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On May 5, 2025, the Environmental Protection Network (EPN) hosted a media briefing to discuss the recent proposed 55% budget cuts by the Trump administration to the federal Environmental Protection Agency, the cuts and reorganization of the agency’s Office of Research and Development (ORD), and the potential impact of these cuts on American communities. We hear from three speakers. Michelle Roos, EPN’s Executive Director; Jennifer Orme-Zavaleta, former Principal Deputy Assistant Administrator of EPA’s Office of Research; and, Betsy Southerland, former Director of the Office of Science & Technology in EPA’s Office of Water. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine

On Monday May 12 the EcoAction Committee of the Green Party held a webinar on Zero Waste. You can view the webinar on the Green Party’s youtube channel. Zero waste, or waste minimization, is a set of principles focused on waste prevention that encourages redesigning resource life cycles so that all products are repurposed and/or reused. The goal is to avoid sending trash to landfills, incinerators, , or any other part of the environment. Here we have part of the presentation by Chris Burger who is Chair of both NY State and National Sierra Club Zero Waste Committees.

On June 4, Beyond Plastics organized a news conference to support the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and to respond to lobbying from the chemical and plastics industry, which is attempting to mislead environmental justice communities in order to protect their own profits. Chemicals found in plastic packaging are linked to health problems like cancer and developmental disorders, particularly in low-income communities of color. The news conference featured Sharon Lavigne of Rise St. James in Louisiana, where as a resident of Cancer Alley, she lives among the highest concentrations of pollution from plastics production in the country. Senator Pete Harckham, Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Sharon Lavigne, Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, and Judith Enck, president of Beyond Plastics

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New York State’s climate law , the CLCPA, set a goal of installing six gigawatts of distributed rooftop and community solar energy generation by 2025. New York achieved the 6 GW goal in 2024 – one year ahead of schedule and $421 million under budget! While the state decided to expand distributed solar goal to 10 GW by 2030, the state’s Public Services Commission decided to reallocate $271 million – two-thirds of the projected surplus – to other programs. Solar companies and climate advocates held a rally at the Capitol on May 28 to support Senator Harckham’s Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (“ASAP”) Act which will reverse the PSC decision and increase the distributed solar goal to 20 gigawatts by 2035, and enact utility interconnection reforms to lower costs. We hear from Sen. Harckham, Michael Richardson of Third Act Upstate NY; Noah Ginsberg of the NY Solar Energy Industries Association, and from two workers from the solar industry. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Rather than passing the full NY Heat Act, the Assembly instead just passed the elimination of the gas subsidy called the “100-ft rule”. By repealing this rule, utility companies will no longer be required to pay for gas infrastructure to within 100 feet of a building upon a developer’s request, costs that the utilities pass along to New Yorkers via their utility bills. Pete Sikora of New York Communities for Change discusses the fate of NY Heat and climate policy in general with the Governor and State Legislature. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

For the second year in a row, the Democratic supermajority- controlled New York State Assembly failed to vote on the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act (A1749 Glick) despite the bill having enough votes to pass. Beyond Plastics held a news conference with leaders from Brookhaven Landfill Action and Remediation Group, NAACP NYS Niagara Falls branch, and NYPIRG to discuss the implications of the Assembly failing to act as the federal government launches a full-scale attack on the climate, environment, and public health. The group also discussed the plastics and chemicals industries’ lobbying tactics against the bill, and how the Assembly let the clock run out in the waning days of session.

NY Governor Kathy Hochul, on the Monday after the legislature left town for the yea,r announced that she was directing the New York Power Authority to build a nuclear plant, probably in Central New York. One of the main reasons is to met the energy needs of the new chip factory that MIcron plans to build in Syracuse. The announcement was quickly greeted with dismay by climate and environmental groups who view nuclear as an expensive and false climate solution that presents a host of environmental and public health problems. Anne Rabe of Don’t Waste NY talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Clean Earth has submitted an application to the NYS Dept. of Environmental Conservation (DEC) to conduct a two-week pilot thermal desorption treatment of 5,000 tons of PFAS-Contaminated soil at their Ft. Edwards facility. While described as a research project, none of the staff of Clean Earth have sufficient scientific credentials for such a study. Angela Pressley, Ph.D., of The Fort Stops PFAS, speaks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about the conerns of local residents about this project.

July 1 was the deadline for public comments on NYS’s reporting regulations for greenhouse gas emissions. Bob Cohen of Citizen Action talks about the regs but notes that far more important and not yet issued are the state’s regulations to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Climate activists several years ago successfully got a moratorium on the use of fossil fueled power plants for cryptomining while an environmental impact assessment was completed by the NYS DEC (Dept. of Environmental Conservation). While the moratorium has expired, the draft Environmental Impact Statement was recently released. Irene Weiser of Fossil Free Tompkins discusses the EIS with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Four climate justice groups have sued NYS, claiming it is failing to take action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as mandated in the CLCPA climate law. Much of the suit focused on the Governor's delay in implementing her cap and invest program to reduce emissions, “prolonging New Yorkers’ exposure to air pollution … especially in disadvantaged communities.” Caroline Chen of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest and Eric Walker of WE Act for Environmental Justice, discuss the case with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The State Legislature this week passed their one house budget resolutions. As usual, the state Senate was stronger on climate than the Assembly or Governor. Pete Sikora of New York Communities for Change discusses the climate proposals with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Several hundred New Yorkers traveled to the state Capitol on Wednesday March 19 as part of the Renewable Heat Now campaign. A main focus was the passage of the NY Heat Act, which passed the Senate last year but stalled in the State Assembly. NY Heat would require state agencies – especially the Public Service Commission – to align their policies and regulations with the state’s climate law (CLCPA) and to cap utility bills for low-income New Yorkers at 6% of their income. The Assembly has not supported the bill while the Governor has balked at the 6% cap though that is already a PSC goal. We hear from Jessica Azulay of AGREE; Emily Skydel of Food and Water Watch; Betta Broad of New Yorkers for Clean Power; and Michael Hernandez of Rewiring America.

A press conference was held at the State Capitol on Wednesday March 19 to promote the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act. We hear from the lead sponsors, Senator Pete Harckham and Assemblymember Deborah Glick, Chairs of the Environmental Conservation Committees, Kathy Nolan of the Physicians for Social Responsibility NY; and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastic.

Several hundred New Yorkers rallied at the state Capitol on Wednesday, March 19 as part of the Renewable Heat Now campaign. The lobbyists gathered for a lunch time rally on the Million Dollar Staircase to encourage state lawmakers and the Governor to include the NY Heat in the State Budget which is due April 1. NY Heat would require state agencies – especially the Public Service Commission – to align their actions and policies with the state’s climate law (CLCPA) and to cap utility bills for low-income New Yorkers at 6% of their income. The Assembly has not supported the bill while the Governor has balked at the 6% cap though that is already a PSC goal. We hear from Liz Moran of Earth Justice followed by the two main legislative sponsors of the bill” Senator Liz Krueger and Assemblymember JoAnn Simon, who replaced Pat Fahy as the lead Assembly sponsor when Fahy moved over to the Senate. We also hear from Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha, who is also with DSA. We finish up with a short statement from Assemblymemeber Tony Simone. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (Part 2)

Residents across the state are struggling to keep up with rising energy bills – and these surging bills are hitting low and moderate-income New Yorkers particularly hard. The state’s Empower+ program, which is designed to help low-income homeowners and renters make energy-related improvements to their homes to help lower energy bills, is at risk of being severely underfunded this budget cycle. Michael Hernandez of Rewiring America talks about the program and the state budget with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The state Department of Environment Conservation (DEC) approved permits Friday to expand two Hudson Valley compressor stations in Athens and Dover as part of the Iroquois gas pipeline. The entire project, which includes upgrading two Connecticut facilities, allows another 125 million cubic feet of fracked gas to flow along the 414-mile pipeline from Canada to New York City. Emily Skydel of Food and Water Watch and Greene County activist Mary Finneran talk with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Thursday, February 13, climate activists disrupted the monthly meeting of the Public Service Commissioners in Albany. The immediate focus of the protest was the decision last Friday to approve the expansion of the Iroquois pipeline which builds out the fossil fuel infrastructure and will deliver more gas. The Hochul administration, while acknowledging that the expansion conflicts with the mandates of the state’s climate law, argues that it is needed to ensure delivery of services in NYC especially in cold months. The protest also highlighted the need for the state to finally enact the NY Heat Act to ensure that all state agencies, starting with the PSC, comply with the state’s climate law. We hear from a number of protestors, including Melissa from Food and Water Watch, who kicked off the protest by standing up to speak to the Commission as she was swarmed by PSC staff and state police; Michael Richardson of Third Act Upstate; Dr. Sandra Steingraber; Cary Gardner, Vice Chair of the NY Progressive Action Network; and Bill Kish of Millerton. By Mark Dunlea of the Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (full audio)

Despite the significant financial and environmental problems with nuclear power, Governor Hochul is making a major push to develop more of it in NY. Partly it is out of the desire to respond to the skyrocketing electrical demands of data centers, AI, the Micron chip fab plant in Syracuse, and cryptocurrency. Many call nuclear a false climate solution since it does have a carbon footprint related to the use of cement in construction and the footprint from the processing, mining and distribution of the fuel. Plus the enormous problem of radioactive waste and the very long time needed to build nuclear plants when global warming is already breaking through the target cap of 1.5 degree C. Anne Rabe of Don’t Waste NY talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Tuesday, February 25, the NY Department of State (DOS) and NYSERDA released a revised draft of the 2024 Building/Energy Code update. A public hearing and vote was held on February 28. While many praised the council for including the provisions of the All Electric Building Act in their draft, a number of key proposals made by the Climate Aciton Council were relegated to an advisory appendix rather than being treated as the mandate they are (e.g., requiring nw buildings to be wired to accept solar, electric vehicles charging). We hear from a number of speakers, starting with Assemblymember Gallagher of Brooklyn; Assemblymember Sarahana Shrestha of New Paltz; Justin Flagg representing Senator Kruger; Assemblymember Anna Kelles of Ithaca; Eric Wood of NYPIRG; and a staff person for ACEEE the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy

 On December 17, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace held a forum on Climate Change and Resource Wars. Many wars are fought over access to resources, such as oil and rare minerals, major factors in the present conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The military accounts for an estimated 5% of the global greenhouse emissions and diverts critical funds from the transition to a clean energy future. In this report we hear first from moderator Pippa Bartolotti of BNP, Mark Dunlea of the Green Education and Legal Fund, Mary Finneran and Xanthe Plymale of Fridays for Future Capital District.

Rensselaer officials and city residents are unhappy with the December 23rd announcement by the NYS DEC that they had renewed the permit for the Dunn landfill. Bob Welton and Jessica Welshans of Rensselaer Environmental Coalition talk about local reactions and next steps with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On December 10 – 12, 2024, hundreds of New Yorkers participated in a 3 day occupation of the NY State Capitol to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Climate Superfund Act to make the state’s largest greenhouse gas polluters pay $3 billion a year to help repair some of the damages they have caused. 19 elders were arrested. The first dozen of the arrestees were in Albany City Court on January 7. We start off with two faith leaders, Pastor Daniel Carlson and Rev. John Paalberg, followed by lead organizer Michael Richardson of Third Act Upstate and Steve Crofter of Third Act Vermont. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson

In Tuesday’s State of the State, Governor Hochul announced that she was further delaying implementation of her cap-trade-and-invest program to put a price on greenhouse gas emissions. Caroline Chen of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest talks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine why this is bad news for environmental justice.

On Tuesday, January 28, over 200 advocates came to the State Capitol to join faith leaders and elected officials to urge the state legislature to pass the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act and the Bigger Better Bottle Bill, kicking off this year’s campaign to end plastic pollution, save tax dollars, provide new revenue for localities, reduce plastic packaging, and protect New Yorkers’ health. The Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act will reduce plastic packaging by 30% incrementally over 12 years, as well as phase out some of the most toxic chemicals used in packaging, including PFAS and vinyl chloride. It will slash greenhouse gas emissions associated with plastic (which are currently on track to outpace the emissions from coal by 2030). It will also make polluters pay by establishing a modest fee on packaging..The Bigger Better Bottle Bill builds on the 1982 law by expanding the types of beverage containers that will have refundable deposits, such as sports drinks, non-carbonated drinks, wine, and spirits; raises the deposit fee to a dime (it has been a nickel since 1983); and raise the handling fee for redemption centers. We hear first from Rev. Kathryn Beilke (interfaith coordinator, Beyond Plastics), followed by Alexis Goldsmith, national organizer of BP; Senator May, lead sponsor of the expanded bottle bill; and Blair Horner of NYPIRG. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Tuesday, January 28, the NYS legislature held a twelve hour hearing on the environmental and energy issues in Governor Hochul’s proposed state budget. Many expressed concerns about the slowing down of climate action by the Hochul administration, including the ongoing delay in implementing some form of carbon pricing. In part two of our coverage, we hear from Laurie Wheelock, Executive Director of the Public Utility Law Project; Helen Mancini of Fridays for the Future NYC; and Judith Enck of Beyond Plastics. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The State Legislature has begun their marathon hearings on the state budget, with 12 issue areas spread out over 4 weeks. The Environment and Energy was one of the first hearings on Tuesday Jan. 28. The public had to wait 8 hours before they were allowed to testify for 3 minutes as lawmakers spent hours asking questions - with often vague answers - from state agency heads. Governor Hochul's retreat on climate issues such as cap-and-invest, Build Public Renewables, and NY Heat was a major focus. We hear the testimony of 3 leading environmentalists; Rich Schrader of NRDC; Katherine Nadeau of Environmental Advocates; and Liz Moran of Earth Justice.

On Tuesday February 4, several hundred climate activists were at the State Capitol to promote the Renewable Heat Now Campaign. The main push was to finally pass the NY Heat Act. The Act, which has passed the NYS Senate, Would stop subsidies for gas expansion (e.g., the 100 foot rule); would align state agency actions (e.g., PSC) with the state's climate law (CLCPA); and would cap utility bills for low income households at 6%. Among other issues the campaign is supporting is the Renewable Capitol Act to convert the Capitol complex, including the Empire State Plaza, to 100% renewable energy within three years. We hear about the campaign and other critical climate issues from Jeanne Bergman with SANE Energy; Adam Flint, Director of Clean Energy Programs at Network for a Sustainable Tomorrow; Albany resident Fred Pfieffer; Eric Weltman of Food and Water Watch; Betta Broad of New Yorkers for Clean Power; Lena Goings of Fridays for Future NYC; and David Alexis of New York Communities for Change. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

A new report found that gaps in environmental regulations enabled 89 million gallons of landfill leachate, chemically-laced water runoff, to be dumped into the Mohawk and Hudson rivers annually from 2019 to 2023. Many communities obtain their drinking water from these rivers. Leachate is created as water such as rain or snow melt percolates through landfills, becoming toxic after picking up chemicals from consumer, construction and industrial waste. Mark Dunlea of the Hudson Mohawk Magazine talks with Rebecca Martin and Jen Epstein of the Hudson and Mohawk Rivers Leachate Collaborative. (photo by Judith German-Heins)

On December 17, Bethlehem Neighbors for Peace held a forum on Climate Change and Resource Wars. Many wars are fought over access to resources, such as oil and rare minerals, major factors in the present conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine. The military accounts for an estimated 5% of the global greenhouse emissions and diverts critical funds from the transition to a clean energy future. In this report we hear from Pippa Bartolotti of BNP, Mark Dunlea of the Green Education and Legal Fund, and Mary Finneran.

Rewiring America has released Breathe easy: Household electrification as a public health intervention to improve outdoor air quality, a new analysis that models the health benefits of electrifying homes in communities across the U.S. Electrifying the nation’s homes would notably improve outdoor air quality, leading to 3,400 fewer premature deaths, 1,300 fewer hospital admissions and ER visits, 220,000 fewer asthma attacks, and 670,000 fewer days of reduced activity or missed work for Americans each year. Wael Kanj of Rewiring America talks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The three day occupation at the Capitol which began on Dec. 10 to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Climate Superfund Act ended by joining a press conference outside the Assembly chambers on Dec. 12 in support of the Renewable Heat Now campaign, one of a dozen regional events across the state. The campaign includes support for the Renewable Capitol Act and the NY HEAT Act. In part 2 of our coverage, we hear from Assemblymember Phil Steck; Liz Moran of Earth Justice; Michael Hernandez of Rewiring America; 3 students from RPI Sunrise, including Kriti Sharma and Hannah Miller; and Alycia Bacon. This has been Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Rewiring America has released Breathe easy: Household electrification as a public health intervention to improve outdoor air quality, a new analysis that models the health benefits of electrifying homes in communities across the U.S. Electrifying the nation’s homes would notably improve outdoor air quality, leading to 3,400 fewer premature deaths, 1,300 fewer hospital admissions and ER visits, 220,000 fewer asthma attacks, and 670,000 fewer days of reduced activity or missed work for Americans each year. Wael Kanj of Rewiring America talks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

In June, in the closing hours of the legislative session, Governor Hochul upheaved the political world by shockingly unilaterally announcing that she was pausing congestion pricing in downtown Manhattan, apparently in an effort to help Democrats with suburban voters. Now that the election is over and with her facing several lawsuits over her action, Hochul has announced that congestion pricing will now launch at the end of the year, though at $9 per trip rather than $15. Christopher Schuyler, Managing Attorney with the Disability Justice Program of New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, discusses the status and importance of the program with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

On Saturday, November 9 elected officials, city residents and environmental leaders gathered on the banks of the Hudson River near the BASF toxic waste site in the City of Rensselaer to express strong opposition to a new incinerator project being proposed by a New Jersey company called Harbor Rock. In part two of Hudson Mohawk’s coverage, we hear from Rensselaer Mayor Mike Stammel; Bob Welton of Rensselaer Environmental Coalition; and Joe Ritchie of Lights Out Norlite. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. Audio provided by Sonja Stark.

On Saturday, November 9 elected officials, city residents and environmental leaders gathered on the banks of the Hudson River near the BASF toxic waste site in the City of Rensselaer to express strong opposition to a new incinerator project. A New Jersey company called Harbor Rock is eyeing the property to incinerate river sediment from the bottom of the Hudson River and possibly other rivers and New York Harbor. In part one of Hudson Mohawk’s coverage, we hear from Jessica Welshans, a local resident, and Judith Enck, former regional administrator for the federal EPA. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. Audio provided by Sonja Stark.

Nov. 13 - The state Department of Environmental Conservation has denied the various air and waste permits for the controversial biochar plant proposal in the Town of Moreau. The company wanted to process up to 15 percent of the biosolids generated in New York without first demonstrating that its process works at scale and is protective of human health and the environment. Tracy Frisch of the Clean Air Action Network of Glens Falls talks with Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

New Yorkers will gather at the State Capitol on Dec. 10 to 12, with some participants pledging to engage in nonviolent civil disobedience, to underscore the urgency of the climate crisis. The three-day sit-in demands Governor Hochul sign the Climate Change Superfund Act, part of a growing national movement to hold Big Oil accountable. Sheldon Pollock of Third Act talks to Mark Dunlea of Hudson Mohawk Magazine about the event.

On December 10 to 12, climate activists held a 3 day occupation of the state capitol to call upon Governor Hochul to sign the climate superfund act into law to make polluters pay. A few days before the rally, Governor Hochul began negotiations with the state legislature on changes she wants. The Climate Superfund Act would raise $75 billion over 25 years from the largest greenhouse gas emitters over the last several decades. In part 2 of our coverage of the Dec. 10 rally, we hear from Helen Mancini and Keanu Arpels-Josiah of Fridays for Future NYC; Fred Kowall of United University Professions; Rev. John Paarlberg; Dr. Sandra Steingraber; and Kaitlyn Quach of Food and Water Watch.

The three day occupation at the Capitol which began on Dec. 10 to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Climate Superfund Act ended by joining a press conference outside the Assembly chambers on Dec. 12 in support of the Renewable Heat Now campaign, one of a dozen regional events across the state. The campaign includes support for the Renewable Capitol Act and the NY HEAT Act. The NY HEAT Act will cap consumer utility costs, end outdated mandates that expand fossil fuel infrastructure, and help New York meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals of the New York Climate Act. The Renewable Capitol Act requires the New York State Capitol, Empire State Plaza (ESP), and other state-owned buildings in downtown Albany to move to 100% clean renewable energy within three years. In part one of our coverage, we start with SUNY New Paltz Prof. Brian Obach, who gave the last teachin at the Climate Superfund event about labor and climate, We then here from emcee Eduardo Hernandez of Citizen Action, Mert Simpson of SHARE and Sheridan Hollow resident Lillian Garland. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

200 climate activists rallied at the Capitol on Tuesday December 10 to get Governor Hochul to sign the climate superfund Act. In part one, we hear from rally organizer Michael Richardson of Third Act and Blair Horner of NYPIRG. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

The three day occupation at the Capitol which began on Dec. 10 to urge Governor Hochul to sign the Climate Superfund Act ended by joining a press conference outside the Assembly chambers on Dec. 12 in support of the Renewable Heat Now campaign, one of a dozen regional events across the state. The campaign includes support for the Renewable Capitol Act and the NY HEAT Act. The NY HEAT Act will cap consumer utility costs, end outdated mandates that expand fossil fuel infrastructure, and help New York meet the greenhouse gas reduction goals of the New York Climate Act. The Renewable Capitol Act requires the New York State Capitol, Empire State Plaza (ESP), and other state-owned buildings in downtown Albany to move to 100% clean renewable energy within three years. In part one of our coverage, we start with SUNY New Paltz Prof. Brian Obach, who gave the last teachin at the Climate Superfund event about labor and climate, We then here from emcee Eduardo Hernandez of Citizen Action, Mert Simpson of SHARE and Sheridan Hollow resident Lillian Garland. With Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Climate Can’t Wait, a collaborative of dozens of climate groups, has given Governor Hochul a D minus on a climate report card, including implementation of the state's climate law (CLCPA) passed five years ago. The report graded the Governor on 13 policy implementation and legislative proposals. Ruth Foster talks to Mark Dunlea for the Hudson Mohawk Magazine

You can listen to an interview with Mark and Sue Hughes Smith with Evan Dawson on Connections on WXXI (NPR) Rochester. https://www.wxxinews.org/show/connections/2024-10-28/why-did-climate-groups-give-governor-hochul-a-d-on-her-climate-action-work

Public Power NY says that the draft plan by the New York Power Authority to build renewable energy falls short of the state's climate goals. Alex Patterson of Public Power NY discusses the plan with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine. (Press release 

On October 11 and 12, Siena College hosted a two- day symposium on sustainability, integral ecology and climate justice. We hear about climate justice from the keynote speaker, United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine

Siena College hosted a two- day symposium on climate justice on October 10-11. We hear from two of the panelists who responded to the opening remarks by the UN Secretary General. We hear the concluding remarks from Medha Palnati a Siena graduate and current medical student. We then hear from Rev. Kathryn Beilke of Beyond Plastics. By Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine

On Tuesday October 22, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced a plan to develop a new policy to exclude prospective private markets investments in downstream and midstream fossil fuel infrastructure for the portfolios of three of the City’s public pension systems, expanding upon prior divestment actions. This would make the NYC funds the first pension systems in the country known to do so. Lander’s decision stands in marked contrast to the decision by NYS Comptroller Tom DiNapoli in February of this year to reverse his commitment to divest after determining the most of the major gas and oil companies were now committed to effective climate action. We hear from Lander, high school student and Friday for Future organizer Lena Goings, and Doreen Fulvio, a city pensioner active with 350NYC.

A new report shows how scaled-up demand management can accelerate the phasing out of New York City’s harmful fossil fuel power plants—which disproportionately impact the most vulnerable New Yorkers—while ensuring a reliable and resilient energy grid. The report shows how governments can avoid costly investments in fossil fuel infrastructure, reduce energy burdens for ratepayers, and meet the state’s ambitious climate goals. Megan Carr of the New York Lawyers for Public Interest's Environmental Justice Program talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

While New York State's Climate Superfund Act is still awaiting a decision by Governor Hochul as to whether or not to sign in, Cong. Nadler has introduced an even more robust version of the federal level. Blair Horner of NYPIRG discusses why large greenhouse gas emitters should pay to fix the damages they have caused rather than taxpayers. With more Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.

Fridays for Future, the movement started by Greta Thunburg, has called for a Global Climate Strike on September 20, 2024. RPI Sunrise Movement and Fridays for Future Capital District NY are leading a rally in Albany at 2 PM on the 20th in front of the Governor's Mansion on Eagle Street Key demands include having the Governor sign the Climate Superfund Act and speeding up state action to ensure that the state meets if not exceeds its 2030 climate goals. Xanthe Plymale of XR and FFF talks with Mark Dunlea for Hudson Mohawk Magazine.