New York Can’t Back Down on Its Climate Goals

By Tim Guinee

On July 18, 2019, the New York governor, with former Vice President Al Gore at his side, signed the nation-leading climate law, the CLCPA (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act), into law. The moment was the culmination of years of work from across the ecosystem of environmental organizations in New York, including The Climate Reality Project. It was a moment of hope.

What makes the CLCPA so extraordinary is its New York-sized ambition to confront the climate crisis, aiming to cut climate pollution 40% from 1990 levels by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050.

The impact went far beyond New York, setting a benchmark for what smart and practical climate policy could be and challenging other states to follow. The message here was clear: If New York can do this, so can you.

Now, our state's governor, Kathy Hochul, is seeking to roll back the flagship climate law by extending required deadlines and changing methane accounting standards. “Affordability,” is the phrase used as a constant excuse.

Of course, the volatility of fossil fuel costs has been exacerbated by the war in Iran, demonstrating not only the economic instability of relying on fossil fuels, but the need to transition to a renewable economy, which will create real energy independence and economic stability.

Inaction on climate truly is the costliest path. A report commissioned by Consumer Reports and conducted by IFC, concluded that a typical child born in 2024 will lose at least $500,000 (and possibly as much as $1 million) over the course of their lifetime due to the climate crisis.

Further, some of the programs in the CLCPA, like weatherization, were aimed at making things more affordable. That we can’t afford affordability is a strange argument.

This moment is frankly debilitating.

Plans with long timelines always risk delays and procrastination, demanding our vigilance and steadfast insistence that this crisis must be addressed now – that this rapidly degrading situation is only worsened when politicians don’t do the right thing in favor of political advantage.

Our job is to make it absolutely clear that the days of elected officials ignoring a crisis which is harming children and families (not just in the future but now), are over. We must continue to educate everyone within earshot and make our voices heard.

This week, amid this troubling moment, I was uplifted. A group of Catholic school children marched through a snow squall to the steps of the New York capitol. I was fortunate to stand with them as they plead for the state to have the moral fortitude to act on climate. Theirs was a clarion call to action.

Some days the steadfast path is exhausting. But the very best people continue trudging along it. And so, even in this moment, when I worry the governor may choose the pathway of political expediency, I am buoyed by the company of my fellow steadfast travelers.

Let’s keep marching.

Tim Guinee is the president of Climate Action Now and the New York legislative-action director for The Climate Reality Project New York State Chapter Coalition.