A Message from Vanessa
As the Legislature adjourns for the year, I have mixed feelings about where New York stands.
This was a difficult session for climate action. Governor Hochul and legislative leaders chose to weaken New York's landmark climate law in the state budget at a time when communities are already facing worsening floods, extreme heat, and rising energy costs. That decision was a major setback and one that will make it harder for New York to meet its climate goals.
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At the same time, lawmakers delivered several important environmental victories that will protect public health, strengthen environmental safeguards, reduce waste, and expand access to clean energy. Those wins happened because advocates, community leaders, and supporters across New York continued to push for progress – even when the political headwinds were strong.
There’s difficult work ahead. We will continue fighting to advance the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, hold elected officials accountable, and ensure New York lives up to its commitments. But before we turn to the next challenge, it's worth taking a moment to recognize what we accomplished together this year.
Thank you for being part of this movement.
— Vanessa Fajans-Turner, Executive Director
Join EANY’s policy team on Zoom on Wednesday, June 10 at noon for a webinar in which we look back at the legislative session. Register here >>
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The Food Date Labeling Act
PASSED • AWAITING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
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Confusing food labels cause millions of pounds of perfectly good food to be thrown away every year.
The Food Date Labeling Act creates a clearer, standardized system for food date labels, making it easier for consumers to know what labels actually mean and helping reduce unnecessary food waste. Reducing food waste saves families money while cutting methane emissions from landfills, one of the most potent drivers of climate change.
Why it matters: Less waste means lower costs for households and fewer climate-warming emissions.
Our team has a lot of fun with this bill on social media. Check out this egg salad video, this Substack explainer, and this video with the former Editor In Chief at Food and Wine, Dana Cowin. >>>
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The Sunny Act
PASSED • AWAITING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
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Not everyone can install solar panels on their roof. Renters, apartment residents, and people without suitable roofs have often been left out of the clean energy transition.
The SUNNY Act helps change that by expanding access to plug-in solar technology, making it easier for more New Yorkers to participate in and benefit from renewable energy.
Why it matters: Clean energy should be accessible to everyone, not just homeowners.
Learn more here >>
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Protecting PFAS Drinking Water Limits
PASSED • AWAITING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
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When President Trump’s EPA announced their plans to roll back safety rules that keep dangerous “forever chemicals” out of our drinking water, New York lawmakers jumped into action.
If Governor Hochul signs this bill, the stricter safety limits will be permanently established in New York law no matter what EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin does.
Why it matters: If the federal government won’t protect New Yorkers from poisons, we need to protect ourselves.
Learn more here >>
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One-Year Moratorium on Data Centers
PASSED • AWAITING GOVERNOR’S SIGNATURE
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As Big Tech data centers proliferate across the country in both rural and urban areas, New York communities are asking for a pause.
This bill, passed in the last week of the session, establishes a one-year moratorium on new data centers, requires an examination of their environmental impact, and provides preliminary requirements for their use of renewable energy.
Why it matters: Data centers can raise household energy costs, consume enormous amounts of water, leach chemicals into the soil, and cause noise pollution.
Learn more here >>
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Lowering Emissions and Expanding Clean Energy Access
SIGNED INTO LAW
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The Sustainable Future Program is New York’s fund to help more families and communities get access to the benefits of clean energy, so they can reduce their emissions and their energy costs. It pays for home energy upgrades, building decarbonations for public facilities, clean transportation, local grid improvements, and more. This year the SFP was funded with an additional $1 billion.
Learn more here >>
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And Now, the Bad News
THE CLCPA ROLLBACK
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Governor Hochul and legislative leaders significantly rolled back New York's Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). The move represented a significant retreat from the state's climate commitments and sends the wrong signal at a moment when climate impacts are accelerating across New York.
The CLCPA was designed to reduce emissions, protect public health, lower long-term energy costs, and guide New York's transition away from fossil fuels. Delaying that work only increases the costs New Yorkers will face in the future.
This move puts New York toward the back of the pack, but we don't have to stay there. EANY continues the work to help keep New York on track to meet its climate and environmental justice commitments.
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More Session Details
EANY supported the following bills that also passed, and we’re grateful to the legislators and advocates who worked to bring them over the finish line:
- Good Food Purchasing Act
- PFAS Discharge Disclosure Act
- Closing the Tropical Hardwood Loophole
- Healthy Homes Right to Know Act
- Excess Food Act Extender
- Tracking Extreme Heat Deaths
- Sullivan County CPA
We’re sorry to say that these bills we fought hard for this session didn’t make it over the finish line, but we expect to see them back in consideration next session:
- Lead Pipe Replacement Act
- Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (PRRIA)
- Beauty Justice Act
- PFAS Ban in Consumer Products
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Join the Fight for a Cleaner, Healthier Future
Your generous support has been crucial in advancing New York’s environmental priorities. But we need your help to keep up the fight, especially in these times. By donating to Environmental Advocates NY, you’ll bolster our efforts to lead on the issues that matter most to all New Yorkers — clean air, safe water, and a sustainable future. Please give today, and power our work for a healthier state.
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