Statewide Action to Protect Our Climate

Dear Editor,

New York’s first heat wave of the summer arrived this week as temperatures soared into the 90s. Across the area, people looked for ways to beat the heat.

Hitting the pool and turning on the air conditioner are always popular choices. But considering that scientists continue to warn us about global warming, we need to dig deeper. We’re in control here. By slashing pollution in New York and across the world, we can prevent these kinds of heat waves from growing even more frequent and severe.

So let’s take ambitious statewide action to protect our climate.

Governor Cuomo should strengthen the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to accelerate our progress in cleaning up carbon pollution from power plants, while increasing the amount of power we get from clean, renewable energy sources. New York should take the lead in the fight against climate change. Ultimately, we should build a zero-emission electricity system that does not put our climate or our communities at risk.

If we work together, we can beat the heat and minimize the impacts of global warming.

Sincerely,
Heather Leibowitz
Director of Environment New York