Climate Reality NYC Advocacy Team

To make progress on stopping climate change, we need all levels of government - federal state and local - to put in place policies that curb climate pollution and encourage the green transition. Our Advocacy Team advocates for the policy framework which will transition the US off the use of fossil fuels to protect us from the worst impacts of climate change.

Some of the priorities that we have worked on are:

• The Inflation Reduction Act (Federal; 2022)

• Advanced Building Codes Act (NYS; 2022)

• All-Electric Buildings Act (NYS; 2023)

• Defeating Intro. 772 (NYC; 2025)

• 100’ Rule Elimination (NYS; 2025)

Our focus is advocating for the passage of legislation required to meet our historic commitments set out in the Climate Leadership & Community Protection Act (CLCPA or the Climate Act) and protecting New York City’s landmark building decarbonization law, LL97.

We act primarily as lobbyists, meeting our elected officials to hold them accountable, but also use other tools such as letter writing and phone banking. We partner with Renewable Heat Now, NY Renews, Beyond Plastics and CRETF to advocate for the measures required to achieve these ambitious CLCPA commitments.

If you want to join our team please contact us at climatereality.chapter@gmail.com.

policy Priorities 2026

1. Solar Package:

   • Accelerate Solar for Affordable Power (aka ASAP Act) doubles NY's successful residential and community solar goals, continues NY-Sun and more. Read our memorandum of support.

   • Solar Up Now NY (aka SUNNY Act) legalizes balcony solar. Read our memorandum of support.

   • Automated Solar Permitting requires NY towns to adopt a residential automated solar permitting platform. Read our memorandum of support.

2. Advocating for the NY Power Authority to deploy 15 GW of renewable energy under the requirements of the Build Public Renewables Act.

3. J-51 Tax Abatement for LMI coops and condos to refund investments to hit NYC's building decarbonization goals (LL97).

We are also active in defending LL97, NYC’s groundbreaking building decarbonization law, and oppose Council Member Lee’s Intro 282 which creates public health sacrifice zones in disadvantaged communities without making any effort to actually help low- and moderate-income coops and condos reduce their air and climate pollution. Read our memorandum of opposition.

supported legislation 2026

1. The New York State Board of Regents unanimously approved a statewide K-12 climate education requirement! You can read the announcement from the National Wildlife Federation here.
   

the team in action