CEC 2009 Campaigns for a Green New York

Pollution Prevention /  Environmental Health Campaign

CEC and the Alliance for a Toxic-Free Future (ATFF) member groups are working on many initiatives to educate consumers, state agencies and policymakers on the need to reduce the worst toxic chemicals and use safer substitutes in consumer goods.

• New Legislation: CEC will be working on needed new legislation to protect children and adults from toxic chemicals in consumer products, such as Bisphenol A and perfluorinated chemicals, as well as to reduce the toxic chemicals used by businesses in New York State.

• NYS Pollution Prevention Institute: CEC was instrumental in the creation of the PPI which helps businesses reduce their use of toxic chemicals by providing technical assistance, research and education on pollution prevention and green chemistry. CEC helped obtain $3 million for the Institute. CEC was appointed to the PPI Advisory Committee and is supporting a priority focus on the worst toxic chemicals, such as those that are very toxic, persist and bioaccumulate in the environment (PBTs).  

• Green Purchasing Program: CEC helped develop the Governor's 2008 Green Purchasing Executive Order which requires state agencies to prioritize energy efficiency, waste reduction, and avoid purchasing products that contain toxic substances. The state influences the consumer market for more environmentally sound products and practices with its $9 billion in state purchases CEC is supporting effective implementation, including the establishment of a list of PBT chemicals and carcinogens to avoid purchasing.  Our Board Co-Chairperson is working on the Advisory Committee for State Agencies. Green Purchasing Legislation is a goal for 2009.

• Promoting Green Buildings: CEC has launched a public education program with workshops featuring the popular Building Green consumer guide which is available in libraries across the state.  CEC is educating architects, consumers and organizations about the benefits and practices of green buildings.

• Promoting Green Jobs & Economic Development: CEC is advancing a vision of a sustainable future in which economic justice and environmental justice are key principles. Green jobs are ones that benefit the environment. Investment in green jobs can improve the environment, build a non-polluting energy future and create good jobs at livable wages for workers. These green jobs should include safe and healthy work environments.  We are seeking also to broaden the conversation about green jobs to go beyond energy efficiency and renewables to include jobs in reuse, recycling, remanufacturing, and other needed environmental infrastructure projects.

Zeroing Out Waste Campaign

CEC has a new campaign to convince the state to improve its regulations and Solid Waste Management Plan with a priority focus on achieving zero waste which includes waste prevention, waste reduction, reuse, recycling, and composting. CEC has organized a NY Zero Waste Alliance and is working with groups around the state to promote sound solid waste solutions, to build the needed infrastructure and to fight bad projects like new incinerators. We currently serve on the state's Solid Waste Management Advisory Group.

Cleaning up Pollution

CEC and a coalition of state groups are advocating for major improvements in the state's unsafe soil cleanup standards for Brownfield toxic sites, the reduction in the creation of hazardous waste, the cleanup of existing hazardous waste sites and better policies that ensure adequate citizen participation.  

Radioactive Waste Cleanup Campaign & New Nuclear Power Plants

CEC and a coalition of groups are advocating for the permanent cleanup of the West Valley nuclear waste site near Buffalo. In December of 2008 a legislatively funded Full cost Accounting  Study was released that found that a complete cleanup of the West Valley site would be not just the safest option but also the least expensive over the long term. We are working to get government commitment to properly cleanup the site and protect the Great Lakes and the drinking water supply for millions of people.

A new nuclear power plant is proposed in Oswego, NY on the shore of Lake Ontario. NY needs no more radioactive waste to deal with; we have too many rad waste sites that are not cleaned up. We don’t need more expensive electricity; NY has the most expensive in the nation. NY needs environmentally sound, sustainable solutions for our energy needs. CEC will be working to prevent the approval of this new nuclear power plant.

Environmental Justice

Equity and fundamental fairness guide our efforts to advance environmental justice and protection for all New Yorkers. Since 2008 we have been serving on the Governor’s Interagency Task Force on Environmental Justice with the goal of correcting some of the existing environmental inequities in our state.