Albany, NY – Today, Environmental Advocates NY acknowledged the achievements of the 2024 legislative session, recognizing the passage of many impactful bills while emphasizing that critical work remains unfinished. Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates NY, highlights the necessity for Governor Hochul to take decisive action on essential legislation.

“The Legislature has made some commendable progress by passing several important environmental bills, but much more remains to be done. The NY HEAT Act deserves passage, and the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act must also advance through the Assembly,” said Fajans-Turner. “We are grateful for the leadership that brought legislation like the Climate Superfund and TREEs Act to fruition and urge the Governor to uphold her commitment to the environment by signing these bills into law.”

Critical Legislation that Passed Both Houses:

1. Climate Change Superfund Act (A.3351B/S.2129-B)
   • Holds the largest polluters accountable for their contributions to climate change by requiring them to fund necessary infrastructure adaptations in New York State.
2. TREEs Act (A.3351-B/S.2129-B)
   • Ensures state purchases support the health of tropical forests and respect the rights of local communities, preventing deforestation without costing average New Yorkers.
3. Protecting Wetlands from Pesticides (A.9712/S.9379)
   • Allows local governments to prohibit pesticide use on wetlands, safeguarding water quality.
4. EV Capable Parking Spaces (A.3780-E/S.1736-E)
   • Mandates the incorporation of electric vehicle charging infrastructure in new construction and renovation projects with off-street parking.
5. Fracking 2.0 Ban (A.8866/S.8357)
   • Extends the ban on high-volume hydraulic fracturing to include carbon dioxide use in oil and gas extraction, addressing significant environmental and health risks.
6. Expanding Food Donation and Recycling (A.5906-A/S.5331-A)
   • Expands the Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Program to reduce methane emissions and alleviate food insecurity.
7. Cover Your Crude Act (A.9213-A/S.8703-A)
   • Requires companies handling crude oil to demonstrate financial security for cleanup costs, ensuring accountability and environmental protection.

Governor Hochul’s Leadership:

“We applaud the Legislature’s work in passing these crucial environmental bills and now urge our fellow New Yorkers to hold Governor Hochul, the new U.S. Climate Alliance Co-Chair, accountable for upholding the powerful commitments she’s made to climate leadership before both New Yorkers and global leaders like His Holiness Pope Francis. After taking problematic positions on key climate legislation and reversing Congestion Pricing’s launch, we invite her active engagement and support in signing these bills into law,” added Fajans-Turner.