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COP26: Final Week of the UN Climate Change Conference

Our team is back from COP26, the United Nations' Climate Change Conference in Scotland. To recap their final week, Peggy Shepard (far right, above) was joined by Dr. Robert Bullard, Director of the Bullard Center for Environmental and Climate Justice at Texas Southern University (second from left, above) and Dr. Beverly Wright, Executive Director of the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice (third from left, above) for a panel discussion on how Justice40 can equitably reduce methane emissions. The panel was moderated by Heather McTeer Toney, Vice President of Community Engagement at the Environmental Defense Fund (far left, above). Watch the Video ([link removed])

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Peggy and Dana Johnson, our Senior Director of Strategy and Federal Policy, joined Dr. Wright, Dr. Bullard, and other environmental justice leaders for a private meeting with John Kerry, the U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate. They discussed the lack of equity at the conference and how environmental and climate justice are being prioritized by his office. Pictured above: Dana is on the far left, Peggy is fourth from left, John Kerry is sixth from left, Dr. Bullard is ninth from left, and Dr. Wright is on the far right.

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Peggy also participated in a panel discussion hosted by the Climate Group that explored how business and policymakers can embrace, embed, and support environmental and social justice. She is pictured above with New York State Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Basil Seggos (on her right).

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Gas Free NYC Hearing: A Big Step in Fighting Climate Change

WE ACT was in full-force at yesterday’s New York City Council hearing on Intro 2317, the Gas Free NYC bill that will prohibit the use of natural gas in new buildings and gut renovations. Sonal Jessel, Annie Carforo, and LJ Portis testified along with several of our members, making the case for how this legislation will reduce air pollution and the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change, both of which disproportionately harm communities of color. Burning fossil fuels in buildings creates 70 percent of New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions and leads to more than 1,000 premature deaths each year from air pollution.

Fossil fuel companies have been spreading false information ([link removed]) in hopes of undermining the wide support for this bill. They even claim that it will cost you money. But Intro 2317 only applies to new construction and gut renovations, so you won’t have to replace any of your appliances unless you are doing a gut renovation – in which case you can likely afford to. And similar legislation has been passed in other cities, so this is all very doable, despite what opponents will try to tell you.

Often overlooked in this debate is the indoor air pollution. Cooking on a gas stove in your home can increase a child’s risk of having asthma by 42 percent. For a good, in-depth review of the hearing, we suggest you read the article in New York Focus ([link removed]) .

Our goal is to replace gas stoves and ovens with induction stoves and convection ovens and to replace oil or gas boilers and heaters with heat pumps – all of which can be powered by electricity from renewable sources. Decarbonization and electrification, the winning formula for tackling the climate crisis!

If we can get this legislation passed by the City Council, the Mayor has said that he would sign it. So, stay tuned – we hope to have a vote before the end of the year!

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Read Our 2022 Policy Agenda

At our last Membership Meeting ([link removed]) , we introduced our 2022 Policy Agenda. This document articulates our policy priorities for the coming year. We're still waiting on the Spanish translation, but you can download a PDF of the English version here: Download Our 2022 Policy Agenda ([link removed]) (PDF)

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Federal Infrastructure Update

Our Federal Policy Office has been on top of the negotiations and deliberations surrounding the federal infrastructure legislation. Last week we released an update on the passage of the Infrastructure Investments and Jobs Act and the status of the Build Back Better Act. Read the Release ([link removed])

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Undesign the Redline: Peggy Shepard to Speak at Barnard

Peggy Shepard will speak at Barnard College’s Undesign the Redline Symposium at 5:30 PM on Friday, November 19. It will be livestreamed here ([link removed]) but this two-day symposium is definitely worth exploring. The Undesign the Redline exhibit is really powerful, exploring the history of redlining and the disinvestment that has led to environmental racism and other injustices in our communities. Learn More About the Symposium ([link removed]) & Schedule a Visit to See the Exhibit ([link removed])

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VIDEO REPLAY: Watch Our Year-End Membership Meeting

In case you missed our final Membership Meeting of the year this past Saturday, you can watch a video replay. In addition to looking back on the work we did this year, we previewed our policy priorities for 2022. Watch the Video ([link removed])

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Energy & Workforce Development Working Group

Are you interested in developing clean energy jobs and training members of our community to fill them? Then join our new Energy & Workforce Development Working Group, which will meet on the first Wednesday of every month. Our inaugural meeting will be at 6:00 PM on Wednesday, December 1 via Zoom. RSVP ([link removed])

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Public Power Orientation

What is public power? And why is it an environmental justice issue? Get the answers to these questions and any others you may have at the Public Power NY coalition’s statewide orientation at 12:00 PM on Saturday, November 27. WE ACT is part of this coalition, and we view public power as a key step in equitably addressing climate change. Come learn why public-owned utilities can help us achieve climate justice for all New Yorkers! RSVP ([link removed])

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NEW YORKERS: Are You Struggling to Pay Your Gas or Electric Bills?

More than 1 million New Yorkers across the state are struggling with their utility bills. There was a moratorium that prevented utilities from shutting off these essential services, but that expired back on June 24, 2021. And there is currently a 180-day grace period before the utility companies can start shutting off people's gas and electric. But that 180-day grace period ends on December 22, just three days before Christmas!

If you or any of your friends and family are struggling with utility debt here in New York State, or know someone who is, please have them fill out this online form ([link removed]) so we can follow up with them. We’re calling on New York State Governor Kathy Hochul and other state leaders to cancel all utility debts, which currently exceed $2 billion statewide. No one deserves to be left out in the cold, at Christmas or any other time of year!

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Climate Action Concert Encore

Our friends at PROTESTRA ([link removed]) performed Take a Stand: A Concert for Climate Action on Saturday, October 30 to raise funds for WE ACT and the Environmental Defense Fund. In case you missed it, you can watch a video of the concert online for a small donation here ([link removed]) !

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