protect Great Lakes water supply.
NY prohibits Shell Oil from building Broadwater, a Liquefied Natural Gas facility, in the Long Island Sound.
Westport, CT becomes the first east coast municipality to ban disposable bags.
2009
Both NY and CT expand their bottle bill recycling programs.
CT school pesticide ban extended to include daycare centers.
EPA starts regulating greenhouse gas emissions under Clean Air Act.
2010
NY bans aesthetic pesticides on all K-12 playing fields.
NY implements an electronic waste recycling program.
President Obama creates the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative to protect and restore the lakes.
2011
Village of Southampton, Village of East Hampton, and City of Rye become the first NY municipalities to ban disposable bags.
NY passes a moratorium on hydro-fracking.
Two bills preventing Connecticut’s Department of Environmental Conservation from properly protecting waterways are defeated.
Great Lakes Water Withdrawal legislation in NYS prevents excessive water withdrawals from the US’s largest fresh water supply.
2012
NY and CT pass “Sewage Right to Know” legislation requiring states to notify residents of dangerous sewage overflows as they occur.
2013
CT requires GMO labeling on consumer products.
NY ends the shark-fin trade.
Long Island stops using toxic pesticide Atrazine, and Connecticut bans pesticides that contribute to lobster die off in coastal areas.
2014
NY bans hydrofracking. CT puts a moratorium on fracking waste.
Plan 2014 is released to restore natural water flow in Lake Ontario and the St. Lawrence River.
DEA allows pharmacies to take back controlled substances for safe disposal.
2015
U.S. bans plastic microbeads in personal care products.
CCE partners with King Kullen, Suez, and Suffolk County Water Authority to launch first-of-its-kind pharmaceutical take-back program for residents.
2016
CT passes legislation restricting the use of neonicotinoid pesticides
NYS opposes EPA dredge dumping plan in eastern Long Island Sound
Great Lakes Restoration Initiative authorized at $1.5 billion over 5 years
Suffolk County, NYC, Long Beach pass Bring Your Own Bag laws to prevent plastic pollution.
2017
NY’s first offshore wind farm approved by LIPA.
Stop Trump Administration’s proposed funding cuts to EPA, Long Island Sound, Great Lakes, and more.
NY allocates $2.5 billion for drinking and waste water infrastructure.
CT bans coal tar sealant on state and local highways.
2018
CT bans automatic pesticide misters, updates sewage right to know act, and sets aggressive greenhouse gas reductions goals.
NYS passes Drug Take Back Act, requiring a manufacturer-funded, statewide pharmaceutical disposal program
NY recommends toughest-in-the-nation standards for emerging contaminants PFOA, PFOS, & 1,4-dioxane.
2019
NY becomes first state in nation to ban hidden carcinogen 1,4-dioxane in everyday products.
NY and CT pass legislation to ban carryout plastic bags.
NY passes the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, which is the most comprehensive climate change legislation in the US.
CT approves a comprehensive state water plan ensuring that water is public trust.
CT bans hazardous hydrofracking waste statewide.
2020
NY Bans TCE, an industrial solvent and known carcinogen, in manufacturing.
NY passes law preventing illegal dumping and sandmining, which holds polluters accountable for their crimes.
NY bans “forever chemicals” PFAS in food packaging.
NY adopts some of the nation’s strongest drinking water standards for the emerging contaminants PFOA, PFOS, & 1,4-dioxane.
2021
NY bans coal tar sealant, a known human carcinogen that contaminates local waterways.
U.S. passes $1.2 trillion “Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act,” including $1 billion for Great Lakes and $100+ million for Long Island Sound.
The Bay Park Sewage Treatment Plant Conveyance project, which diverts Nassau County’s sewage out of the Western Bays on Long Island, breaks ground.
CT bans toxic PFAS in food packaging & firefighting foam.
CT passes legislation modernizing the Bottle Bill, including increasing the deposit from 5 cents to 10 cents and expanding the types of beverages covered by the deposit law.
2022
NY voters overwhelmingly approve the $4.2 billion Clean Water, Clean Air and Green Jobs Bond Act.
U.S. Inflation Reduction Act is signed into law, which is the most significant investment that our nation has taken to fight climate change.
Federal regulators say no to the Killingly Gas Plant in Connecticut, which clears the way for renewable energy projects.
NY passes law making polluters—not taxpayers—pay for cleaning up water contamination.
NY strengthens its freshwater wetlands program—protecting an additional one million acres of critical wetlands across the state.
2023
NY passes Birds and Bees Protection Act into law—banning the most harmful and unnecessary uses of toxic neonic pesticides.
South Fork Wind, NY’s first offshore wind farm, begins generating power.
Long Island Sound restoration receives record federal funding of $40 million.
NY provides $500 million for clean water projects in 2023, marking a total, nation-leading investment of $5 billion since 2017.