For Immediate Release: April 24, 2024
Climate Works for All to Mayor Adams:
A Safe and Livable NYC Centers Climate Justice
New York, NY – In response to Mayor Adams’ Executive Budget Proposal, Faiza Azam, Climate Works for All spokesperson and ALIGN Climate & Labor Organizer, released the following statement:
“Today, Mayor Adams declared victory for his administration, making NYC a safe place to live for working families. But without climate justice, NYC is not safe or livable. It’s not enough to restore cuts to education without investing in green and healthy public schools, so our students, teachers, and school staff can breathe clean air. And it’s not enough to claim a brighter future where every child is able to thrive when Black and Brown youth continue to weather the worst effects of the climate crisis and remain most vulnerable to record-breaking storms, heat, and wildfire smoke.
“We’re encouraged to see $1B for energy efficiency and electrification of city facilities in Adams’ Climate Budgeting announcement, and we look forward to further details on how these funds will be allocated and on what timeline. We remain steadfast in our call for much-needed investments in the final budget to address climate impacts on New Yorkers: restore cuts to and fully fund the Department of Citywide and Administrative Services’ energy resilience projects; dedicate $600M in the FY2025 budget for green, healthy schools; and fund staffing to fully implement Local Law 97 and decarbonize our dirty buildings. By investing in future generations we can save the city billions and address the climate crisis before it is too late. A safe and livable NYC is one that centers climate justice.”
Background:
To implement landmark climate legislation apace and address the interrelated crises of climate change, public health, and social inequality, the coalition identified the following FY2025 budget priorities:
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- Invest in Green, Healthy Schools Delivering and expanding on Adams’ Leading the Charge initiative, dedicate $600M in the FY2025 budget to electrify and upgrade NYC Public Schools — the lowest hanging fruit on the city’s path to decarbonization — and put the school district on a path to reach net zero emissions by 2040.
- Fund Local Law 97 Implementation Prioritize proper evaluation, compliance, and enforcement of Local Law 97 (LL97, 2019), NYC’s Dirty Buildings Law, by funding additional staffing in the Office of Building Energy Emissions Performance (OBEEP) and the Department of Housing Preservation and Development (HPD) and redirecting $5M funding from the NYC Accelerator to local NYC-based organizations that can provide education, outreach, and technical assistance services on LL97 compliance for the first compliance period (2024-2029). The City must also pursue state and federal funding for building upgrades and retrofits.
- Coalition budget letter with 35+ signatories
About Climate Works for All
Climate Works for All is a coalition of labor, community, faith, environmental justice, and climate organizations that have come together to fight climate change and inequality in NYC by demanding a Just Transition for workers and Environmental Justice communities. Our campaigns move us toward an equitable economy, a resilient, livable and healthy climate, and must prioritize justice for low-income Black and Brown communities across New York City.
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