New York State and City pursue various environmental initiatives to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the impacts of climate change. This page covers CBC’s work on the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), New York Cap-and-Invest (NYCI), Local Law 97, State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) reform, and energy transition strategies.
This page was created with AICBC Insights uses AI to group, analyze and present data and recommendations from CBC's publications. Always reference the cited sources to verify important details..
New York State leaders should recalibrate the CLCPA's emission reduction goals to ensure they are attainable.
The State should adopt the emissions accounting used by other states to facilitate participation in broader emissions trading markets.
The State should reset its goals to be ambitious but attainable enough to underpin policies and investments that are affordable and promote economic growth.
The State should clearly identify the full cost and impact of every proposal and program to all residents, businesses, and the State budget.
State leaders should identify and invest in cost-effective, core resiliency needs to protect New Yorkers and the economy from the impacts of climate change.
State leaders should ensure investments in the energy transition focus on cost-effective strategies that balance economic, affordability, and environmental needs.
Key Data
In March 2025, the CBC highlighted that state budget proposals slated $1 billion for loosely defined climate projects even though $2 billion of environmental bond act funds remained unspent.
In October 2024, the CBC reported that the state's proposed Cap-and-Invest program could levy a new charge reaching $12 billion annually by 2030, with total revenues projected to exceed $30 billion over five years.
In November 2023, the CBC noted that New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 85% by 2050, relative to 1990 levels.
In April 2022, the CBC testified that nearly 1 in 4 affected buildings did not comply with 2024 limits under Local Law 97, a figure projected to rise to 3 in 4 when 2030 limits take effect.
In September 2020, the CBC identified that New York State provides more than $800 million in annual tax exemptions that lower the cost of fossil fuels, directly undermining its own emissions reduction goals.
2040 is the year by which New York State has to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 60% to the maximum extent feasible and cost effective, under the newly-amended Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The State also changed how it will measure greenhouse gas emissions to align with…
New York has adopted a more pragmatic approach to its climate policy by recalibrating interim emissions targets and utilizing widely accepted accounting standards. These adjustments aim to balance environmental leadership with economic competitiveness by ensuring that goals remain ambitious yet achievable.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should ensure that emissions targets and accounting methods are ambitious but achievable to maintain affordability and job growth.
New York should recalibrate interim climate targets to ensure a more pragmatic approach to achieving goals.
The state should adopt widely used accounting standards for climate policy to improve cost-effectiveness.
New York's recent budget includes measures to balance greenhouse gas emissions reductions with economic affordability and job growth. The state is encouraged to refine its emissions accounting and goals while developing a market-driven cap-and-invest program to reduce emissions cost-effectively.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should recalibrate emissions goals and change emissions accounting to ensure they are appropriate.
The State should build feasible targets into a market-driven cap-and-invest program to cost-effectively reduce emissions.
Key Data
$1 Billion
— Amount allocated for energy rebates across millions of households, which is criticized as providing little relief.
New York's recent budget agreement prioritizes balancing greenhouse gas emissions reduction with affordability for residents by modifying existing emissions goals. The state is also encouraged to implement a well-designed cap-and-invest program to further these environmental objectives.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should modify the emissions goals to ensure a balance between environmental objectives and affordability for residents.
The state should commit to a well-designed cap-and-invest program to manage greenhouse gas emissions effectively.
21 is the number of days late the State budget was when this episode was recorded. Policy negotiations are proving difficult to resolve, with high-stakes debates continuing over the Governor’s proposals to overhaul auto insurance, reform environmental review for housing construction, and advance the State’s climate agenda. This week, WTDP…
New York State should adjust its emissions reduction targets to ensure they are ambitious yet achievable while balancing decarbonization with economic growth and affordability. Additionally, the state should adopt standard emissions accounting methods and reject unnecessary energy spending, such as the proposed $1 billion increase for the Sustainable Future Program.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Recalibrate the State’s emission reductions targets to be ambitious but achievable, with an eye to balancing decarbonization, affordability, and economic growth.
Change New York’s emissions accounting methodology to the standard used by nearly all other states in the U.S.
Reject new appropriations for the Sustainable Future Program.
Reject the two-year utility rate freeze.
Reject proposed POWER rebates that waste precious resources.
Key Data
$1.0 billion
— Proposed addition to the Sustainable Future Program by both the Senate and Assembly.
$4.2 billion
— Total funding from the Clean Water, Clean Air, and Green Jobs Environmental Bond Act of 2022 that has not yet been half spent.
$1.0 billion
— Amount appropriated in fiscal year 2026 for the Sustainable Future Program that has not been fully spent.
$2.6 billion
— Total amount of rebates proposed by the Assembly to address increasing energy bills.
$500
— Proposed rebate amount for households with income below $150,000.
$300
— Proposed rebate amount for households with income between $150,000 and $300,000.
New York State needs to recalibrate its climate emission reduction goals to be more attainable, as current targets are projected to be missed and could impose significant costs on households and the economy. Adopting more realistic emissions accounting and implementing a well-designed cap-and-invest program would better balance environmental objectives with economic growth and affordability.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York State leaders should recalibrate the CLCPA's emission reduction goals to ensure they are attainable.
The State should adopt the emissions accounting used by other states to facilitate participation in broader emissions trading markets.
The State should reset its goals to be ambitious but attainable enough to underpin policies and investments that are affordable and promote economic growth.
The State should clearly identify the full cost and impact of every proposal and program to all residents, businesses, and the State budget.
The State Environmental Quality Review Act, originally intended to ensure government accountability, has become a significant barrier to development by enabling legal challenges that delay and increase the cost of essential projects. Reforming this process is necessary to allow for the timely construction of housing, renewable energy infrastructure, and climate resiliency projects required to meet the state's mounting needs.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should rebalance public decision-making processes so that New York can address its mounting needs at a pace befitting the scale of its challenges.
Policymakers should reform environmental review to ensure it does not preserve the status quo at the expense of progress.
New York should exempt strategic priorities, such as multifamily housing, childcare, and resiliency projects, from SEQRA to accelerate their development.
Key Data
23 months
— Median time to complete environmental review and pre-certification for projects using streamlined environmental assessments.
33 months
— Median time to complete environmental review and pre-certification for projects undergoing a full Environmental Impact Statement.
43
— Number of SEQRA challenges decided by State courts in 2024.
20
— Number of technical analyses New York City now requires for environmental review.
$2.2 million
— Average home value in Sag Harbor, where a 79-unit affordable housing complex was blocked.
1,800
— Number of new affordable housing units permitted by the 2018 Inwood rezoning.
Reforming the State Environmental Quality Review (SEQR) process by exempting modest residential development and environmental projects would reduce costs and accelerate construction. Implementing deadlines for environmental reviews would further prevent the mounting cost increases and uncertainty that currently hinder critical housing and infrastructure development.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Exempting modest residential development from SEQR would make building housing cheaper and faster without additional costs to the government.
Exempting water facilities, parks, and resiliency retrofits would reduce the cost of projects that improve the environment.
Imposing deadlines on State and local agencies to sign off on environmental reviews would ensure reasonable and predictable timelines and avoid the death spiral of mounting cost increases and uncertainty that too often prevent critical housing from being built.
Key Data
11 percent
— increase in development costs for 500-unit projects due to local environmental review
$82,000 per unit
— cost increase for 500-unit projects due to local environmental review
10 percent
— cost increase for modest, low-rise projects due to environmental review
$35,000 per unit
— cost increase for modest, low-rise projects in cities like Rochester or Buffalo
$40,000 per unit
— cost increase for modest, low-rise projects in the Mid-Hudson region
$45,000 per unit
— cost increase for modest, low-rise projects on Long Island
New York faces escalating infrastructure challenges due to climate change, necessitating a strategic shift toward cost-effective resiliency investments and energy transition strategies. State leaders must prioritize the protection of residents and the economy by balancing environmental goals with economic affordability and fiscal responsibility.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
State leaders should identify and invest in cost-effective, core resiliency needs to protect New Yorkers and the economy from the impacts of climate change.
State leaders should ensure investments in the energy transition focus on cost-effective strategies that balance economic, affordability, and environmental needs.
The Draft New York State Energy Plan lacks the necessary detail, transparency, and realistic economic analysis required to effectively guide the state's energy transition and meet climate goals. It fails to account for recent federal policy changes, underestimates costs to businesses and households, and relies on questionable assumptions regarding technology and energy prices.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Update the analyses to account for recent federal changes.
Provide realistic estimates with transparent assumptions.
Evaluate existing State programs to facilitate comparison and identify the most cost-effective tools.
Identify specific financial and regulatory actions that would drive the energy transition for each scenario.
Quantify the costs and how they would be allocated to State government, other public entities, businesses, and households.
Quantify the impact on energy costs paid by businesses, by sector and geography.
Quantify the impact on energy costs for households at all income levels, and any impacts of the transition on the cost of goods and services.
Broaden the jobs analysis to all sectors and scenarios, and disaggregate by geography.
Propose to modify the States emissions reduction goals to be ambitious, but achievable, to help design programs.
Propose to change New York’s emissions accounting to the conventional accounting method used by all other states and the federal government.
Key Data
30 percent
— The portion of project costs that Production and Investment Tax Credits for clean energy can cover.
9 GW
— The State's offshore wind target by 2035.
5 percent
— The portion of the State's jobs that are in the energy sector.
$146
— The contractual strike price per MWh for current Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credit contracts.
$155
— The contractual strike price per MWh for current Offshore Wind Renewable Energy Credit contracts.
$125
— The assumed cost per MWh in 2025 in the Draft State Energy Plan.
The mayoral platform presents a strategic vision for New York City focused on fiscal discipline, improved service delivery, and infrastructure development. It specifically calls for prioritizing essential climate resilience and a cost-effective energy transition that balances environmental goals with economic affordability.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Invest in essential climate resilience and a cost-effective energy transition that balances affordability, the environment, and the economy.
New York State's proposed budget includes $1 billion for loosely defined climate projects, even though $2 billion from the environmental bond act remains unspent. The state should reject this new spending program and instead focus on utilizing existing capital funding to implement a comprehensive climate policy.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should reject the $1 billion 'Sustainable Future Program' to focus on spending existing capital funding and implementing a comprehensive climate policy.
The State should prioritize spending the $2 billion in existing environmental bond act dollars before allocating new funds to loosely defined climate projects.
Key Data
$1 billion
— Proposed spending on loosely defined climate projects in the fiscal year 2026 budget.
$2 billion
— Unspent funds from the environmental bond act that should be prioritized before new climate spending.
New York's proposed Cap-and-Invest program risks causing significant economic harm and increasing costs for residents and businesses due to its current design and lack of comprehensive impact analysis. The state should recalibrate its 2030 emissions reduction goals to be more feasible and provide a detailed plan for utilizing the program's potential $30 billion in revenue to ensure a balanced transition away from carbon-emitting energy sources.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should conduct and publicly release, before or with the draft rules, a more robust assessment of NYCI’s potential fiscal and economic impacts.
New York should recalibrate the 2030 emissions reduction goal to be ambitious but feasible, so the state can leverage market-driven, cost-effective emissions reductions that are balanced with economic growth.
The State should proceed with rulemaking only when comprehensive assessments are public and based on recalibrated targets.
The State should permit banking of allowances from the start, instead of after the first compliance period.
The State should allow limited use of rigorously verified offsets.
The State should present a detailed plan to use the program’s revenue, which could exceed $30 billion over the next 5 years.
Key Data
$12 billion
— The potential annual cost of the new emissions charge by 2030.
$30 billion
— The potential revenue the program could generate over the next 5 years.
85% is the amount New York State must reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. The State’s Cap-and-Invest program is a key strategy to cap and reduce emissions, auction emission rights, and invest proceeds in energy transition. Doreen Harris, President and CEO of NYS Energy Research and Development Authority, and Basil…
Doreen M. Harris is the president and CEO of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), a public benefit corporation that advances innovative energy solutions to improve New York State’s economy and environment. Basil Seggos is the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner. His…
New York's proposed Cap-and-Invest program aims to meet ambitious climate goals by creating a market for carbon emissions, but its success depends on careful design to balance environmental benefits with economic competitiveness. To ensure cost-effectiveness, the state should prioritize broad sectoral coverage, allow linkage with other trading programs, and maintain compliance flexibility while transparently managing auction revenues.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should allow and pursue linkage with other cap-and-invest programs to enhance cost-effectiveness by providing a larger pool of emissions reduction opportunities.
The State should keep sectoral coverage as broad as possible, limiting exemptions to sectors that are exceedingly difficult or expensive to regulate.
The State should maintain flexibility in compliance through trading, banking, and verifiable offsets to ensure the program behaves as a true market.
The State should allocate revenue on-budget, segregating it for uses that promote cost-effective emissions reduction to ensure transparency and accountability.
The State should regularly monitor, publicly report, and evaluate program data and modify the program based on evidence to improve accountability and inform necessary programmatic modifications.
The State should align the program with other CLCPA-related regulations to minimize overlapping regulatory costs and improve overall policy effectiveness.
The State should finalize clear and comprehensive rules with adequate time for businesses to prepare to provide the predictability necessary for compliance strategies.
Key Data
$112,790 Million
— Cumulative auction revenue for the European Union cap-and-trade system.
$38,934 Million
— Cumulative auction revenue for the California cap-and-trade system.
$6,749 Million
— Cumulative auction revenue for the RGGI cap-and-trade system.
$5,857 Million
— Cumulative auction revenue for the Quebec cap-and-trade system.
$1,460 Million
— Cumulative auction revenue for the Washington cap-and-trade system.
$28
— California auction settlement price of allowances at the end of 2021.
New York City's Local Law 97 aims to reduce building emissions, but requires clearer rules for compliance adjustments and carbon trading to be effective. With 15,000 buildings currently exceeding 2030 limits, significant investment of up to $15 billion is necessary to meet upcoming environmental standards.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Additional rules should more clearly define the eligibility criteria for emissions-limit adjustments based on needs, including adjustments for high-density occupancy buildings and buildings facing financial hardship.
Allow carbon trading within an owner’s portfolio to allow building owners to target emissions-reduction efforts in buildings where the cost is lowest.
Expand allowable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offshore wind and a phased-down portion of Tier 2 RECs.
Rules for the 2030-34 compliance period should be released well in advance of 2030 to ensure sufficient time to plan for and make investments for compliance.
Key Data
15,000
— Number of buildings currently out of compliance with their 2030 emissions limit.
$15 billion
— Estimated cost of building upgrades needed to meet the requirements of the second compliance period.
Congestion pricing aims to reduce traffic and emissions while supporting the Metropolitan Transportation Authority's capital plan, necessitating a clear and simple implementation strategy. To meet the $1 billion annual revenue mandate while achieving these environmental and transit goals, the system should avoid excessive exemptions and credits while utilizing variable pricing structures.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Limit exemptions to transit providers, those specified in the law, and those agreed to in the Final Environmental Assessment.
Do not provide credit for payment of MTA or Port Authority of New York and New Jersey (PANYNJ) tolls.
Vary the congestion charge by time of day and day of the week, and ensure the charge is easy to understand and well communicated.
Consider charging a vehicle-miles travelled (VMT) fee for those that stay inside of the zone.
Monitor and report congestion pricing outcomes and operational metrics to inform future policy adjustments.
Key Data
$1 billion
— Annual revenue mandate required by law for the congestion pricing program.
New York aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050, but the current Climate Action Council Final Scoping Plan lacks the necessary analysis to weigh the costs and benefits of proposed strategies. Policymakers must prioritize evaluating the economic impacts of these proposals to ensure the most cost-effective and least disruptive path toward meeting these ambitious climate targets.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should calculate the cost-effectiveness of each strategy to improve the usefulness of the Final Scoping Plan as a guide for decision making.
Regulators should determine the probability of each strategy’s success to better inform the implementation of climate goals.
Policymakers must identify the incidence of costs and benefits on stakeholder groups and geographies to ensure equitable outcomes.
The State should identify, publicize, and consider the impacts of various strategies on residential and business utility rates, disaggregated by economic circumstance, sector, and geography.
The State should identify, publicize, and consider the impacts of various strategies on state economic competitiveness, especially regarding the additional costs and regulatory burdens of operating a business in New York.
The State should identify, publicize, and consider the impacts of various strategies on the State’s operating and capital budgets.
The State should consider regional approaches when applying carbon pricing policies to ensure they are most effective.
The Legislature and regulators should prioritize strategies that generate the greatest emissions reduction at the lowest cost to New Yorkers.
Key Data
40 percent
— New York's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by this amount by 2030.
85 percent
— New York's goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by this amount by 2050.
New York State must prioritize cost-effective policies to achieve its climate goals following the approval of a $4.2 billion environmental bond act and the Climate Action Council's Final Scoping Plan. The state needs to carefully select and implement these environmental initiatives to ensure meaningful progress while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should identify the most cost-effective and achievable policies and projects from its menu of choices to begin making meaningful progress toward its climate goals.
Key Data
$4.2 billion
— The amount approved by voters for the environmental bond act to help achieve the State's climate goals.
80% is the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions NYC buildings are required to achieve by 2050 under Local Law 97. This is but one of the many climate and environmental initiatives New York City will implement in the years to come. As the science, technology, and needs continue to evolve,…
Commissioner Aggarwala discussed the Adams administration’s plans to increase the city’s resilience, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and strengthen the NYC Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). Rohit T. "Rit" Aggarwala is a widely recognized expert on urban sustainability, technology, and mobility, and, as Chief Climate Officer he oversees the administration’s environmental…
Local Law 97 mandates significant greenhouse gas emissions reductions for large New York City buildings, aiming for a 40 percent decrease by 2030 and 80 percent by 2050. To ensure these goals are met cost-effectively, regulators must provide clearer guidance on compliance paths, emissions adjustments, and flexible options like carbon trading and renewable energy credits.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The City should specify, expand, and continue emission limit adjustments for density and specific uses to alleviate counterproductive disincentives and better capture energy intensity.
Regulators should set an accelerated, public timeline for rulemaking regarding need-based building-level adjustments to allow owners to determine eligibility as-of-right.
The City should expand allowable renewable energy credits (RECs) to include offshore wind and a phased-down portion of Tier 2 RECs to provide buildings with flexibility while the electric grid remains fossil fuel-powered.
The City should allow carbon trading within an owner’s portfolio to enable owners to target the most cost-effective emissions reductions across their assets.
Key Data
40 percent
— The emissions reduction goal for buildings larger than 25,000 square feet by 2030.
80 percent
— The emissions reduction goal for buildings larger than 25,000 square feet by 2050.
25,000 square feet
— The size threshold for buildings subject to Local Law 97 emissions reduction goals.
New York State and City have established ambitious goals to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2030 and 2050 through energy efficiency and renewable energy adoption. Achieving these targets requires detailed, cost-effective implementation strategies that balance environmental objectives with economic competitiveness and the financial realities of building owners.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should calculate and identify the cost-effectiveness of each mitigation strategy to provide the necessary information for prioritization.
Policymakers should identify specific mitigation strategies and incentives, such as tax credits or subsidies, to encourage businesses and households to adopt low-emission technologies.
The state must determine the probabilities associated with different mitigation strategies, as cost-effectiveness alone is insufficient for prioritization.
The state should disaggregate the financial impacts of each strategy on businesses and households to maximize equity and minimize negative economic impacts on jobs.
Policymakers should identify the distribution of benefits and costs across stakeholder groups, industries, and geography to understand how financial impacts affect economic competitiveness.
The city should adjust credits appropriately for lack of renewable energy availability to encourage electrification if the greening of the grid is slower than established goals.
The city should expand allowable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offshore wind and a phased-down portion of Tier 2 RECs to provide buildings with flexibility while the grid remains fossil fuel-powered.
The city should specify, expand, and continue emission limit adjustments for density and specific uses to alleviate counterproductive disincentives.
The city should allow carbon trading within an owner’s portfolio to enable owners to target the most cost-effective emissions reductions across their assets.
The city should adjust limits and penalties appropriately to the post-pandemic economy to account for permanent shifts in work patterns and financial strain.
Key Data
40 percent
— Statewide greenhouse gas reduction goal by 2030 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
85 percent
— Statewide greenhouse gas reduction goal by 2050 under the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
40 percent
— Greenhouse gas emission reduction goal for large buildings in New York City by 2030 under Local Law 97.
80 percent
— Greenhouse gas emission reduction goal for large buildings in New York City by 2050 under Local Law 97.
Congestion pricing in New York City serves as a critical tool to reduce traffic and emissions while generating necessary revenue for the transit system's capital needs. Implementing a variable toll structure with limited exemptions and ongoing performance monitoring will help ensure the program effectively meets its environmental and financial goals.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The MTA should vary tolls based on the time of day and day of the week to prioritize both raising revenue and reducing congestion and emissions.
The MTA should limit exemptions to those specified in the law and perhaps to for-hire vehicles and taxis, and not provide credits for other tolls to avoid increasing the burden on non-exempt drivers.
The MTA should clearly communicate the tolls to enable drivers to know how much they would pay for different trip times and modify their trips accordingly.
The MTA should monitor and report congestion pricing outcomes and operational metrics to inform future policy adjustments.
The MTA should consider charging a VMT fee for trips occurring entirely within the zone to help meet the program's goals in the future.
Key Data
$1 billion
— The annual revenue goal for the Central Business District Tolling Program.
$5 and $14
— The range of cost increases for non-exempt vehicles resulting from increased exemptions and credits for others.
New York State aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 85 percent from 1990 levels by 2050, a goal requiring approximately $300 billion in investment through the building and electricity sectors. To achieve this efficiently, the state must prioritize cost-effective strategies, analyze the economic impact on various stakeholders, and leverage market-based incentives rather than relying solely on high-level conceptual frameworks.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should calculate and identify the cost effectiveness of each mitigation strategy to provide a basis for prioritization.
Policymakers should identify specific mitigation strategies and incentives beyond high-level concepts to encourage business and household adoption of low-emission technologies.
The state must determine the probabilities associated with different mitigation strategies because some technologies are more reliable or certain than others.
Policymakers should specify the incremental costs of achieving the 2050 goal to support public discussion on the economic impact of meeting environmental targets.
The Final Scoping Plan should disaggregate the financial impacts of each strategy on businesses and households to maximize equity and minimize negative economic impacts.
The state should identify benefits and costs to the economy and their distribution to each stakeholder group to understand the impacts on environmental justice communities.
Policymakers should identify and assess the economic impacts of mitigation strategies on various industries' or geographies' productivity and competitiveness to prevent businesses from relocating.
The state should utilize market incentives as much as possible, such as carbon fees or cap-and-trade systems, to encourage low-emission choices without prescriptive regulation.
New York should appropriately leverage out-of-state low emission resources, such as imported hydro power, rather than categorically ruling them out.
The state should retain the low carbon benefits of nuclear energy as a key component of the decarbonization path, especially given the shutdown of the Indian Point power station.
Key Data
85 percent
— The target reduction in statewide greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2050.
$300 billion
— The estimated total costs through 2050 on a discounted present value basis for the climate scenarios.
2050
— The target year for achieving the state's greenhouse gas reduction goals.
1990
— The base year used for measuring the required 85 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
New York City's Local Law 97 aims to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from large buildings by 2030 and 2050, but faces implementation challenges that could hinder cost-effective compliance. To ensure these climate goals are met, the city should refine its regulatory approach, including adjusting credits for renewable energy, expanding compliance options like carbon trading, and tailoring emission limits to account for economic realities.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The City should adjust credits appropriately for lack of renewable energy availability to encourage electrification if the greening of the grid is slower than established by the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
The City should expand allowable Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to offshore wind and a portion of Tier 2 RECs to provide buildings with flexibility while the electric grid remains mostly fossil fuel-powered.
The City should specify, expand, and continue emission limit adjustments for density and specific uses to alleviate counterproductive disincentives to density and certain economically vital uses.
The City should specify and extend need-based building-level adjustments by setting an accelerated, public timeline for rulemaking that includes critical rules governing limit adjustments and penalty mitigation.
The City should allow carbon trading within an owner’s portfolio to allow owners of multiple buildings to target the most cost-effective emissions reductions across their assets.
The City should adjust limits and penalties appropriately to the post-pandemic economy by studying whether emissions limits or alternative compliance paths should be modified due to permanent shifts in work patterns or financial strain.
Key Data
40 percent
— The goal for cutting emissions from large buildings by 2030.
80 percent
— The goal for cutting emissions from large buildings by 2050.
$268 per metric ton
— The maximum annual fine for buildings with emissions above the limit.
20 percent
— The amount the median building will need to reduce emissions by 2024.
33 percent
— The amount the median building will need to reduce emissions by 2030.
24 percent
— The portion of buildings needing to cut emissions by more than half to comply with 2030 standards.
The New York State Executive Budget proposes increasing the Environmental Bond Act from $3 billion to $4 billion, though the spending plans remain ambiguous and lack a clear needs assessment. Additionally, the state is considering Extended Producer Responsibility legislation to shift recycling costs to producers, which requires careful implementation to maximize environmental benefits without imposing excessive costs on businesses and consumers.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The Legislature should re-evaluate its funding allocations for the Environmental Bond Act to ensure they are not ambiguous and are supported by a clear needs assessment.
The Legislature should strengthen the basis for purposes and projects funded by the Environmental Bond Act.
The Legislature should weigh how the provisions of the Extended Producer Responsibility bill interact with local government sanitation programs.
The Legislature should be careful to maximize the benefits of Extended Producer Responsibility for municipalities and the environment while avoiding costly requirements for businesses and consumers.
Key Data
$3 billion
— The amount of the original Environmental Bond Act first passed in 2020.
$4 billion
— The proposed amount of the Environmental Bond Act in the Fiscal Year 2023 Executive Budget.
New York State's economic development deals, including tax breaks and direct subsidies, cost $10 billion as of 2019, yet accountability for these programs remains inadequate. The state should implement reforms to management, transparency, and oversight, while ensuring programs align with broader state goals, such as climate and greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State should consider how economic development programs align with other State goals, such as climate and greenhouse gas reduction targets.
Local Law 97 of 2019 establishes annual greenhouse gas emission limits for buildings exceeding 25,000 square feet in New York City. To ensure these climate goals are met efficiently, policy and compliance rules should prioritize investments in emissions reduction over the payment of penalties.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The City should tailor policy and compliance rules to provide cost-effective compliance paths that promote investments in emissions reduction, rather than simply paying penalties.
Key Data
25,000 square feet
— Threshold for building size subject to Local Law 97 annual greenhouse gas emission limits.
New York City's Local Law 97 mandates significant greenhouse gas emission reductions for large buildings by 2030 and 2050, but successful implementation requires addressing barriers like grid limitations and potential disincentives for density. To ensure cost-effective compliance, the City should provide flexible regulatory pathways, such as adjusting electrification credits and enabling portfolio-based carbon trading, rather than relying on penalties that fail to reduce emissions.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Adjust credits appropriately for lack of renewable energy availability to encourage electrification.
Expand allowable RECs to offshore wind and a phased-down portion of Tier 2 RECs to provide buildings with flexibility.
Specify, expand and continue emission limit adjustments for density and specific uses to alleviate counterproductive disincentives.
Specify and extend need-based building-level adjustments to encourage building owners to begin planning for compliance in good faith.
Allow carbon trading within an owner’s portfolio to target the most cost-effective emissions reductions across their assets.
Adjust limits and penalties appropriately to the post-pandemic economy to maintain citywide emissions targets.
Key Data
68 percent
— of citywide emissions are accounted for by buildings.
24 percent
— of affected buildings were not compliant with 2024 limits.
75 percent
— of affected buildings are projected to be noncompliant with 2030 limits.
$218 million
— in total annual penalties for all covered buildings in 2030.
$20 billion
— estimated total city-wide cost of reaching emissions limits through energy efficiency retrofits.
$268
— maximum annual fine per metric ton for buildings whose GHG emissions are above the established limit.
$150 million is the amount of capital funding NYC has committed toward the creation of a Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island. Joining the podcast to discuss this and other plans for Governors Island is Alicia Glen, Chair of the Trust of Governors Island and the former Deputy Mayor…
The next New York City Comptroller will play a critical role not only in holding the next Administration and agencies accountable, investing and managing five pension funds with $248 billion in assets, and partnering in $13 billion City debt issuance, but also in spotlighting and promoting New York City’s fiscal…
New York State must align its fiscal policies, including tax incentives and spending, with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act to effectively transition away from fossil fuels. By eliminating subsidies for fossil fuel consumption and investing in clean energy infrastructure, the state can achieve its carbon-neutrality goals while potentially saving hundreds of millions of dollars annually.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York could limit its sales tax exemptions on residential energy, which currently apply to fossil fuels, to zero-emission fuels and renewable energy sources.
The state could tailor existing tax incentives to incorporate renewable energy, such as excluding heating systems that rely on fossil fuels from economic investment tax credits.
The state should transition buildings with aging heating systems away from fossil fuels where cost-effective.
New York should convert the 7,000 government fleet vehicles to electric vehicles and build charging infrastructure to accelerate the transition to clean transportation.
The state should align spending decisions and tax policies that work at cross purposes with the CLCPA’s goals to advance all New Yorkers towards a clean energy future.
Key Data
$800 million
— Potential annual savings from adjusting fiscal policies to align with environmental goals.
$200 million
— Amount spent by New York State on utilities, such as heating and cooling, in fiscal year 2019.
7,000
— Number of vehicles in the government fleet that could be converted to electric.
2050
— Target year for achieving economy-wide carbon-neutrality.
New York State's current tax and spending policies often conflict with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) goals by subsidizing fossil fuel consumption. To align with these environmental targets, the state should reform tax expenditures and direct spending programs to incentivize renewable energy and clean technology adoption.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The State could limit the residential energy sales tax exemption only to zero emission fuels and renewable energy sources and target benefits to sources that support CLCPA goals.
The State should lower, or gradually eliminate, the sales tax exemptions on fossil fuel-based residential energy sources.
The State should consider eliminating exemptions for fossil-fuel based energy used for non-residential purposes, such as research and development.
The State should transition facilities away from fossil fuels wherever cost-effective and feasible when replacing aging heating systems.
The State should consider not reimbursing the cost of installing fossil fuel dependent building infrastructure or vehicles in its economic development grants.
State aid should incentivize school districts to purchase zero-emission school buses and build the needed charging infrastructure.
Key Data
$800 million
— Annual tax exemptions provided by New York State that reduce the cost of consuming fossil fuels.
$178 billion
— Total New York State budget through which funding and spending decisions influence progress toward CLCPA goals.
$200 million
— Amount spent by the State on heating, cooling, and providing electricity to public buildings in fiscal year 2019.
7,000
— Number of passenger vehicles in the State's significant vehicle fleet that could be transitioned to clean fuel vehicles.
$1.8 billion
— Annual amount the State provides in economic development grants to companies to subsidize expansion or relocation.
$5 billion
— Portion of the State's budget allocated for school building and transportation aid.
New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandates a net-zero carbon economy by 2050, requiring significant infrastructure investments to support the transition to a renewable electric grid. Achieving these ambitious emissions reduction goals, alongside New York City's building efficiency mandates, necessitates modernizing transmission systems and expanding renewable energy capacity to meet growing electrical demand.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Continue to advance the energy efficiency of buildings to lower electrical demand.
Rapidly deploy significantly more renewable power, while we protect existing carbon-free generation such as hydro power and bring planned renewable resources online.
Modernize, optimize, and build-out the transmission system so that renewable energy quickly reaches the areas of heaviest use.
Upgrade local distribution networks to ensure customers receive reliable power.
Enable widespread use of energy storage combined with a focus on energy efficiency to ensure reliability, control costs, and manage demand.
Key Data
2050
— The target year for New York State to achieve a net-zero carbon economy.
70%
— The required percentage of renewable energy New York State must reach by 2030.
2040
— The target year for the decarbonization of the electric sector in New York State.
40 percent
— The required reduction in emissions from buildings over 25,000 square feet in New York City by 2030.
80 percent
— The required reduction in emissions from buildings over 25,000 square feet in New York City by 2050 from 2005 levels.
New York State's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act sets ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050, but achieving these targets will require significant infrastructure investment and a more cost-effective approach to energy policy. Relying heavily on specific renewable resources like offshore wind could increase annual electricity costs by $2.3 billion, necessitating a more flexible strategy that includes carbon pricing, nuclear energy retention, and broader transportation solutions.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York should establish an economy-wide carbon pricing system to deliver effective price signals to energy consumers.
The state should look beyond New York’s borders for low-cost, low-emission energy supplies and to cut GHG emissions.
New York should retain the use of nuclear energy to continue to obtain the benefits of carbon avoidance.
Policymakers should avoid self-imposed constraints such as limiting gas pipeline capacity.
The state should promote broad transportation solutions that build on existing infrastructure.
New York should establish a prioritization system to pursue renewables that provide the greatest GHG reductions at lowest cost.
Key Data
$2.3 billion
— Annual increase in electricity costs if meeting the renewable target entirely with offshore wind.
94,000 Gwh
— Additional renewable energy needed by 2040 to meet decarbonization goals.
13 percent
— Decrease in total New York GHG emissions between 1990 and 2016.
25 percent
— Increase in GHG emissions in the transportation sector between 1990 and 2016.
185 trillion British thermal units
— Energy efficiency target to be achieved by 2025.
$40.93/Mwh
— Fixed OREC price for the Empire Wind project in 2030.
New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act establishes ambitious goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase renewable energy production, including a target to conserve 185 trillion British thermal units of energy by 2025. While the state has made progress in reducing emissions, achieving these new mandates will require a significant expansion of renewable capacity and a reversal of rising energy consumption trends in the transportation sector.
Key Data
28 percent
— of New York's electricity is currently generated from renewable sources, including hydro, wind, and solar power.
11,000 GWh
— of additional renewable electric production are currently under contract, which is only one-fifth of what is needed to meet the 70 percent renewable goal.
185 trillion British thermal units (TBTUs)
— is the amount of annual end-use energy the CLCPA aims to conserve by 2025.
40 percent
— is how much higher New York's residential and commercial electricity rates are compared to national averages.
$103
— is the average monthly electricity bill for New York residential customers, compared to the national average of $112.
8.4% is the reduction in carbon dioxide emissions in New York between 1990 and 2015. Governor Cuomo now wants to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 40% by 2030. Is this goal realistic? A panel of energy experts met at the CBC State Conference to help answer this question.
2040 is the year by which Governor Andrew Cuomo wants New York to transition to 100 percent clean electricity. Is this target realistic? Are we on pace to meet it? And at what cost? Seth Hulkower--an expert on energy policy and the former COO of the Long Island Power Authority--joined…
New York has committed to achieving carbon neutrality in its electricity sector by 2040 as part of a proposed Green New Deal. To meet this goal, the state should implement a comprehensive carbon tax that extends beyond the electricity-generating sector to cover all industries.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The state should include a carbon tax proposal that applies across all sectors to responsibly address climate change.
75% is the share of jobs gained since the recession in the NYC metropolitan region that were created in New York City, a datapoint revealed in a forthcoming report from the Department of City Planning. Marisa Lago, Director of the Department and Chair of the City Planning Commission, joined CBC…
The Mayor's Management Report tracks progress on various city initiatives, including environmental goals like waste reduction and recycling. While the report monitors these metrics, it does not provide specific policy recommendations regarding climate change or broader environmental strategies.
Key Data
1.2%
— The Department of Sanitation disposed of this much less refuse in the first four months of fiscal year 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
0.8 percentage points
— The diversion rate of recycled materials increased by this amount in the first four months of fiscal year 2016 compared to the same period in 2015.
16.1%
— The diversion rate of recycled materials reached this percentage in the first four months of fiscal year 2016.
New York City's goal to reduce landfilled waste by 90 percent by 2030 and carbon emissions by 80 percent by 2050 requires significant changes to organic waste management, which currently costs taxpayers $1.7 billion annually. Expanding curbside collection citywide would cost between $177 million and $251 million annually, suggesting that targeted approaches like in-sink food waste disposers in specific neighborhoods may be more cost-effective.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
Expand curbside collections only where and when additional collection routes are not required.
Consider encouraging use of in-sink disposers in select neighborhoods with adequate wastewater treatment plant infrastructure and capacity to reduce garbage collection.
Municipal leaders should understand that unless residential trash collection costs are reduced by fundamentally altering collection routes and practices, new program costs will greatly overwhelm any potential savings from landfill reduction.
DEP and DSNY should collaborate to identify neighborhoods where in-sink disposers could be used without burdening existing wastewater treatment infrastructure and where trash collections could be reduced.
As New York City seeks to achieve environmental benefits through wider diversion of organic waste, municipal leaders should be mindful of the already outsized costs for waste collection.
Key Data
$177 million to $251 million
— Annual cost of citywide curbside organics collection.
88,000
— New truck-shifts needed each year for citywide curbside collection.
1.8 million tons
— Amount of organic waste generated and carted away every year in NYC.
176,000 tons
— Available annual capacity for composting facilities within 150 miles.
$4 million
— Annual savings from using in-sink disposers in four districts.
17,000 tons
— Amount of food waste diverted by using in-sink disposers in four districts.
New York City's current organic waste processing capacity is limited, with existing facilities handling only a small fraction of the potential volume. Expanding this infrastructure, including proposed projects like the Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant, is essential to managing the city's food and yard waste effectively.
Key Data
260,751
— Total potential capacity (tons per year) for organic waste processing within New York City.
1,049,385
— Total potential new organic waste processing capacity (tons per year) including regional facilities.
176,341
— Available capacity (tons per year) for total food and yard waste within 150 miles of New York City.
28,365
— Permitted capacity (tons per year) for organic waste processing within New York City.
Implementing variable residential garbage fees would provide an economic incentive to reduce waste, helping New York City meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050. This shift would also create a new revenue stream to support disposal infrastructure and align costs with usage, encouraging residents to minimize waste destined for landfills.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The City should implement a variable fee for residential trash removal to provide an economic incentive to reduce non-recyclable and non-compostable waste.
City officials should craft a plan for phased implementation of garbage fees before moving to wider expansion.
A good way to start is with a voluntary pilot program.
Bag or sticker programs could be used for large apartment buildings.
Rebates could be used to offset the new fees.
The City could allocate a certain number of garbage bags or tags, allowing residents who need less to sell the bags while residents who need more would pay extra.
Key Data
$300 million
— annual cost of landfilled trash managed by New York City's Department of Sanitation
1 million tons
— annual greenhouse gas emissions produced by landfilled trash
13,500
— equivalent number of tanker trucks of gasoline produced by landfilled trash emissions
80 percent
— goal for reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 2050
$7
— monthly cost of disposal for the average New York City household
$1.5 billion
— annual amount New York City taxpayers spend to pick up residential and public trash
New York City's reliance on long-distance landfilling generates significant greenhouse gas emissions, whereas transitioning to local waste-to-energy facilities could reduce annual emissions by 35%. Processing an additional 2 million tons of waste locally would not only lower the city's carbon footprint but also result in $119 million in annual savings and $2 billion over 30 years.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York City should follow the example of many European countries that convert nonrecyclable garbage into energy instead of landfilling.
The city should allow larger new plants and partner with existing local facilities to achieve greater savings.
The city should explore the ability of existing facilities to receive additional garbage, either as currently configured or through expansion.
Key Data
679,000 metric tons
— annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by tractor-trailer trucks transporting city garbage.
133,000 cars
— equivalent of annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by garbage transport.
35%
— reduction in annual greenhouse-gas emissions if local waste-to-energy facilities processed 2 million more tons of city waste.
$119 million
— annual savings for New Yorkers if local waste-to-energy facilities processed 2 million more tons of city waste.
$2 billion
— savings over 30 years if local waste-to-energy facilities processed 2 million more tons of city waste.
14,400 tons
— amount of garbage converted to energy that is equivalent to removing 1,000 cars from the road.
New York City's reliance on exporting waste to distant landfills generates 679,000 metric tons of greenhouse gases annually, an environmental impact equivalent to adding over 133,000 cars to the roads. Shifting to local waste-to-energy facilities could reduce these emissions by 35 percent, or 240,000 metric tons per year, while simultaneously providing significant long-term fiscal savings.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
The City should foster the construction of waste-to-energy plants sited and designed for city needs.
The City should partner with owners of existing facilities within the region to expand their capacity and willingness to process New York City’s waste.
The City should implement a trial pay-as-you-throw system in the short-term, taking lessons learned to a citywide program in the long-term.
The City should stick to its plan and reinvigorate the recycling program by touting the expansion and the simplification of recycling rules.
Municipal leaders should give high priority to managing solid waste in a way that is fiscally and environmentally sound.
Key Data
679,000 metric tons
— Annual greenhouse gas emissions generated by the waste that New York City sends to landfills.
133,000 cars
— The number of cars on the road that would produce the same level of annual greenhouse gas emissions as New York City's landfilled waste.
0.36 metric tons
— Greenhouse gas emissions reduced per ton of garbage converted to energy rather than shipped to landfill.
35 percent
— The reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions if new and expanded waste-to-energy facilities accommodate two million tons of New York City waste.
14,400 tons
— The amount of garbage shifted to local waste-to-energy plants that is the equivalent of removing 1,000 cars from the road.
240,000 metric tons
— The annual reduction in greenhouse gas emissions if new and expanded facilities accommodate two million tons of New York City waste.
The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative, a market-based cap and trade system, has successfully reduced greenhouse gas emissions while generating $912 million in auction proceeds for participating states between 2008 and 2011. This initiative has provided a net regional benefit of $1.6 billion, including significant savings on utility bills and the creation of 16,000 job-years.
Key Data
$912 million
— raised by participating states through the auction of emission allowances from 2008 to June 2011
136,893,163
— allowances sold by New York State
$321.6 million
— auction proceeds for New York State
$322.6 million
— total proceeds for New York State with interest
152,501
— annual MMBtu in net energy savings
15,553
— annual tons of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions avoided
New York City's current waste management practices are inefficient and environmentally costly, relying heavily on long-haul trucking to landfills rather than utilizing more sustainable waste-to-energy technologies. Implementing policies to reduce waste generation, increase recycling rates, and shift toward local resource recovery facilities could significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions and save millions in taxpayer funds.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York City should test the effectiveness of "pay to throw" fees for collection and a tax on plastic bags to signal the fiscal and environmental cost of waste.
The DSNY should aggressively pursue new options to send garbage to expanded or newly constructed waste-to-energy facilities within the city or region to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and long-distance transport.
New York should generate less garbage, recycle more of it, collect it more efficiently, and dispose of it in cheaper and more environmentally friendly ways to meet climate and fiscal goals.
The DSNY management should work cooperatively with the Uniformed Sanitationmen’s Association to reverse the trend of rising collection costs.
Key Data
10 percent
— A 10 percent reduction in the amount of waste generated could save about $205 million annually.
15.4 percent
— New York City currently recycles about 15.4 percent of its residential waste.
300 megawatts
— Ten plants in New York State generate 300 megawatts of electric power annually while lowering state greenhouse gas emissions by 4 million tons.
42 percent
— About 42 percent of city waste is sent to landfills in Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania on large, long-haul trucks.
20 million
— Long-haul trucks transporting waste will log about 20 million miles this year, emitting greenhouse gases.
$575
— The cost for handling recycled material is $575 per ton, compared to $392 per ton for non-recycled materials.
New York City's environmental policies, including those aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and improving air quality, should be evaluated based on their cost-effectiveness and economic competitiveness. The city should prioritize initiatives like smart metering and congestion pricing while reconsidering less effective subsidies for solar panels and green roofs.
Recommendations related to Climate Change Goals
New York City should pursue a renewed campaign to gain State legislative approval for congestion pricing to encourage consumers to shift to cleaner modes of transportation.
The City should explore incentives or regulations that would resolve the conflict between landlords and tenants regarding sub-metering to greatly enhance water conservation.
New York’s leaders should give waste-to-energy technology increased attention as a suitable and cost-effective approach for handling non-recycled waste.
The Mayor and City Council should collaborate to define cost-effectiveness standards for policy options in each dimension of green policy.
New York City should limit municipal government activities to those appropriate to the local level of government.
Key Data
5.9
— Tons of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in New York City.
55 percent
— Share of New York City commuters using mass transit.
14 percent
— Estimated contribution of heating oil to particulate matter in New York City air.
834,000
— Number of wireless water meters already installed in New York City.
56 percent
— Percentage of total waste recycled by New York City.
69 percent
— Percentage of New York City's greenhouse gas emissions accounted for by non-industrial buildings.
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