New York State is at a crossroads when it comes to its nation-leading ambitions for addressing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. While the ambitious climate requirements enshrined in the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) remain on the books, New York is not on track to achieve them. And the state has argued or asserted in various fora that complying with the law is infeasible, primarily citing costs.
Thinking productively about New York’s options for achieving deep decarbonization requires policymakers, advocates, and other stakeholders to appreciate the state’s current suite of decarbonization programs both as a portfolio of disparate parts and considered in the aggregate. This report aims to further this effort by providing an overview of the state’s GHG emissions-mitigation policies.