Citizen's Toolkit

Our mission is to educate New Yorkers and help them become engaged and empowered advocates for the environment. The resources listed here can help you learn about environmental issues across the state and take advantage of the ways you can protect environment in your personal life and by getting involved in policy and political processes at the local and state levels. From contacting your representatives to the appropriate avenues to report environmental hazards to how to register to vote, these pages can help you protect the interests that are most important to you. As part of the Citizen’s Toolkit, we also provide weekly “Green Tips” so that you can make sustainable lifestyle choices. In the fight against climate change, every little effort can help to reduce carbon emissions and protect our planet from the worst.

The holiday season is in full swing! There is usually a lot of planning that goes into holiday gatherings, including parties, religious ceremonies, or small get-togethers. Follow our tips for hosting a more environmentally-friendly yet fun holiday gathering this year.

In keeping with the holiday spirit, we are offering tips on how best to shop for family and friends, while also giving back to the environment. A good way to do this, as we move collectively towards a more sustainable and equitable future, is to consider the carbon footprint of whatever you are thinking of buying.

Following the historic announcement by the federal Environmental Protection Agency of the Lead and Copper Rule Improvements, the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, a member of the NYC Coalition to End Lead Poisoning, released an interactive map and a comprehensive report to help New York City residents determine if the building they…

At the New York League of Conservation Voters Education Fund (NYLCVEF), we believe in the power of voting. Voting is more than just casting a ballot; it’s an act of hope and a commitment to shaping the world around us. During the 2024 election, through our largest voter awareness campaign yet, Our Vote is Our…

Thanksgiving is just around the corner. Check out our tips below to find out how to make this holiday season more eco-friendly. Travel smart  Not surprising, Thanksgiving travel has a larger carbon footprint than the dinner itself. If you have to travel for Thanksgiving, try to avoid using your gas-powered car for long trips: try…

New York City, trying to tackle its significant lead pipe problem, has announced it is expanding an existing program to replace lead service lines at no cost in targeted low-income and environmental justice areas of the city. Last month, Mayor Eric Adams announced a $48 million effort to replace privately-owned lead service lines in the…

The updated Lead and Copper Rules issued by the EPA also requires increased communication about the risks families face as well as more rigorous testing of drinking water and a lower threshold for communities to take action. The EPA also announced $2.6 billion in newly available drinking water infrastructure funding through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.

National Drive Electric Week comes at an important time in our effort to drastically increase the number of electric vehicles on the road. We hope that the annual event, running from September 27 to October 6, with scores of events planned nationwide, in every state except Georgia and North Dakota, will spark plug everyone’s interest in going electric.

By Peter Aronson Providing clean drinking water for New York State’s 19 million residents is of paramount concern for New York state officials. It is a complex process, given that 95 percent of all New Yorkers receive their drinking water from almost 9,000 different public water systems in the state. This ranges from the smallest…

It may not feel like it lately, but winter is right around the corner, which means frigid temperatures and probable snow storms. Winter coats are a must to keep warm during the frosty season but did you know that not all materials used to keep you warm are so eco-friendly? Check out our Green Tips on which winter coats are less harmful choices for our planet.

Autumn is now in full swing, and that means brilliant leaves of various shapes and colors are falling to the ground. Although they can be a nuisance, they can serve as great art materials. There are endless possibilities for art projects with leaves! Invite the children in your life to join in on the fun,…

This Halloween, we encourage you to follow our environmentally friendly tips to make your celebration “spooktacular.”

Together with our partners, we launched the NYC Clean School Bus Coalition to fight to phase out all school buses running on fossil fuels and transition to all-electric buses by 2040.

As the leaves start falling, this week’s Green Tip will help you identify trees that may need attention, and bring awareness to common tree diseases.

Autumn is already upon us, and with it comes many exciting seasonal activities. Check out our tips for keeping it green even when the leaves are changing. 

Autumn is filled with cozy drinks, sweaters, fall festivities, and changing leaves. Every year, thousands of travelers in America hit the road or take the train to see the fall leaves. A 2017 survey found that 28% of Americans planned a fall getaway, with “road trips, foliage viewing, fall festivals, and national parks” listed as…

While face masks have been instrumental in mitigating the spread of the coronavirus, single-use masks have begun littering the ground across New York. Here’s how we can reduce disposable mask waste.

Getting together for a socially-distant party is a nice way to celebrate with friends and family, even for small gatherings. We’ve put together a few ways you can make your at-home happy hour more eco-friendly.

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