Implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act: A Virtual Roundtable Series

In partnership with the Sabin Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia University, we are hosting a series of forums on implementing the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). This landmark law compels the state to reduce statewide greenhouse gas emissions by 85% by 2050 and with a goal of net zero emissions in all sectors of the economy. 

The roundtable series focuses on specific solutions for achieving the goals of the CLCPA and covers the following sectors: offshore wind, buildings, transportation, natural resources, manufacturing, and waste. The goals of these forums are to facilitate meaningful discussion between experts on emission reduction solutions, while educating the public about New York’s landmark climate law.

Past Forums

Manufacturing

This forum focused on the opportunities and challenges of decarbonizing the manufacturing sector in New York State. This forum took place on May 25th, from 10:30am – 12pm. 

Please see the list of panel speakers below.

• Heather Briccetti, The Business Council of NYS
• Luke Clemente, Bonded Concrete
• Matt Roberts, Sherrill Manufacturing
• Randy Wolken, Manufacturers Alliance of NYS & Manufacturers Association of Central NY 
• John Williams, NYSERDA

Moderated by Dr. Julio Friedmann, Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University SIPA 

To view a recording of the forum, please click here. To read the forum recap, please click here. 

Natural Resources

This forum looked at how preserving New York State’s forests and lands help mitigate climate change, as well as how New York State farm management practices can help meet CLCPA emissions reductions targets through carbon farming and the use of anaerobic digestion. This forum took place on January 14th, from 10am – 12pm. 

Please see the list of panel speakers below. Panel 1 discussed how protecting nature helps with climate change mitigation and adaptation. Panel 2 discussed how NY farms can help fight climate change through various techniques including carbon sequestration and the use of anaerobic digesters for organic waste.

Panel 1

John Bartow, Empire State Forest Products Association
Sam Bishop, Trees NY
Jessica Ottney, The Nature Conservancy
Moderated by Professor Shahid Naeem, Columbia University’s Earth Institute

Panel 2

Samantha Levy, American Farmland Trust
John Macauley, Macauley Farms LLC
Chris Noble, NobleHurst Farms
Matt Tomich, Energy Vision
Jenifer Wightman, Cornell College of Agriculture & Life Sciences
Moderated by Elizabeth Wolters, NY Farm Bureau

To view a recording of the forum, please click here. To view the presentation slides, click here. To read the forum recap, please click here.

Following the forum on Natural Resources, we will hold forums to cover the manufacturing, and waste. More information to come. 

Transportation Emissions

November 20th, 2020

This forum discussed reducing emissions from New York’s transportation sector, the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The panelists focused on how two policies in particular — the Transportation and Climate Initiative (TCI) and a Low Carbon Fuel Standard (LCFS) —  could help New York’s transportation industry meet CLCPA emission reduction mandates. Additionally, the forum discussed the importance of ensuring that these policies benefit the communities that are most disproportionately affected by climate change, often minority and/or low-income populations. 

Panelists:

• James Bradbury, Georgetown Climate Center
• Bruce Ho, Natural Resources Defense Council
• Ben Mandel, CALSTART
• Porie Saikia-Eapen, Metropolitan Transportation Authority
• Kerene Tayloe, WE ACT for Environmental Justice
• Floyd Vergara, National Biodiesel Board
  Panel moderated by Nick Sifuentes, Tri-State Transportation Campaign

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here.

To view the recording of the forum, please click here.  

Building Efficiency: NYC & Statewide

October 15th, 2020

This forum discussed reducing emissions from the buildings sector. It began with a discussion about NYC buildings in particular, before expanding to a statewide analysis. Among the topics discussed were the effect of the pandemic on building emissions, community solar, clean heating & cooling systems, and incentives.

Panelists:

• Zineb Bouzoubaa, NYC Mayor’s Office of Sustainability
• Sarah Burger, PUSH Buffalo
• Sophie Cardona, NYSERDA
• Marvin Church, Comrie Enterprises
• John Ciovacco, President, Aztech Geothermal
• Dan Egan, Vornado
• Donovan Gordon, NYSERDA
• Stephanie Margolis, NYC Climate Action Alliance
• Bill Nowak, NY-GEO
• Amy Turner, Sabin Center
• Jason Vollen, AECOM

To read a recap of the forum, please click here.

To view the recording of the forum, please click here. 

Energy Transmission: Offshore Wind

August 6th, 2020

We kicked off our CLCPA series in August, 2020 with a forum on offshore wind’s role in meeting the emissions reductions goals mandated by the CLCPA. The CLCPA mandates 9000 megawatts of offshore wind energy to be generated in NY State by 2035. The forum focused on the transmission of offshore wind power to shore.

The forum began with a presentation by the Brattle Group (commissioned by Anbaric) on their study that analyzed the costs, environmental impacts, and risks of various approaches to transmitting offshore wind power to shore. Following the Brattle Group presentation, the panel of experts (below) continued the discussion, addressing the points of opposition, the cost, and the infrastructure necessary to get offshore wind power to shore. 

Panelists:

• Kevin Knobloch, President of New York OceanGrid, Anbaric
• Tammy Mitchell, Chief of Bulk Electric Systems, NYS Dept. of Public Service
• Kirsty Townsend, Director, Head of Special Projects & Decision Support, Ørsted
• Girish Behal, Vice President Project & Business Development, New York Power Authority

Panel Moderated by Joe Martens, Director, NYOWA

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here. 

To view the recording of the forum, please click here.  

Forum on New York’s Climate Law

October 2019

Together with the Earth Institute, Columbia Law School, and Assemblyman Daniel O’Donnell, we hosted a policy forum to discuss the implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA). NYLCV President Julie Tighe issued opening remarks, in which she described the CLCPA as an enormous opportunity to not just reduce carbon emissions, but also to address the inequity of our polluting past. The first panel, moderated by professor Michael B. Gerrard, founder of Columbia University’s Sabin Center, featured a discussion about the current sources of greenhouse gas emissions across major sectors. The second panel, moderated by Professor Malo Hutson of Columbia University’s Graduate School, focused on “greening New York’s economy.” The panelists discussed how the CLCPA would affect their communities, from engagement around environmental issues to collaboration between the public and private sectors.

To read a written recap of the forum, please click here.