What's happening
This bill requires New York to set permanent caps and reduction targets for statewide global warming emissions, with mandatory reporting and compliance.
Why it matters
Sets legally binding, long-term emissions reduction targets. The bill requires New York to reach an 80% reduction in global warming emissions by 2059 (compared to 1990 levels), creating a predictable and enforceable path for decarbonization that could drive investment and technological innovation in clean energy sectors.
Establishes mandatory reporting and compliance for businesses. By mandating a statewide reporting system and uniform compliance plan for businesses, the bill ensures that emissions reductions are transparently tracked and that all major emitters contribute to meeting statewide goals, potentially impacting operational practices across industries.
Protects and strengthens existing environmental regulations. The bill explicitly states it will not override any stricter emissions limits already in effect or adopted in the future, ensuring that progress made by localities or other state laws is preserved and can be built upon.
Aims to safeguard public health and economic stability. By targeting global warming emissions, the bill addresses climate-related risks such as extreme weather, sea level rise, and threats to key industries (agriculture, tourism, forestry), which could have direct consequences for jobs, public health, and infrastructure throughout New York.
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Who cares
Headline styles
Cap Global Warming 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
3805
2019-2020 Regular Sessions
IN ASSEMBLY
January 31, 2019
Introduced by M. of A. ORTIZ, GALEF, JAFFEE, LUPARDO, LAVINE, WRIGHT, COLTON -- Multi-Sponsored by -- M. of A. LIFTON, McDONOUGH, PERRY, L. 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 twenty, 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-two, a fifteen percent reduction in total emissions;
EXPLANATION--Matter in italics (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
[ ] is old law to be omitted.
LBD08189-01-9
A. 3805 2
(b) as of January first, two thousand twenty-four, a twenty percent reduction in total emissions;
(c) by two thousand twenty-nine, 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-nine, 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.