Assembly Budget Includes $2 Billion Dollar Increase to Environmental Bond Act to Address Climate Change

Speaker Carl Heastie and Environmental Conservation Committee Chair Steve Englebright today announced the Assembly's 2022-2023 State Fiscal Year (SFY) Budget increases funding for the Environmental Bond Act of 2022 by $2 billion to be allocated for climate change related purposes. This funding is in addition to other funding included in the budget to address climate change, including $25 million to help workers transition to the green economy. The Assembly’s proposal also allocates $400 million for the state Environmental Protection Fund (EPF), an increase of $100 million over last year’s funding.

“As the challenges of global climate change on our state increase, so must our resolve to responsibly address them,” said Speaker Heastie. “I am pleased to announce that the Assembly budget not only increases funding for this purpose with an additional $2 billion for the Environmental Bond Act, but also increases funding for the Environmental Protection Fund and the critical programs and services it provides for all of New York.”

“The Environmental Bond Act will fund vital projects throughout the state that preserve open spaces, restore and protect wildlife habitats, improve water quality and reduce pollution,” said Assemblymember Englebright. “With an increased investment in greenhouse gas emissions reduction and infrastructural resiliency, the Environmental Bond Act reflects a clear-eyed view of the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our state as a result of climate change.”

The Assembly Budget includes $5 billion for the Environmental Bond Act of 2022, a $2 billion increase allocated to climate change mitigation, which includes:

• $500 million for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at state-owned buildings;
• $450 million for climate adaptation and mitigation projects, including for land acquisition and wetland protection;
• $300 million to combat air pollution in Environmental Justice communities;
• $250 million to combat water pollution in Environmental Justice communities;
• $200 million to combat the urban heat island effect;
• $150 million for open space conservation;
• $100 million for farmland protection easements; and
• $50 million for urban forest and habitat restoration projects.

The Assembly provides $250 million for municipal stormwater grants, which is an increase of $150 million from funds previously unallocated within the bond act as enacted by the laws of 2021.

The Assembly budget allocates $400 million to the Environmental Protection Fund, which include increases to the following:

• $10 million for Adirondack and Catskill visitor safety and wilderness protection;
• $5 million for land acquisition;
• $4 million for Children’s Environmental Health Centers;
• $3 million for municipal recycling, including $1 million for food waste diversion;
• $2 million for farmland protection;
• $2 million for invasive species eradication and $200,000 for re-treeing on public lands impacted by invasive species;
• $1.5 million for Zoos, Botanical Gardens, and Aquariums (ZBGA);
• $1 million for municipal electric vehicle fast chargers;

In addition to other funding supporting clean water initiatives in the proposed budget – including $250 million to combat water pollution in environmental justice communities as part of the Environmental Bond Act – the Assembly allocates $500 million for clean water infrastructure as follows:

• $200 million for the Water Infrastructure Improvement Act (WIIA);
• $140 million for projects in the New York City watershed;
• $50 million for municipal stormwater grants;
• $40 million for land acquisition;
• $40 million for WIIA – emerging contaminants; and
• $30 million for the Intermunicipal Water Infrastructure Grant Program.