Pollinators Protected in New York!

Image by Hans Benn from Pixabay

Governor Hochul signs bill to ban dangerous and unnecessary uses of neonic pesticides into law!

Scientists have documented a global decline in honeybee populations since 2006. Massive bee die-off events and colony collapse disorder are putting our ecosystem and food production at risk. This rise in bee deaths has been largely linked to the explosive growth in the use of harmful neonicotinoid (A.K.A. “neonics”) pesticides. Not only do neonics threaten bee populations, but they are also very pervasive in soil and drinking water sources. To protect our pollinators, food production, and environment, New York has restricted the use of toxic neonics. 

New York Bans Dangerous and Unnecessary Uses of Neonics
Corn, soy, and wheat treated seeds account for an estimated 73% of all neonics used in New York, while lawn, garden, ornamental, and turf (aka cosmetic) uses make up an additional 15%. A 2020 report by Cornell University found that neonic treated corn, soy, and wheat seeds provide "no overall net income benefits" to farmers yet pose significant risk to bees and other pollinators. Likewise, cosmetic uses pose some of the highest risk to pollinators but are easily replaced with safer alternatives.

The Birds and Bees Protection Act (S.1856A/A.7640) bans the most dangerous and unnecessary uses of neonics in NY. This will eliminate at least 85% - 90% of all neonics used in New York, helping to protect water quality and ensure we are not poisoning birds, bees, and other pollinators. The European Union and parts of Canada have already banned many uses of neonics, and now New York has acted with nation-leading legislation. In June, the NYS Legislature passed the Birds and Bees Protection Act, and Governor Hochul signed the bill into law on December 22, 2023. The ban on neonic treated corn, soybean, and wheat seeds takes effect on January 1, 2029 and the ban on ornamental uses takes effect on July 1, 2027.

Background

What are Neonicotinoids?
Neonicotinoids (A.K.A. “neonics”) are pesticides that attack the nervous system of insects. These pesticides are typically added to seeds of plants, such as corn, wheat, and soybeans. These chemicals persist and spread as the plant grows, making the entire plant toxic to bees and other pollinators. Neonics are also used for cosmetic purposes, including lawn and ornamental uses. Despite the adverse impacts of neonics, they remain as the world’s most widely used insecticide.

Why Pollinators Matter
Pollinators, such as honeybees, beetles, butterflies, moths, and hummingbirds, are indispensable components of our food web. Globally, animal and insect pollinators contribute to up to 35% of all food production, with 87 of the leading 115 crops dependent on these key pollinators. In New York, pollinators provide an estimated $440 million in pollination services annually and are essential to key state crops like apples, blueberries, cherries, squash and tomatoes. Without honeybees and other pollinators, we will experience smaller harvests and higher food prices for staple crops.

Pollinators Under Threat
Unfortunately, our pollinators are under threat from harmful neonics. Neonics have made U.S. agriculture 48-times more harmful to insects since they were introduced. The coating on just one neonic-coated seed has enough neonic active ingredient to kill a songbird or a quarter million bees.

Since 2006, beekeepers have been reporting abandoned beehives that are full of honey. This phenomenon of bees disappearing, known as colony collapse disorder, is linked directly to neonic use. For years, New York beekeepers have been reporting massive die-offs, with losses of over 45%.

Pesticides and Drinking Water
Pesticide contamination of New York’s waters is widespread, threatening our health and environment. A U.S. Fish and Wildlife study from 2018 found neonics in New York streams “in excess of toxicity and regulatory thresholds.” In 2016, extensive testing of New York surface waters by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) found the neonic imidacloprid in nearly 40% of samples. That same year, USGS monitoring found imidacloprid to be one of the most frequently detected pesticides in the Long Island aquifer.

Thanks for taking action. Together we make a difference!

Sincerely,
Your friends at CCE

Happy Holidays from CCE!

Looking back at a successful 2023—we couldn’t have done it without your support!

Happy holidays from everyone at CCE! 2023 has been another successful year as we fought to protect clean water, battle climate change, ban dangerous pesticides, and so much more. Here are some of our top accomplishments from the past year:

• Offshore wind becomes a reality in New York: After many years of persistent advocacy from CCE, the first offshore wind turbines at the South Fork Wind Farm have been constructed—bringing clean, renewable energy to Long Island.

• Funding the restoration of Long Island Sound and the Great Lakes: Despite threats of cuts from Congress, we were able to maintain funding for the Long Island Sound Restoration Act and Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.

• Got lead pipes? Now you’ll know: There is no safe level of lead in drinking water. A new NYS law creates an inventory of all the lead pipes across the state and gives residents the right to know if they are drinking water that may be contaminated with lead. 

• Fixing our sewage and drinking water infrastructure: We helped to secure $500 million in NYS to prevent sewage spills into waterways and to remove dangerous emerging contaminants from drinking water.

• New York becoming a national leader in giving the public the right-to-know about PFAS “forever chemicals” in drinking water: After years of advocacy, NYS will soon require the testing of 23 additional PFAS chemicals in drinking water, while requiring prompt public notification when it is discovered. Additionally, we are continuing to support proposed national standards to limit PFAS in drinking water to the maximum extent possible.

• Matching an all-time high for the NYS Environmental Protection Fund: Once again, we successfully advocated for a $400 million NYS EPF, which will help restore the Great Lakes and Long Island Sound, build community parks and save family farms across the state, advance environmental justice in disadvantaged communities, and so much more.

While we celebrate all the success we’ve achieved with your support, we recognize there is so much more work to do in the year ahead. We still await a decision from Governor Hochul on whether she will sign legislation to save bees by banning dangerous uses of toxic neonic pesticides. We need to move forward aggressively with more offshore wind to fight climate change. We also need to make corporations reduce their plastic packaging waste that is polluting our Great Lakes and Atlantic Ocean. We won’t be able to do this without your support, so please make an end of year donation today! Happy holidays and thank you for everything you do!

Happy Holidays,
All of us at CCE