What's happening
This bill sets mandatory statewide caps and reporting requirements to reduce New York's global warming emissions by 80% by 2057.
Why it matters
Creates binding, enforceable deadlines for emission reductions. , requiring the state to hit specific targets (15% by 2020, 20% by 2022, 25% by 2027, and 80% by 2057) compared to 1990 levels, which would compel both government and industry to plan and invest in cleaner technologies and practices.
Establishes a statewide mandatory emissions reporting system. , significantly improving transparency and accountability by requiring businesses to track and disclose their climate pollution—this data could be used for enforcement, public awareness, and future policy development.
Mandates that businesses develop and implement adaptive compliance plans. , meaning companies operating in New York would need to proactively align their operations with the new emission caps, potentially affecting costs, competitiveness, and the broader market for clean technologies.
Preserves the ability for stricter local or future regulations. , ensuring that these caps are a floor, not a ceiling, for climate action—so cities, regions, or future lawmakers could adopt even tougher standards without being constrained by this law.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Plain English, a few words. Used as the page title.
Sponsors
History
- Referred to environmental conservation
- Referred to environmental conservation
Full text
2 pagesUnderlined is new[Struck] is removedOfficial text on nysenate.gov ↗
STATE OF NEW YORK
4497
2017-2018 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
February 2, 2017
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, GALEF, JAFFEE, LUPARDO, LAVINE, WRIGHT, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LIFTON, McDONOUGH, PERRY, ROSENTHAL, TITUS -- read once and referred to the Committee on Environmental Conservation
AN ACT to amend the environmental conservation law, in relation to reducing global warming emissions levels
The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows:
Section 1. Legislative findings. The legislature hereby finds and declares it necessary to join the worldwide fight against global warming and its detrimental impact on the public health, environment, and the economy of New York state. The legislature finds that global warming threatens New York state's environment and economic security through projected changes in temperature, precipitation and sea level. These changes harm natural ecosystems, threaten industries including agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism, and harm the health of New Yorkers. The legislature finds it necessary to implement a statewide cap on emissions levels and in effectively doing so, to implement a mandatory reporting system to track and monitor global warming emissions levels.
§ 2. The environmental conservation law is amended by adding a new section 19-0316 to read as follows: § 19-0316. Reductions in global warming emissions.
1. No later than January first, two thousand eighteen, the commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations implementing a statewide reduction in global warming emissions in accordance with the provisions of this section. Such rules and regulations shall set permanent caps on levels of total global warming emissions, which for all sources subject to this section shall be as follows:
(a) as of January first, two thousand twenty, a fifteen percent reduction in total emissions;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08965-01-7
A. 4497 2
(b) as of January first, two thousand twenty-two, a twenty percent reduction in total emissions;
(c) by two thousand twenty-seven, a twenty-five percent reduction in total emissions, at which such level of emissions shall be no more than the total emissions level in nineteen hundred ninety; and
(d) by two thousand fifty-seven, an eighty percent reduction in total emissions at which such level of emissions shall be no more than the total emissions level in nineteen hundred ninety.
2. The commissioner shall establish a statewide mandatory reporting system to track and monitor global warming emissions levels and shall formulate a plan by which New York state business shall uniformly adapt and comply with the rules and regulations required by this section.
3. Nothing in this section shall be construed to conflict with any other existing provision of law relating to any measures or practices taken to restrict, reduce or limit any emissions found to contribute to global warming and shall not be construed to supersede more stringent emission limitations or practices applicable on the effective date of this section or may become applicable after such effective date.
§ 3. This act shall take effect immediately.
Reflowed for reading: line numbers and page breaks removed. Cite the official text.
Summaries, headlines and scores are AI-generated from the official bill text. How we score bills. Source: NYS Open Legislation.