Peter Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates NY has been appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to the state’s Climate Action Council. The Council is a creation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York’s
For Immediate Release: January 10, 2020
Leading Environmentalist Peter Iwanowicz Appointed to Climate Action Council
Iwanowicz: “Let’s get to work moving New York off of fossil fuels”
Peter Iwanowicz, Executive Director of Environmental Advocates NY, has been appointed by Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie to the state’s Climate Action Council. The Council is a creation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, New York’s new landmark climate law. The law tasks the Council with developing a plan to move New York State off of fossil fuels by 2050.
“To fulfil the mandate of a fossil-fuel free New York in just 30 years, we need to roll up our sleeves and get to work today,” Iwanowicz said. “I am grateful to Speaker Heastie and Environmental Conservation Committee Chairperson Steve Englebright for this appointment and look forward to helping craft an equitable and just climate action plan.”
About the Climate Action Council
The Climate Action Council is made up of 22 members including the heads of 12 state agencies. Governor Cuomo has two additional non-agency appointments. Three members are appointed by the Temporary President of the Senate; three members are appointed by the Speaker of the Assembly; one member each is appointed by the Minority Leader of the Senate; and one member is appointed by the Minority Leader of the Assembly.
The Council is responsible for developing a plan that will move New York’s economy off of fossil fuels by 2050.
About Peter Iwanowicz
With a career shaping policy from both outside and within government, Peter Iwanowicz is one of the nation’s foremost climate advocates. For the past six years, he has served as the executive director of Environmental Advocates NY, leading the non-profit in their mission to shape New York into an environmental leader.
Before this position he served as assistant vice president with the American Lung Association where he directed the Association’s national Healthy Air Campaign – an effort to protect the Clean Air Act.
Between 2007 and the end of 2010, Peter was an appointee in the Spitzer and Paterson administrations: serving as the acting commissioner of the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) and as deputy secretary for the environment. While in state government, Peter also served as the assistant secretary for the environment and was the very first director of the New York State Office of Climate Change. His responsibilities as the head of the Office of Climate Change included overseeing the state’s involvement in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) and acting as the New York State representative to the International Carbon Action Partnership.
Prior to joining state government in 2007, Peter served as vice president for the American Lung Association’s New York chapter where he directed advocacy efforts.
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