Headed by the Reverend John Paarlberg, Chair, Climate and Environmental Justice Task Team
Albany. South End successfully rejected a proposal from Waste Management to dump wet garbage in south end of Albany. Here is the description of what happened to protect the South End.
Hoosick Falls. The community of Hoosick Falls saw significant damage to their wells and drinking water because of PFOA contamination. Saint-Gobain and Honeywell contaminated the aquifer beneath Hoosick Falls with perfluorooctanoic acid, commonly referred to as PFOA, by releasing PFOA into the environment, manufactured by PFOA is used to produce teflon for cookware and is cancer causing. A settlement of 65 million was reached with the companies. For more information about the settlement go to http://www.hoosickfallspfoasettlement.com/frequently-asked-questions.aspx
Cohoes, the community is trying to close the Norlite plant because of it's long time emission of particulate matter deemed to be cancerous. If you wish to join the fight to close the plan, please go to Lights Out Norlite – Hudson Mohawk Environmental Action Network (hmean.org) http://hmean.org/lights-out-norlite/
Environmental Conservation Testimony NYSCOC - February 2024
Webpage link - How can I bring solar energy to my community?
Forming or Enhancing Creation Care Committees
THE NEW YORK STATE COUNCIL OF CHURCHES OPPOSES AMENDING THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION LAW AND
THE PUBLIC SERVICE LAW IN RELATION TO THE STATE GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSION ACCOUNTING SYSTEM
S6030 PARKER 2023
NYSCOC 2023 Climate Legislative Asks
Green Energy Help for Congregations
Solar Subscriptions and Social Justice Committees
View the Environmental Justice Seminar from our 2022 virtual NYS Ecumenical and Interfaith Advocacy Day.
Climate and Community Investment Act (CCIA)
Climate and Community Investment Act would impose a tax on New York polluters and invested the proceeds in building up clean energy infrastructure combined with investment in communities which have historically suffered from environmental racism. The CCIA failed to pass the legislature and we will advocate for passage in 2022. Some legislators chose not to pass the act because they wanted to wait on a study to complete on the viability of a carbon tax. For more details, go to https://www.nyrenews.org/.
Take Action:
NY Renews is planning our largest fall mobilization to be announced. They will have a large rally and potential direct action in NYC, one in Albany, and potentially one in Buffalo. They will be trying to make the connection between COP 26 and the work we need to do locally here in NY.
Bronx wide rally for Climate Justice in collaboration with a diverse set of groups in the Bronx on October 27th.
In the mean time, the Council will advocate for environmental provisions in the Build Back Better plan (see Federal legislation below) in Washington which is up for a critical vote possibly as soon as the week of September 27 to October 1. It's "all hands on deck" to ensure the bill passes the House and Senate with all the climate provisions. We urge everyone to call their member of Congress now and tell them we want the 3.5 Trillion Build Back Better plan with all the climate provisions.
Divestment: Faith groups coalesced with secular partners to successfully persuade the New York State Comptroller to divest the state pension fund of fossil fuel stocks. Now there is a move to divest from the New York State Teachers Retirement Fund.
Here is a link to a letter to be signed by faith leaders and addressed to Thomas Lee, Executive Director and David Keefe, Board President, calling on the New York State Teachers Retirement System to divest from fossil fuel holdings in its pension fund.
Green Amendment is up for voter consideration in the November, 2021 election. The Green Amendment would make provision for clean water, air and land in the New York Constitution. Green Amendments are self executing provisions added to the bill of rights section of a constitution that recognize and protect the rights of all people. regardless of race, ethnicity, religion or income, including future generations, to pure water, clean air, a stable climate, and healthy environments.
Please visit the website of Laudato Si' Center for Integral Ecology.
You can watch the keynote address by UN Secretary-General António Guterres from October 10, 2024 on youtube.
ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM FILM SERIES
The Environmental Racism Film Series scheduled for the week of 1/17/22 will be a virtual event!
Click here to register for the event: https://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/5345815
Next week, those who register will receive an email with information about how to view the films and about the Zoom meeting on the 23rd.
"Environmental Racism is any policy, practice or directive that differentially affects or disadvantages (where intended or unintended) individuals, groups or communities based on race." - Dr. Robert Bullard the Father of Environmental Justice.
During the week of January 17, 2022, participants of the film series will have limited access to four films on the issue of Environmental Racism - please sign up to receive more information and to gain access. Once you receive the login information, you will have a 72 hour period to watch the films with your friends and family.
On Sunday, January 23rd, 4:30pm those who are interested will meet on Zoom to discuss the films and the impact of Environmental Racism on our local communities.
Learn more about the films:
(1) "Stop Line 3" - https://www.stopline3.org/ln3film- - 38 minutes
(2) Seed: The Untold Story https://www.seedthemovie.com/ (94 mins)
(3) There's Something in the Water https://www.collectiveeye.org/products/theres-something-in-the-water (73 mins)
(4) Awake: A Dream from Standing Rock" -https://awakethefilm.org/ (89 mins)
Sponsored by the Union of Black Episcopalians, Bishop Holly Chapter (Buffalo, NY).
In November 2021, New Yorkers will have the historic opportunity to vote YES for a right to Clean Air and Water and enshrine their environmental rights in the Bill of Rights of the New York State Constitution! New York is leading the nationwide movement to adopt Green Amendments, as the first state to legislatively pass a modern-day environmental rights amendment. Visit this link for more details
Bonding Authority for environmental projects in New York
Public Ownership of Utilities
White House Convenes Faith Leaders on Climate, Clean Energy, and Environmental Justice Issues
On August 13, 2024, the White House Council on Environmental Quality (CEQ) held a White House Faith Leaders Convening on Climate, Clean Energy, and Environmental Justice. The Reverend Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches along with National Council of Churches President and General Secretary Bishop Vashti McKenzie was among the participants, which included faith leaders and representatives of faith-based organizations from across the country.
The group was convened for the first time to discuss opportunities to benefit from and further engage their communities on President Biden’s climate, clean energy, and environmental justice agenda, including through the use of Direct Pay – a novel provision provided through the Inflation Reduction Act that enables tax-exempt entities, including houses of worship, to benefit from federal clean energy tax incentives. Read more here.
Build Back Better Act. Far reaching environmental provisions in the Build Back Better plan are up for critical vote possibly as soon as the week of September 27 to October 1. It's "all hands on deck" to ensure the bill passes the House and Senate with all the climate provisions. We urge everyone to call their member of Congress now and tell them we want the 3.5 Trillion Build Back Better plan with all the climate provisions.
The House Ways and Means Committee did a Mark up on September 23 and voted in all the climate provisions in he Build Back Better bill which include the following: https://waysandmeans.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/what-they-are-saying-green-energy-provisions-ways-and-means-proposal
September 27, 2021. We urge you to call your Congress Member, Senators Schumer and Gillibrand, and the White House and urge them to pass a fully funded Build Back Better Act---with all the climate provisions. Use this contact tool from Citizen Action.
85 Chestnut Street
Albany, New York 12210
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