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.

We welcomed Jessica Wang from World Resources Institute and Ian Fried from CalStart to explore the future of clean school transportation and to discuss the benefits of electric school buses, from reducing emissions to fostering a sustainable learning environment.

As part of our ongoing series of webinars and in-person events on the IRA, NYLCVEF President Julie Tighe and federal campaigns manager Matt Salton recently joined with New York State Senator Michelle Hinchey for an informational webinar to share details about the IRA and how households and our communities can benefit.

By Peter Aronson While a school bus’s roaring ignition and noxious gasoline smell may bring a wisp of nostalgia to some of us, it comes at a steep cost in the form of emergency room visits, school absenteeism, and an overheating planet. The state’s fiscal year 2023 budget, passed in April 2022, established New York…

As New York transitions to electrifying its transportation and buildings sectors, we must consider grid readiness and infrastructure resiliency. This event featured a panel of cross-sector experts who discussed our transmission infrastructure needs. They addressed what they’re currently doing to achieve New York City’s clean energy goals, and more.

By Alexis Hidalgo The Save Our Compost coalition held a press conference and rally at City Hall Park on Wednesday to advocate for community composting. Aligning forces with over a dozen council members, we advocated passionately for Mayor Adams and the Department of Sanitation to reinstate vital funding. Under proposed budget cuts, community compost organizations…

As the New York state parks system prepares to celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2024, it’s worthwhile to continuously remind ourselves that the state has one of the best public park systems in the world, open to all.

The growth of offshore wind infrastructure, an affordable renewable energy source which harnesses power from ocean winds, is leading the path towards a future of green electricity in New York.  [Register for “Why Wind Works,”  a Lunch and Learn presented by NYLCVEF and Citizens Campaign for the Environment on November 30 at noon.] Offshore wind…

After a year when the climate crisis arrived at our doorstep in the form of apocalyptic hazy orange skies and devastating floods, this year’s story about holiday green shopping tips comes with a dose of climate optimism from a lead author on Congress’ Fifth National Climate Assessment.

Election season is upon us and Our Vote is Our Power! Early voting for the general election begins on Saturday, October 28, and runs through Sunday, November 5, with Election Day on Tuesday, November 7. In the fight against climate change, every election is crucial. 

Beyond providing food and beautifying spaces, gardens can serve many purposes, including  supporting natural processes and pollinators. This week, our Green Gardening Tips focuses on speciality gardens that help protect our waterways.  Rain gardens help capture, absorb, and filter rainwater. They are a type of green infrastructure, or a natural technique for managing rainwater runoff….

Watch our program coordinator Lisa Darrigo, also a master composter with the NYC Compost Project, show how you can start a worm bin for composting at home.

According to the National Gardening Association, more than one-third of American households grow their own food. Give those seedlings a new home with our tips for establishing a garden inside and outside of your home.

As we find ourselves in unprecedented times, the ways we once celebrated spring may look very different this year. To help you stay connected to nature at home, we are kicking off our Green Gardening Tips series.

The Delaware River has fittingly received the award for “River of the Year” 2020 because of the many restoration and stewardship efforts led by nonprofit organizations across the four states. The story of the Delaware River is a good example of environmental progress that can happen when we all work together to protect our precious natural resources.

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. Check out our tips for celebrating earth day in quarantine.

Social distancing at home doesn’t mean that you have to lose your connection to the environment. You might even find yourself with some extra time on your hands. Many Americans are turning to movies and TV to stay busy and entertained during the COVID-19 pandemic. That’s why we put together a list of environmentally themed movies that will inspire you to make every day Earth Day. Stay engaged by checking out these flicks.

National Pet Day is April 11th, and we’re recognizing the day by rounding up a few ways for you to make your pet care more sustainable.

This week, we’re showing you how to calculate the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) that your activities emit in a year so you can learn where you stand and where there’s room to cut back.

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