New York’s ambitious climate goals are on pause again, according to a report by Cam Macdonald of The Empire Center. Governor Kathy Hochul has postponed the rollout of a major emissions program until long after voters head to the polls in 2026.
At the center is a proposed “cap and invest” system designed to cut greenhouse gases. While required by law to be in place by 2024, the Department of Environmental Conservation is now collecting emissions data through 2027, a move that delays enforcement by at least two years. Hochul is hoping for re-election just months before that data is even due.
The delay spares energy users from near-term costs but frustrates climate advocates and businesses alike. Supporters of the Climate Leadership and Protection Act worry the state is drifting further from its legally mandated targets.
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