2024 Priorities Action Agenda
2024 Action Agenda
Environmental Advocates New York (EANY) calls on its State Leaders to take urgent action to combat climate change, protect clean water quality and access, and advance sustainable, accountable, inclusive, and fair economic rights for all New Yorkers.
2024-2025 BUDGET PRIORITIES
Climate
EANY supports including the revenue-positive Climate Jobs and Justice Package in New York’s 2024-2025 Budget to generate $3 Billion in new annual revenue and fund the Climate Action Fund with $1 Billion
The Climate Change Superfund Act would generate $3 Billion in new annual revenue by requiring companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of climate-warming greenhouse gases to share the costs of investing in the necessary infrastructure to adapt to climate change.
The NY HEAT Act to ease financial burdens and advance climate mitigation by building on the Governor’s proposed RAPID Act presented in her 2025 Budget to curtail gas system expansion with a statewide transition plan, removal of market-distorting subsidies, and introduction of an energy bill cap at 6% of household income for working families.
The Just Energy Transition Act to study and advance plans for achieving 100% renewable energy generation in NY. This would involve replacing, redeveloping, and supporting communities affected by the transition, and aligning New York State’s oldest fossil-fueled energy generators and their sites with CLCPA targets and trajectories by 2030.
The Climate Action Fund capitalization with $1 Billion to implement the CLCPA in accordance with its legal provisions and fund community-approved infrastructure for the state’s most vulnerable populations and demonstrate concrete local benefits with a 1 year time frame.
Water
EANY urges inclusion in New York’s 2024-2025 Budget to secure clean water for all.
The Clean Water Infrastructure Act (CWIA): $600M/year to repair aging water systems, with $100M for State lead pipe replacement and 35% of funding to disadvantaged communities, part of a broader $4B State commitment over 5 years.
The Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP): $70M/year to ensure water and sewerage system access for low-income households with financial constraints and past due bills.
The Water Affordability Transparency Act (WATA): to require water utilities to report data about water unaffordability, including New Yorkers impacted by water shut-offs per year.
EANY strongly opposes cuts or budget carve-outs from existing water funds and programs:
- Proposal to cut CWIA funding in half from $500M/year to $250M/year for 2 years.
- Proposal to carve out $25M from the EPF to cover staff costs.
2024-2025 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
Water
Water Affordability Transparency Act
This bill will require water utilities to report data about the scale and extent of water unaffordability across the state, including how many New Yorkers are impacted by water shut-offs.
The PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act
This bill will require permitted industries and other facilities to test for toxic PFAS when they discharge liquid waste into New York’s lakes, rivers, and groundwater.
Private Well Protections
The Legislature should extend drinking water testing and treatment for private well owners to protect the health of rural New Yorkers from toxic PFAS and other contaminants.
Source Water Protections
The Legislature should continue adding new safeguards for streams and wetlands, especially in light of the Supreme Court’s rollback of Clean Water Act protections and continue limiting the use of dangerous pesticides.
Climate
The NY HEAT
This bill would align gas utility regulation and planning with New York’s climate law, focusing on reducing greenhouse gas emissions, improving indoor air quality, and transitioning away from gas systems, while ensuring energy affordability for low-to-moderate income customers.
The Climate Change Superfund Act
This bill requires fossil fuel companies that have contributed significantly to the buildup of pollution driving climate change, to bear a share of the costs of infrastructure investments required to adapt to the impacts of climate change in New York State.
Green Transit Green Jobs
Starting in 2029, this bill would mandate that New York’s public transportation systems must buy zero-emission buses, aligning with the state’s greenhouse gas reduction goals set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, and incorporates labor protections, health considerations, and incentivizes good employment practices and training programs in the procurement process.
Clean Deliveries Act
This act would control air pollution and vehicle fumes from big warehouses, prompted by the rapid growth of e-commerce and its disproportionate impact on low-income communities of colors.
The Ban on CO2 Mining
This bill would prohibit the use of carbon dioxide in oil and gas extraction and end efforts to leverage that approach to undermine NY State’s fracking moratorium.
Transparency 4 Sustainability
EANY works to advance sustainable operations and enterprise across the public and private sectors to turbocharge New York’s transition into the nation’s hub for sustainable, equitable, and labor-friendly growth.
Climate Data Disclosure Package
This package includes bills that would require corporations active in NY State with revenue above a specific threshold to annually measure and publicly disclose their contributions and exposure to climate change emissions and risk in a standardized way.
Climate Corporate Accountability Act: Emissions Disclosure
Establishes the Climate Corporate Accountability Act requiring certain business entities within the state to annually disclose scope one, scope two and scope three emissions.
Climate Corporate Accountability Act: Climate Risk Disclosure
Requires certain corporations to annually prepare a climate-related financial risk report for submission to the secretary of state and to make such a report available to the public.
Extended Producer Responsibility Packaging
Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act
This legislation requires producers to manage the end-of-life of their products for more sustainable production processes. It enacts the “packaging reduction and recycling infrastructure act”, requiring companies selling or distributing packaging materials and products to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.
Bottle Deposit Law Expansion
This law encourages recycling and incentivizes businesses to design and produce recyclable packaging by increasing the deposit amount and range of container types that are deposit-eligible.
Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Bill
This bill would require state contracts to only purchase commodities and products that have no association with the deforestation of tropical rainforests. It aims to ensure that New York State’s procurement practices do not contribute to the global issue of tropical deforestation, thereby reducing carbon emissions and promoting biodiversity.
The Fashion Act
The fashion industry is a significant contributor to environmental pollution. This bill would hold fashion brands accountable for their environmental impact, requiring them to report and reduce waste in their supply chains, as well as manage their chemical, water, and carbon footprints.
2024-2025 REGULATORY PRIORITIES
Cap and Invest Regulations | New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), Department of Environment Conservation (DEC)
EANY endorses the implementation of Cap and Invest regulations by the DEC and NYSERDA to meet NY’s climate law requisites.
- Mandate strict and absolute emissions reductions
- Shield disadvantaged communities from pollution
- Ensure affordability for residents and small businesses
- Ensure that funds generated are allocated to the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA)
Energy Conservation Building Code | New York State Department of State
EANY advocates for the revision of the Building Code to reflect the CLCPA’s high standards.
- Integrate Advanced Building Codes
- Comply with Appliance Efficiency Standards
- Support the All-Electric Buildings Act
Clean Energy Standard | Public Service Commission
EANY champions updates to fortify NY’s Clean Energy Standard.
- Facilitate successful offshore and land-based projects
- Upgrade clean energy transmission to the grid
Exec. Order 22 | New York Office of General Services
EANY is a proponent of swift action by the GreenNY Council to:
- Develop agency-specific, transparent EO22 implementation plans
- Align state procurement with CLCPA goals
DEC Freshwater Wetlands Protection Regulations | Department of Environment Conservation (DEC)
EANY backs comprehensive DEC regulations to expand wetland safeguards.
- Enforce the updated state wetland laws of 2022
PFAS Notification Regulations | Department of Health
EANY supports mandatory PFAS chemical notifications in drinking water.
- Implement Drinking Water Quality Council’s recommendations