Environmental Advocates NY Responds to Draft Plan to Achieve New York’s Climate Goals 

For Immediate Release: December 21, 2021
Brian Keegan: 518-441-8339

Yesterday, the New York State Climate Action Council voted unanimously to advance a draft scoping plan to achieve the state’s climate goals. Highlights include:  

  • Achieving deep decarbonization is feasible by mid-century. Achieving the emission limits requires action in all sectors. (Page 72) 
  • The cost of inaction exceeds the cost of action by more than $90 billion. 
  • Net benefits range from $90 billion to $120 billion. (Page 79) 
  • Net direct costs are small relative to the size of New York’s economy. Net direct costs are estimated to be 0.6% to 0.7% of Gross State Product (GSP) in 2030, and 1.4% of GSP in 2050. (Page 79) 
  • Decarbonizing New York can result in substantial health benefits from improved air quality, on the order of $50 billion to $120 billion from 2020 through 2050. (Page 84) 
  • Consumer and community decision-making is key, and especially important for the purchase of new passenger vehicles and heating systems for homes and businesses through the next decade. (Page 73) 
  • As the State continues the implementation of the Climate Act, which demands a transition away from traditional energy sources and industries, New York will ensure this is a just transition. A just transition is one that builds connections, creates opportunity, and ensures a good quality of life for New Yorkers from all different walks of life. (Page 41) 

 The following statement in response can be attributed to Conor Bambrick, Director of Climate Policy, Environmental Advocates NY: 

“New York has taken a giant step towards moving our economy off of dirty fossil fuels and seeking climate justice with the release of a draft Climate Action Plan. As the plan makes clear, the damages currently caused by burning fossil fuels cost us billions a year, while the benefits of a just transition would gain us billions. And the faster we move to an all-electric future, the faster we will realize the vast economic and health benefits associated with a fossil free future. We thank the Climate Action Council for their work and look forward to the public comment period making this plan even stronger.” 

Healthy Hummingbird

Background: 

The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), a law that The New York Times called “one of the world’s most ambitious climate plans,” mandates aggressive pollution cuts and commits New York to a transition to a 100% renewable energy economy while ensuring justice and equity for frontline communities and workers. The CLCPA created the state Climate Action Council, a 22-member organization that was tasked with creating a Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan will now be released for public comment. 

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