Invest in Clean Air and Green Jobs
THE CRISIS
We believe that everyone should have access to clean air and water, low-cost utility bills, a healthy and safe home, and a sustainable job. The growing impact of the climate crisis threatens all of these rights. Communities across the country, especially Black and Brown communities, are facing heat waves, flooding, and storms that are getting more dangerous and more unpredictable. For example, an average of 580 New Yorkers die every year due to heat-related illnesses.
New Yorkers are already facing skyrocketing rents and groceries, underpaid and dangerous jobs, and dysfunctional healthcare and education systems. The climate emergency only compounds the harms from these broken systems, whether it’s sweltering classrooms, mold and lead in our apartments, and pollution that exacerbates pre-existing health risks such as asthma or heart disease. We are already struggling to survive, and the climate crisis will make this world unlivable for all of us.
THE MOVEMENT
The fossil fuel industry and their CEOs are outnumbered. We are building a movement that is pushing for the solutions at the scale of the crisis.
ALIGN coordinates the Climate Works for All coalition, which unites labor, community, and environmental justice around an agenda for the planet and people. Formed in 2014 after the historic People’s Climate March, ALIGN, New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, and the NYC Central Labor Council co-convened and launched a broad coalition of over 40 worker, community, and environmental organizations, united to ensure that efforts to address climate change also create good, career-track jobs and prioritize low-income, Black and Brown communities.
ALIGN is also one of the co-founding members of NY Renews, a multi-sectoral coalition dedicated to a just transition to 100% renewable energy in NY State, living-wage jobs, and justice for communities on the front lines of climate disruption and for workers displaced from jobs dependent on fossil fuels.
OUR CLIMATE WINS
Slashing NYC’s largest source of emissions: After years of organizing by the Climate Works for All coalition, New York City enacted Local Law 97 in 2019, also known as the Dirty Buildings law, which aims to slash dirty emissions from buildings. NYC buildings are responsible for more than 70% of NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions. The law places carbon emission limits on most buildings larger than 25,000 square feet—covering nearly 50,000 properties across NYC. This will create an estimated 26,700 green jobs.
The Most Aggressive Climate Law in the Country: The Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act was passed in July 2019 after years of grassroots campaigning by the NY Renews coalition. The law mandates that New York State be emissions-free by 2050, transition to 70% renewable energy by 2030 and 100% by 2040, and mandates that efforts prioritize Black, brown, and low-income communities.
NYC’s Public Solar Law, Local Law 99 – Local Law 99, championed by Councilmember Sandy Nurse, will boost solar power installation in NYC’s public buildings. With 70% of NYC’s emissions coming from buildings, this law will be key in moving New Yorkers toward a healthy, sustainable economy.
WHAT WE’RE FIGHTING FOR
New York State
FUND Climate. The NY Renews Fund Climate Campaign calls for spending money where it matters, cutting pollution, and making corporate polluters – not people – pay for climate action and investments. Our goals are increased affordability, decreased pollution, union jobs, and community improvements, especially for those who have suffered most from toxic pollution, disinvestment, and systemic racism.
Make Polluters Pay. New York’s Cap, Trade, and Invest program has the potential to “cap” greenhouse emissions from corporate polluters and “invest” the revenue into community-led climate action. We’re fighting to make sure it’s done right: no loopholes for fossil fuel corporations and real accountability and penalties for over-polluting. With a strong cap-and-invest program, we can make polluters pay, improve public health, and create green jobs.
New York City
Strengthen NYC’s Dirty Buildings Law with Intro 1180. NYC’s Dirty Buildings law has the potential to slash pollution, lower utility bills, and create green jobs by cutting emissions from NYC’s buildings. However, Mayor Adams offered the real estate industry a potential loophole, allowing them to purchase “Renewable Energy Credits” or RECs in place of about 50% of the pollution that they’d otherwise have to clean up. This is essentially a way for corporations to avoid compliance, increase pollution, and threaten job creation. Intro 1180 would close that loophole and ensure that we implement the strongest emissions reduction law possible.
Green, Healthy Schools. NYC 3K-12 students, teachers, parents, and school staff deserve safe and healthy learning and work environments, no matter their zip code. As the country faces unprecedented wildfires, droughts, and flooding, we’re making sure New York City is doing our part to cut dirty emissions in our buildings, and public schools are the best place to start. Our Climate Works for All coalition is calling on Mayor Adams to fund Green, Healthy Schools and make NYC’s school district emissions-free by 2040, so all students can breathe clean air and attend school safely.