The sweeping emissions reduction and renewable energy measure New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo signed into law Thursday is the most ambitious legal mandate for cutting greenhouse gases in the nation
And while Gov. Andrew Cuomo has long touted his green credentials, the 2018 election put Albany under full Democratic control for only the second time since the 1930s. The power shift has pulled the Empire state to the left on a range of policy areas — including climate change.
Still, the battle to codify many of Cuomo’s climate goals into law — and the economic impact of transitioning the state’s economy away from fossil fuels — has in many ways mirrored the national debate over the Green New Deal, with more moderate politicians raising concerns about feasibility and costs while newly-elected progressives backed swift action on climate.
“What NY Renews did is validate that you can have this broad-based coalition of groups win incredibly tangible wins through legislative and policy means,” said Ryan Madden of the Long Island Progressive Coalition. “The federal Green New Deal has a lot to learn and take from a lot of statewide organization and broad-based coalitions. I think we’ve only added to the crescendo.”
Cuomo, initially reluctant to embrace a hard deadline for emissions reductions and leery of requirements for money to flow to environmental justice communities, ultimately backed legislative action after securing significant changes that left some unhappy. For activists, that highlights the importance of electing more progressive newcomers who prioritize climate change as a top issue.
Wiener said New York’s measure outstrips California’s plan. Former Gov. Jerry Brown issued an executive order targeting carbon neutrality by 2045, but that does not have the force of law. The state did enshrine a “zero-carbon” 2045 goal for the electric sector into law last year.
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