PRESS STATEMENT
For immediate release: June 18, 2019
For more information, contact: Adrienne Esposito, 516-390-7150, aesposito@citizenscampaign.org
STATE LEADERS STRIKE AGREEMENT ON HISTORIC CLIMATE BILL
CCE commends the Governor and legislative leaders for bold legislation to make New York a national leader on climate; call for passage before the end of session
Albany, NY—Today the Governor and legislative leaders in the Assembly and Senate came to an agreement on climate legislation, known as the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (A.8429 – Englebright / S.6599 – Kaminsky). The legislation would require 70% of the state’s electricity to be generated by renewable sources by 2030, zero emissions from statewide electrical generation by 2040, an 85% reduction in GHG emissions by 2050, net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy, and funding for frontline communities disproportionately impacted by the climate crisis. In response to the agreement, Adrienne Esposito, Executive Director for Citizens Campaign for the Environment (CCE), said:
“Enactment of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act will make New York State a trailblazer in the fight against climate change. This is exactly the type of leadership that this nation needs right now. From the devastation caused by Superstorm Sandy downstate, to the historic flooding occurring along Lake Ontario upstate, every corner of New York State is already feeling the impacts of climate change.
This legislation will put New York on the forefront in the fight to solve the climate crisis. The bill sets aggressive and achievable goals for realizing the state’s vast renewable energy potential and reaching net zero carbon emissions economy-wide. Furthermore, the bill rightly provides resources to traditionally underserved communities that face disproportionate adverse impacts from climate change. These are the critical steps that we need to take to address the climate crisis.
We commend Governor Cuomo, Senator Kaminsky, and Assemblyman Englebright for leading the way on this bold initiative. We now urge the full legislature to act and pass this critical legislation before the end of session.”
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