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HOW CAN WE COMBAT THE CLIMATE CRISIS?

We can work to pass legislation that will put into law effective ways to decrease greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, wean the U.S. off fossil fuels, and increase carbon sequestration. At the same time, it is important to address issues of environmental injustice and to reduce toxins and waste in our environment.
The Huddle is a member of NY Renews, a coalition of over 300 environmental, justice, faith, labor, and community groups, and the force behind the nation’s most progressive climate law. We fight for good jobs and climate justice.
The Huddle also works to pass legislation and change policy about other environmental issues, such as plastic pollution. 

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NY Renews is currently organizing around the Climate, Jobs & Justice Package, a legislative roadmap to rapidly decarbonize New York, make our state healthier and more equitable, ensure a just transition for workers, and help create an accessible green economy for all. It is organized around three key demands that individually and collectively advance the goals of NY’s Climate Act:
1. Fully Fund and Implement New York's Climate Act​

2. Build Renewable Energy for All and Create Good, Green Union Jobs​

3. Make Polluters and the Ultra-Rich Pay What They Owe

2024 Priority Bills:

What passed and what didn't pass​

Little progress was made for the climate in this legislative session. The bills that did not pass must be introduced again in 2025. Negotiations on the NY HEAT Act, which would have capped the cost of energy for lower- and middle-income households, was derailed by discussions about the governor's pause of NYC's congestion pricing that was about to go into effect.​

PASSED
Climate Change Superfund Act S2129A/A3351B

Title: Establishes the climate change adaptation cost recovery program and the climate change adaptation fund
Status: As of 8/4/24, the governor has not signed the bill.

DID NOT PASS
NY Home Energy Affordable Transition Act (NY HEAT) S2016/A4592B

Title: Aligns utility regulation with state climate justice and emission reduction targets; and repeals certain provisions of the public service law relating to gas service and sale
Status: The bill passed in the Senate on 3/19, but never moved out of committee.

DID NOT PASS

Just Energy Transition Act S2935C/A4866C

Title: Enacts the "just energy transition act"; requires a study of competitive options to facilitate the phase-out, replacement and redevelopment of New York state's oldest and most-polluting fossil fueled generation facilities and their sites by the year 2030.

Status: The bill passed in the Senate on 3/27, but never moved out of committee.

PLASTIC POLLUTION

The production of plastic uses fossil fuels, contributing to global warming, and the facilities that produce and incinerate plastic are often in low-income communities and communities of color. Less than 1/3 of all plastic bottles will ever be recycled. Microplastic contamination that is ingested by fish and sea mammals have been found in rivers, lakes, and oceans. For more information go to Beyond Plastics.​

Neither of the important plastic bills passed in 2024.

​Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act S4246A/A5322
Would require companies selling, offering for sale, or distributing packaging materials and products to register with a packaging reduction organization to develop a packaging reduction and recycling plan.
Status: PASSED Senate, but never left committees in the Assembly.

​Bigger Better Bottle Bill S237B/A6353

Would modernize the state's current deposit system by raising the refundable deposit to a dime and expanding the types of deposit containers to include tea, sports drinks, wine, and liquor

Status: Never left committees

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