July has been another roller-coaster for climate justice activists. From weathering a record-breaking deadly NYC heat wave, to the seismic Schumer-Manchin climate deal, climate change has been thrust to the forefront of policy debate. At press time, NYC-EJA, our members and allies continue to analyze the climate deal struck by Senate Majority Leader Schumer and Senator Manchin - a deal that confoundingly promises both significant reductions in the U.S.’s greenhouse gases, while encouraging deeply troubling new gas and oil off-shore leases. As the analysis and debate rages, read on to learn more about our latest campaigns, including the launch & reboot of CAMP-EJ 2.0 |
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Launch of our Community Air Mapping Project for Environmental Justice! |
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Last week we officially kicked-off the second iteration of our Community Air Mapping Project for Environmental Justice (CAMP-EJ) which is a citywide project that aims to raise awareness and address the higher rates of negative health outcomes faced by low income communities of color through the disproportionate exposure to air pollution and extreme heat. CAMP-EJ is grassroots-led, involving NYC-EJA member organizatio ns El Puente, UPROSE, The Point CDC, Nos Quedamos and GOLES, working with community members to collect and visualize localized air quality and heat data in key areas of their neighborhoods, & recommend mitigation and regulatory reform efforts to reduce air pollution disparities. |
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Volunteers from GOLES and The Point CDC out monitoring air quality. |
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Volunteers on bikes with heat monitors. |
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The project employs a number of low-cost, palm-sized, portable air quality monitors called to measure hyperlocal air quality and characterize air pollution exposures at more refined spatial and temporal scales than is possible using existing City and State data. To measure heat data, community members will use bicycle-mounted heat sensors to capture data at various times throughout the day. NYC-EJA is working with technical assistance partners HabitatMap and CAPA Strategies on hyperlocal air quality monitoring and heat monitoring respectively.
The formulation and execution of CAMP-EJ was informed by NYC-EJA’s member organization’s concerns with air pollution and extreme heat in their neighborhoods and the noticeable everyday impacts on the health of their communities. Led by five community-based organizations in the South Bronx (Nos Quedamos & The Point), Lower East Side (GOLES), Sunset Park (UPROSE) & North Brooklyn (El Puente), CAMP-EJ will empower communities to collect and visualize hyperlocal air quality and heat data and leverage this to demand mitigation measures that will improve air quality, public health, and community development.
Watch our Executive Director Eddie Bautista's interview on NY1 about CAMP-EJ and more!
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NYS Assembly Hearing on Renewable Energy |
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On August 28th, members of the PEAK Coalition, including our Energy Planner Daniel Chu, testified at the New York State Assembly's hearing on the role of state authorities in renewable energy development. They urged the Assembly to hold a special session and pass the New York State Build Public Renewables Act (AD1466D), a critical step to ensure that New York can fulfill the mandates of NYS's landmark Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) and save lives from power plant pollution, citing our history of working with the New York Power Authority to make a just energy transition happen.
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Congestion Pricing - Back on Track! |
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In July, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) announced that the Central Business District Tolling Program, or congestion pricing, is moving forward! The program’s environmental assessment is currently being evaluated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and is expected to be released on or about August 10. Once the document is virtually released, the MTA will host six virtual public hearings towards the end of August to gather feedback on the proposed program. The program is expected to generate $1 billion in annual revenue to be invested into NYC’s public transit system.
NYC-EJA has long championed the congestion pricing plan and the program is an example of a targeted approach to reducing local emissions. NYC-EJA will be sure to continue to voice the importance of this plan and share the dates and times once registration is available to submit comments. Interested parties are also able to stay connected and receive updates from the MTA by clicking here.
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Sincerely,
Eddie Bautista
Executive Director
New York City Environmental Justice Alliance
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