Sierra Club Releases Report Calling for New York to Reduce Transportation Emissions 55% by 2035

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Larisa Manescu, Sierra Club, larisa.manescu@sierraclub.org

ALBANY, NEW YORK -- Today, the Sierra Club released a report calling for Governor Cuomo to set a state-wide target to reduce on-road transportation emissions 55% by 2035, in order to meet New York’s long-term climate goals. The report finds that, although New York’s transportation sector is not presently on track to meet its climate goals, the 55% by 2035 target would put the state on course, while saving New Yorkers billions of dollars in public health, environmental and transportation fuel costs. The target is endorsed by Electrify NY, a statewide coalition of advocates for environmental justice, public transportation, social justice, and good jobs fighting for a clean, equitable electric transportation future for New York.

Produced by Synapse Energy Economics on behalf of the Sierra Club, the report lays out two potential policy pathways to reach the 55% by 2035 target, one focusing on policies that promote vehicle electrification and a second that relies on both vehicle electrification and reducing vehicle miles traveled (or “mode shifting”). The report finds that, under either pathway, near-term action is critical to address motor vehicle climate emissions due to the long life-spans of vehicles.

 The newly-released report contains several major findings. The full report is available online as a PDF at sc.org/NYTranspo. 

“Despite releasing the nation’s most ambitious climate legislation this summer, Governor Cuomo has yet to commit to any target for reducing emissions from the transportation sector, which is critical in addressing New York’s climate-disrupting pollution,” said Allison Considine, New York Campaign Representative with the Sierra Club. “The report shows that New York could pull a variety of policy levers to reduce transportation emissions by 55% by 2035 -  from making electric vehicles more affordable to improving and expanding public transit - but we need to start pulling them now to mitigate the worst impacts of climate and protect the health of all New Yorkers.”

"The Sierra Club's new report shows New York has the potential to realize our ambitious climate goals--but only if we make real commitments now," said Lauren Bailey, Director of Climate Policy for Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "If we're going to meet these climate benchmarks, our transition to electric vehicles will need to be quick and comprehensive, and we will need to focus on policies and programs that improve environmental quality for communities that are most burdened by vehicle emissions. We took a big step in the right direction with the passage of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act; now we must meet the goals we set by embracing programs like the Transportation and Climate Initiative, a build out of electric charging infrastructure, and transitioning public fleets to electric vehicles." 

“Transportation may be the primary source of New York’s climate pollution, but it is not an elusive problem,” said Jackson Morris, Eastern Regional Director for Climate and Clean Energy at NRDC. “New York is already leading the nation with a suite of new, ambitious climate goals, and the state’s bold action to double down on electric vehicle infrastructure is another giant leap forward. But New York has another untapped opportunity to slash transportation emissions and join its neighbors across the region in creating a cleaner, more equitable future through the Transportation and Climate Initiative. New York can and should leave its mark on shaping that future.”

 “We are excited about this new report because it provides a real guideline for how we will achieve New York’s nation-leading climate goals in the transportation sector,” said Betta Broad, Director of New Yorkers for Clean Power. “By establishing a concrete target of 55% by 2035 emissions reductions we can work backwards with policies and programs that invest in rapidly electrifying transportation while making the transition affordable and accessible.”

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About the Sierra Club: The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org. 

About Tri-State: Founded in 1993, Tri-State Transportation Campaign is dedicated to reducing car dependency in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut. TSTC has four main priorities: fixing our commutes, meeting our climate goals, stopping traffic deaths, and making transportation fair. Learn more at tstc.org.

About the National Resources Defense Council: The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 3 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.​

About New Yorkers for Clean Power: New Yorkers for Clean Power (NYCP) is a statewide collaborative campaign to rapidly shift to a clean energy economy. Through education, advocacy and organizing, the campaign engages the public, local governments and businesses to advance a range of renewable energy, energy efficiency and clean transportation solutions.

About the Sierra Club

The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with more than 3.5 million members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person's right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.