Events

In December 2015, as historic multinational climate negotiations concluded in Paris, France, communities across New York State celebrated the launch of the NY Renews climate and jobs campaign. The NY Renews campaign platform calls for:

- Legally binding greenhouse gas emission reductions and a requirement to transition to a 100% renewable energy economy that eliminates the use of fossil fuels for energy production.

- Specific benchmarks and reporting requirements for all state agencies to ensure reduction of emissions, and investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy.

- Just energy policies that mandate reinvestment in communities that have historically been disadvantaged and negatively impacted by energy policies, including environmental justice communities, low income communities of color, and communities caught in the transition away from fossil fuel-based energy generating facilities.

- Good climate jobs by ensuring fair labor standards, prevailing wage for jobs that are created, and by creating a build the Future Working Group to propose and implement new projects.

Since December, over 50 organized labor, community, environmental justice, arts, and environmental groups have joined the NY Renews campaign. With the 2016 NYS legislative session in full swing, the campaign is seeking to move an ambitious climate and jobs bill in the Legislature. Current campaign members, organizations interested in joining the campaign or learning more about the legislation, and other area stakeholders are invited to an information and campaign planning meeting on March 17th in Buffalo (see details below and attached). Veteran community organizer and interim NY Renews Campaign Director Paul Getsos will be on hand from New York City to help facilitate a discussion about the campaign and its implications for Western NY.

RSVP to:

Brittny Baxter, Working Families Party, (716) 381-1438, bbaxter@workingfamilies.org

John Washington, PUSH Buffalo, (716) 884-0356, john@pushbuffalo.org

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Read a recap of the statewide NY Renews Kickoff here.

Check out scenes from Buffalo's NY Renews Party for the Climate here.