YONKERS, NY – With pressure mounting on Albany lawmakers to pass bold climate policy, Westchester residents and climate activists held a rally and press conference outside the office of Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins.
In the final days of the legislative session in Albany, the groups urged her to pass legislation that would ban on new fossil fuel infrastructure, divest the state pension funds from fossil fuels, and transition to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.
“We need bold action to end fossil fuels and build the clean energy revolution that is necessary to avoid climate calamity,” said Food & Water Watch organizer Santosh Nandabalan. “Governor Cuomo has been saying that he doesn’t think there is time left to pass climate legislation; leaders like Stewart-Cousins must show him that they are, in fact, ready to pass a bold plan that shows New York can lead the nation on climate.”
In recent days, Governor Cuomo has made several comments dismissing the legislature’s ability to pass meaningful climate legislation this month.
“New York has the opportunity to be a model for real climate leadership for the rest of the nation. We need Senate Majority Leader Stewart-Cousins to lead on passing the boldest possible climate justice legislation, and to set an example for how all elected officials need to stand up to fossil fuel billionaires to protect our health and safety.” said Cata Romo, Fossil Free New York Campaigner with 350.org.
“We’ve called, written, testified, marched, and lobbied to get the NY State legislature to take aggressive action on our current climate emergency. Now it’s time for Andrea Stewart-Cousins to demonstrate strong leadership on this issue and deliver legislation that puts us on a fast path to 100% renewables and bans new fossil fuel projects like pipelines and fracked gas power plants,” said Iris Hiskey Arno of Indivisible Westchester CD16.
“The WESPAC Community wants New York to be a real leader in the movement to transform our economy off fossil fuels and into the future with safe, renewable and non-polluting energy. We need to stop fossil fuel infrastructure now to truly make this transition and help mitigate the worst impacts of climate change that are facing us. Our water, air and soil quality is at stake and so are our lives. We must move off fossil fuels now!” said Nada Khader, Executive Director of WESPAC.
Activists also released a new report by Food & Water Watch, “The Fracking Endgame: Locked Into Plastics, Pollution and Climate Chaos.” which documents how fracking is being driven by three factors: plastics and petrochemicals, gas-fired power plants, and exports of liquefied natural gas.
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Contact: Santosh Nandabalan, snandabalan@fwwatch.org, (347) 774-4597
Lindsay Meiman, lindsay@350.org, (347) 460-9082