Climate Ready: Global Action Through Legislation

Scientists first identified global warming in the mid-1800's when the Earth's atmosphere was discovered to trap heat similar to a greenhouse captures both heat and moisture. However, it wasn't until nearly 1900 (1896) when the connection was made to the burning of coal released gases that over time would result in warmer temperatures -- leading over time to a warmer climate.

1958

The Bell Telephone Science Hour addressed how our actions could be changing Earth's climate. "Even now, [we] may be unwittingly changing the world's climate through the waste products of [our] civilization," said the narrator. "Due to our release from factories and automobiles every year of more than six billion tons of carbon dioxide, which helps the air absorb heat from the Sun, our atmosphere seems to be getting warmer.”

1972

The UN Scientific Conference, also known as the First Earth Summit, adopted a declaration that set out principles for the preservation and enhancement of the human environment, and an action plan containing recommendations for international environmental action. In a section on the identification and control of pollutants of broad international significance, the Declaration raised the issue of climate change for the first time, warning Governments to be mindful of activities that could lead to climate change and evaluate the likelihood and magnitude of climatic effects.

1988

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change formed - the United Nations body for assessing the science on climate change. Publishes regular reports that summarize the finding from thousands of climate scientists around the world. The most recent synthesis report reviewed 14,000 different scientific studies on climate change.

1992

Multiple countries joined an international treaty, the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as a framework for international cooperation to combat climate change by limiting average global temperature increases and the resulting climate change, and coping with impacts that were, by then, inevitable. By 1995, countries launched negotiations to strengthen the global response to climate change, and, two years later, adopted the Kyoto Protocol. The Kyoto Protocol legally binds developed country Parties to emission reduction targets.

2015

The 2015 Paris Agreement, adopted in Paris on December 12, 2015, marked the latest step in the evolution of the UN climate change regime and builds on the work undertaken under the Convention. The Paris Agreement charts a new course in the global effort to combat climate change.

U.S. Federal Legislation

NETZERO BY 2050

As part of the Paris Climate Agreement, 196 parties signed a legally binding tretry and pledged to keep global temperatures well below 2.0 C (35.6 degrees F, ideally below 1.5C (34.7 degrees F). This goal requires Net Zero emissions entering the atmosphere.

Historically, multiple policies were enacted by the United States to assist in reaching this goal:

EPA Regulations for Public Health & Limiting Pollutants Clean Air Act: Various regulations were enacted to protect public health and the environment by limiting pollutants. For example, The clean air act is used to regulate harmful air pollutants that are hazardous to both health and climate.

The Clean Air Act sets requirements of the Oil and Natural Gas industry, and requires high-polluting industries to report on their emissions. The clean air act also outlines basis for harm caused by automobile and aircraft emissions, which have regulations under different pieces of legislation.
The Inflation Reduction Act: Multi-faceted law legislation that aimed to tackle rising costs to Americans by addressing cost of healthcare, adjusting minimums on corporate income tax, and by establishing climate and clean energy provisions to help the United States reduce our carbon emissions and build safer communities in the face of the climate risks faced.

Some examples include:

Created measures like tax credits for businesses transitioning away from fossil fuels and toward clean energy.
Piloted and demonstration projects that cover canals with solar panels to generate renewable energy and reduce evaporation in critical water supply regions
Restoring the Klamath Basin, salt marshes and core sage brush areas; supporting habitat for salmon, bison and Hawaiian forest birds that hold cultural, subsistence and ecosystem significance; and enhancing communities’ quality of life in Appalachia by improving outdoor spaces and addressing legacy pollution.

Note: Climate change is a divisive subject, often falling along political partisan lines in recent years. As a result, the stance of the U.S. government has changed accordingly and has established a pattern of exiting and re-entering the Paris Climate Agreement, along with changes to federal legislation inline with the current administration and changes in leadership.

NEW YORK STATE LEGISLATION

New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protect Act “Climate Act” (2019)

The climate act sets targets for reducing the emissions of the entire state, economy-wide. The targets it sets are [reads each bullet, one at a time]. In order to achieve these goals and be Net Zero aligned by 2050, which again is necessary to curb global warming below 1.5 degrees Celsius, all cities within the State of New York need to align their own city and municipal policies with this piece of legislation.

Reduce Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions from 1990 levels by 40% by 2030 and at least 85% by 2050
70% Renewable energy by 2030
100% Zero-emission electricity by 2040
70% Renewable energy by 2030
Net-Zero statewide by 2050

NEW YORK CITY LEGISLATION

New York City is one of the most progressive cities in the nation when it comes to planning for climate change to ensure a resilient city. In 2019, the Climate Mobilization Act was signed and became effective in 2020. It set the overarching goal to reduce overall NYC emissions 10% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. In the laws signed within this act, which are effectively strategies to realize the goal, NYC would create 26,700 new green jobs and prevent up to 130 premature deaths ANNUALLY by 2030.

The NPCC is a group of Leading climate scientists and risk management experts that evaluate the climate-related risk to NYC to help guide policy strategy and city planning for resilience. The NPCC is one of the resources in your handout.

Climate Mobilization Act NYC (2019)

The Climate Mobilization Act include limiting emissions for large buildings over 25,000 sq ft, requiring sustainable roofing for new construction (green roofs, solar roofs), and eliminating city subsidies for natural gas as a way of moving the city off fossil fuels and toward renewable energy that releases few GHGs.

Reduce NYC overall emissions 10% by 2030 and 80% by 2050
Create green jobs, prevent premature deaths

Other strategies include:

Local Law 97: Emissions limits on large buildings
Local Laws 92, 94: Require sustainable roofing in new constructions
NYC HEAT Act: eliminates natural gas subsidies
New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC) - Leading climate scientists and risk management experts evaluate the risk to NYC to help guide strategy for resilience