Many New Yorkers concerned with climate change are against Gov. Kathy Hochul’s plan to roll back the state’s environmental goals.
She is calling for a seven-year extension of a deadline set by the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act from 2024 to 2030. It also pushes emissions targets back to 2040. It has been a major sticking point in state budget negotiations, making the budget more than a month late.
Katherine Nadeau, deputy executive director of policy and programs for the group Environmental Advocates New York, worries about the long-term effects it would have.
“We’re going to continue to kick the can down the road on climate pollution and on air pollution,” Nadeau contended. “We’re also going to kick the can down the road on using some of the best tools we have at our disposal to bring this type of pollution down while investing in communities across New York State.”
The proposal stems from a late 2025 court ruling, which found Hochul had to either comply with the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act or change it. Nadeau thinks the legislature can put the state back on track by enacting regulations to implement renewable energy programs by 2027. Lawmakers have not presented a counterproposal.
Beyond everyday New Yorkers, elected officials, faith leaders, scientists and activists oppose Hochul’s proposal. Polls show most of the state’s residents support the state continuing an aggressive push to implement more clean energy. It will not be easy, as the federal government is halting or limiting numerous renewable energy projects and climate-smart programs.
Nadeau stressed it means states must be willing to step up.
“Putting in place strong rules and regulations about how we reduce our air pollution and climate pollution and how we invest state resources in solutions that get at both the climate crisis and community needs,” Nadeau urged.
It would includes establishing a cap-and-invest program outlined in the law. A leaked memo from earlier this year argued the program would worsen the state’s energy affordability and the climate law was not beneficial to New Yorkers. The memo failed to include consumer guardrails like rebates for homes affected by higher energy costs and home weatherization investments.
Edwin is a reporter and producer in North Tonawanda, New York. He’s previously reported for the Niagara Gazette and the Ithaca Times. Edwin got an early start in radio interning for WBFO-88.7FM, NPR’s Buffalo affiliate. In 2018, he graduated from SUNY Buffalo State College with a B.A. in Journalism, and in 2022, graduated from Syracuse University with an M.S. in Communications.