{"id":49963,"date":"2019-01-10T19:12:05","date_gmt":"2019-01-10T19:12:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gofossilfree.org\/ny\/?p=49963"},"modified":"2019-01-10T19:24:45","modified_gmt":"2019-01-10T19:24:45","slug":"6-ways-fossil-free-ny-2018","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gofossilfree.org\/ny\/6-ways-fossil-free-ny-2018\/","title":{"rendered":"6 ways New Yorkers stood up for a Fossil Free world in 2018"},"content":{"rendered":"

A year ago today, New York\u2019s climate movement scored a milestone victory: after years of pressure from climate activists, community organizations and frontline communities, New York City declared it would divest it\u2019s $200 billion public pension funds from fossil fuels. <\/span><\/p>\n

With the leadership of Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott Stringer, and then-Public Advocate Letitia James, the City took a major step towards standing up to fossil fuel billionaires for the climate chaos they\u2019ve caused. <\/span>And our city’s historic climate commitments didn’t stop with divestment: New York is also taking five major oil companies to court<\/a> for the climate damage they’ve caused \u2013 including the flooding and destruction from Superstorm Sandy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Now, in 2019, our movement is more determined than ever to make New York a real leader on climate. Let\u2019s look back on some of the highlights from 2018, and preview what\u2019s to come in the new year.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are some of our New York climate highlights from 2018:<\/b><\/p>\n

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  1. \n
    The Stop Williams Pipeline campaign heats up
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    Stop Williams protesters at Barnard College | Image courtesy of Surf Rider<\/p><\/div>\n


    \nThe Williams pipeline is a proposed fracked gas pipeline that would run through New York Harbor from New Jersey to the Far Rockaways, some of the same communities most devastated by Superstorm Sandy. There\u2019s no new demand for risky fracked gas \u2014 especially if the city is serious about its commitment to building out renewables and reducing demand for dirty fossil fuels \u2014 and construction of the pipeline would stir up dangerous industrial toxins from the seafloor of the harbor, endangering surrounding communities, local wildlife, and recreational beachgoers.<\/span>
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    \n<\/span>Community members have been hard at work to stop the construction of this risky gas pipeline. So far, over 4,500 people have signed a petition telling Gov. Cuomo to deny the pipeline\u2019s permits. <\/span>    Add your name now and help stop the Williams pipeline.<\/a><\/b><\/b><\/p>\n

    Sign here to stop the Williams pipeline<\/a><\/p>\n<\/li>\n

  2. \n
    #GreenNewDeal4NYC
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    Image courtesy of New York Communities for Change<\/p><\/div>\n


    \n<\/span>Since our friends at the youth-led Sunrise Movement occupied Nancy Pelosi\u2019s office in November, the Green New Deal has been on everyone\u2019s lips from Anchorage to Austin. New York is no exception. In 2018, New York City Council Speaker Corey Johnson and Environmental Committee Chair Costa Constantinides     introduced a bill to slash big building emissions<\/a> 80% by 2050, while delivering green jobs and protecting renters at the same time.<\/strong>\u00a0Right now, just 2% of NYC buildings account for 50% of the city\u2019s entire carbon pollution.<\/li>\n

  3. \n
    People rising in the streets taking action<\/span><\/h5>\n

    In September, hundreds of thousands people marched across the world for <\/span>Rise for Climate<\/span><\/a>. In New York City, 3000 people turned out in September 6 while 2000 more marched in a dozen actions across the state.<\/strong><\/span>
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    \n<\/span>The march was more than a movement flexing our muscles. <\/span>Rise for Climate<\/span><\/i> delivered results: the day before the action, NYC Comptroller Scott Stringer announced his opposition to the Williams pipeline. Just days later, Mayor Bill de Blasio and the Comptroller announced $4 billion of the city\u2019s pension funds would be invested \u00a0into climate solutions.<\/span>
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    \n<\/span>Cuomo didn\u2019t deliver on the demands from Rise NY, but that didn\u2019t stop the Rise 10 from blocking his NYC office the day afterwards.     You can read more about their story here.<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

    Rise for Climate wasn\u2019t the only march that rocked New York in 2018.<\/strong> On April 23, 2000 people descended on Albany to demand Cuomo walk the talk on climate and commit to a Fossil Free New York. 55 people were arrested in the largest climate action in Albany’s history Watch the video below to learn more:
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