Cuomo Commits To Cutting Climate Pollution

Statement from Rob Moore, Executive Director, Environmental Advocates NY

ALBANY — “Just weeks after communities were ravaged by Superstorm Sandy – the third massive and deadly storm in just over 12 months – Governor Cuomo showed true leadership by speaking up on the need to fight climate change. In his State of the State address, the governor committed to lowering emissions of climate-altering pollution from power plants.

Governor Cuomo was right when he said ‘we need to act, not simply react.’ Cutting climate pollution below existing levels is the only way to fight climate change.

The governor highlighted the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative as one of the ways his administration will act, pushing for a more aggressive cap on carbon dioxide emissions from power plants. The existing nine-state cap is set at 165 million tons of carbon dioxide, well above actual emissions. Today, the governor committed to lowering the cap to align with the current emission level of 91 million tons. This cap will ratchet down further in the coming years.

Environmental Advocates NY applauds this announcement, which burnishes New York’s position as a national leader on the environment and climate change.”

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