Albany, NY – Assemblywoman Nily Rozic (D,WF-Fresh Meadows) announced today that the Assembly has passed legislation she supported to fight climate change, protect communities from its harmful impacts, and preserve the environment.

“The legislation we passed takes the necessary steps to address the dangers of climate change that require long-term solutions to ensure a more healthy, sustainable future,” said Rozic. “By working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and promote green technologies that will create jobs, we can begin tackling some of the most pressing issues adversely affecting our environment and communities.”

The New York State Climate and Community Protection Act would help slow climate change by requiring the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to establish statewide greenhouse gas emissions limits, as well as reporting requirements and regulations to achieve the reductions. The bill would also require that 50 percent of electricity be produced by renewable energy systems by 2030.

To protect disadvantaged communities, which are often at higher risk for the negative impacts of climate change, the bill includes provisions requiring the identification of at-risk communities as well as the local barriers to and opportunities for renewable energy generation, energy efficiency, weatherization investments and low-emission transportation options.

Rozic added, “Identifying those that are at the highest risk and shielding them from the harmful effects of pollution reflects the Assembly’s ongoing commitment to keeping our families – and our environment – as healthy as possible.”

Additional legislation aims to protect our oceans by creating an Ocean Acidification Task Force within the DEC. Increasing levels of atmospheric carbon dioxide – which forms carbonic acid when dissolved in water – are causing rapid ocean acidification with the potential to adversely affect marine life and commercial fishing industries. The task force would be responsible for researching the issue further, identifying contributing factors and evaluating the best ways to address the problem and its anticipated impacts.