Executive Order No. 24 sets a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in New York State by 80 percent below the levels emitted in 1990 by the year 2050. The Executive Order also created the New York Climate Action Council (CAC) with a directive to prepare a Climate Action Plan. The Climate Action Plan will assess how all economic sectors can reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and adapt to climate change. The Plan will also identify the extent to which such actions support New York's goals for a clean energy economy.

Structure

The CAC drew on several advisory panels including an Integration Advisory Panel (IAP) made up of New Yorkers who provided advice and assisted the CAC in evaluating the best methods to achieve the Governor's GHG reduction goals and prepare New York communities and natural resources for the impacts of  climate change. CAC representatives and IAP members participated in Technical Work Groups (TWGs) representing the key sectors of the states' economy. Four technical work groups focused on "mitigation" -- ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A fifth TWG addressed "adaptation" -- measures that will safeguard public health, the environment, and our infrastructure from expected climatic changes. The work of the TWGs informed the decision making of the CAC and the New York Climate Action Plan. In addition, the 2050 Visioning Advisory Panel offered guidance and long-term perspective to the CAC, TWGs, and IAP on key design options available to achieve the Executive Order's goal of a low-carbon, climate-change-resilient New York State by year 2050. The Center for Climate Strategies, a nonprofit that has assisted many states with climate action planning, provided facilitation and technical analysis support to the CAC, the IAP, and the TWGs.

Organization Chart of NY CAP Participants

Foundation

The development of the New York Climate Action Plan will be informed by ongoing projects addressing climate mitigation options and adaptation strategies, such as the 2009 State Energy Plan, ClimAID adaptation project, the NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force, and PlaNYC.  

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The New York State
Climate Action Plan
Interim Report is now available.
Click here for the Interim Report.
[600 pages, 18.0 MB]

For individual sections and chapters,
and instructions for submitting comments
on the Interim Report,
visit the
Interim Report page.