Leading By Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program

E X E C U T I V E  O R D E R

Leading By Example: Directing State Agencies to Adopt a Sustainability and Decarbonization Program

WHEREAS, the State of New York (“NYS” or “State”) is dedicated to the pursuit of environmental quality, sound public health, economic prosperity, and social well-being; and

WHEREAS, the use and disposal of materials, and the generation and use of energy, can have significant adverse impacts on environmental quality, public health and the climate; and

WHEREAS, the State's policies include conserving, improving, and protecting natural resources and the environment; preventing water, air, and land pollution; and enhancing the health, safety, and welfare of State residents and their overall economic and social well-being ; and

WHEREAS, it is the State's policy to promote cost-effective methods to reduce energy and resource consumption, and reduce or eliminate the use of hazardous substances and the generation of hazardous substances, pollution, and waste at the source; and

WHEREAS, the State's solid waste management priorities include reducing the generation of solid waste and reusing and recycling materials; and

WHEREAS, the State’s policies to advance environmental justice include improving the environment in communities, specifically minority and low-income communities, and addressing disproportionate adverse environmental impacts that may exist in those communities; and

WHEREAS, the State's procurement of commodities, services, and technology can be enhanced through State agency and public authority choices that minimize the negative environmental and health impacts of their operations; and

WHEREAS, State government can and should continue to lead in environmental stewardship through the use of green procurement and sustainable management practices; and

WHEREAS, State facilities and property can serve as testbeds for the deployment of clean energy projects and new technologies to scale, thereby accelerating widespread adoption of clean energy projects and technologies in the public and private sectors; and

WHEREAS, on July 18, 2019, the State enacted the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (the “Climate Act”), the most ambitious climate legislation in the United States. The Climate Act established a Climate Action Council charged with developing a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in every sector of the State’s economy; and

WHEREAS, Section 7 of the Climate Act addresses climate change actions by NYS agencies, and specifically that Section 7.1 states that NYS agencies shall assess and implement strategies to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions; and

WHEREAS, Section 7.3 of the Climate Act also directs all State agencies, offices, authorities, and divisions to prioritize reductions of greenhouse gas emissions and co-pollutants in Disadvantaged Communities as identified pursuant to Subdivision 5 of Section 75-0101 of the Environmental Conservation Law (“ECL”); and

WHEREAS, the State has already committed to meet 100 percent of its Office of General Services (“OGS”)-managed State agency facility electricity demand in New York City with renewable energy by 2025.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, KATHY HOCHUL, Governor of the State of New York, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the State of New York, do hereby order as follows:

III.  Training, Staff, and Support

VI.  Buying and Operating Green

VII.  Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions

IX.  Reducing Use of Toxic Substances.

XI.  Low Impact Development

XII.  Promoting Biodiversity and Habitat Protection

XV.  Repeal of Prior Executive Orders

G I V E N   under my hand and the Privy Seal of the State in the City of Albany this twentieth day of September in the year two thousand twenty-two.

BY THE GOVERNOR     

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