Good afternoon and thank you for holding this hearing today. I am here on behalf of Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso to call on New York State to adopt a strong greenhouse gas reporting rule and to immediately release draft rules that require polluters to reduce their emissions, thereby fulfilling the promise of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act. Borough President Reynoso reiterates his full support of the implementation of the 2019 CLCPA and emphasizes the urgency that needs to happen today to reach its goals.
In recent years, Brooklyn has experienced an increase in climate-related emergencies. But in many communities, especially low-income communities of color, climate change is felt every day. On a regular basis, Brooklynites experience worse air quality, are more vulnerable to the impacts of heat and flooding, and are more likely to live near polluting facilities such as toxic peaker power plants. With the Federal administration rolling back environmental regulations, protections, and funding, it is more important than ever that our State government increases its commitments and develops guidelines to hold polluters accountable for failing to meet emissions mandates.
The Mandatory Reporting Rule requiring companies to report their greenhouse gas emissions is critical, but it does not go far enough. The State has outlined that a full program requires not only this reporting rule, but also a Cap-and-Invest regulation and an Auction regulation, which are both still pending. Brooklynites – and New Yorkers – should not have to continue to pay for corporate pollution with both our wallets and our lives. Reporting emissions is a necessary first step, but without the corresponding cap and auction mechanisms, we are merely documenting the problem, not solving it.
We need bold leadership and powerful environmental regulation: polluters must be required to reduce their pollution or pay to invest in our communities. The Climate Action Council’s final Scoping Plan recommended an economy-wide Cap-and-Invest program, which Governor Hochul also advanced in her 2023 State of the State Address and Fiscal Year 2024 State Budget. This program would create a long-term, sustainable funding solution that reduces New York State’s greenhouse gas emissions and accelerates a just transition. The program would require one-third of funds be reserved for direct rebates to New Yorkers, offsetting increases in energy prices, which are already burdening Brooklynites disproportionately, as shown on the map below.
The Preproposal Scenario Analyses released by DEC and NYSERDA in January of last year make clear that Cap-and-Invest is essential: it would accelerate emission reductions and provide much-needed revenue, with an estimated $4-8 billion available for investments. However, with the Cap-and-Invest and Auction regulations still unreleased, despite being due over a year ago, the full promise of this program remains unrealized. Furthermore, based on the factsheet for this rule, we are being asked to wait two more years for reporting before DEC will even promulgate the rules. This further delay is unacceptable.
Especially in this time of rolled back climate efforts, New York State must step up to lead the way. Every day regulations are delayed, our communities continue to suffer from polluted air and escalating costs, while missing out on billions of dollars in potential investments. For example, our office has been working with community groups on developing air quality mitigation strategies as part of DEC’s Statewide Community Air Monitoring Initiative. Cap-and-Invest is one of the programs that would generate revenue to fund these strategies. Without releasing these rules, we are delaying much needed revenue for important work such as air quality mitigation to improve both the air and our health.
Thank you again for holding this hearing today. Borough President Reynoso looks forward to working with DEC and advocates to finalize policies that will hold polluters accountable and lead the way in fulfilling the promise of the CLCPA to enact the most aggressive emissions targets in this country.