New York's Climate Goals Under Threat as EPA Proposes Emissions Rollback

The New York state government's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are facing significant challenges due to changes at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), which is proposing to reverse its stance on climate change and roll back car emissions standards. The proposed rule would make it harder for New York to fulfill its 2019 climate law, which aims to phase out gas vehicles by 2035, reduce emissions by 40% by 2030, and 85% by 2050, as well as transition to renewable power. The state has made progress in cutting emissions, with a 10% reduction so far, but its energy transition is lagging, with New York City's grid still powered by over 90% fossil fuels.

Key Takeaways:

• The EPA's proposed rule would reverse its stance on climate change and roll back car emissions standards, making it harder for New York to meet its climate goals.
• The state's climate law, which aims to phase out gas vehicles by 2035 and reduce emissions by 85% by 2050, relies heavily on the EPA's car emissions standards to regulate greenhouse gas emissions.
• Transportation accounts for one-third of New York's climate pollution, which exacerbates extreme weather and respiratory conditions.
• The EPA's proposed rule would mean that car manufacturers would be able to produce vehicles that can release greenhouse gases without any limits, undermining the state's efforts to decarbonize transportation.
• The American Petroleum Institute, which had challenged the emissions standards in court, applauded the move, stating that the proposal "would have effectively banned new gas-powered vehicles."
• The EPA's move would also affect the state's ability to impose restrictions on greenhouse gas emissions coming out of vehicle tailpipes, making it difficult for the state to meet its 2050 climate target of reducing emissions by 85%.
• New York's climate impact is also threatened by the EPA's re-evaluation of its NOx rules, which limit nitrous oxide emissions for trucks.
• The state's options for controlling car emissions, such as imposing higher gasoline taxes and fees on registering gas-powered cars, are still available.
• Gutting the endangerment finding also translates to no federal incentives and funding for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, such as the $7,500 federal EV credit.

Statistics:

• 10% of New York's emissions have been cut so far under the state's climate law.
• Fossil fuels still power over 90% of New York City's grid.
• Transportation accounts for one-third of New York's climate pollution.
• The EPA's current standard reduces carbon dioxide emissions to 186 grams of carbon dioxide per mile by 2026.
• The 2032 standard would reduce the carbon dioxide limit by about half, or the equivalent of 20 packets of sugar per mile.
• The Inflation Reduction Act allocated grants for EV charging stations, resiliency, and solar panels, which the state has lost due to federal government action.

Sources:

• New York Department of Environmental Conservation Commissioner Amanda Lefton
• EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin
• Michael Gerrard, director of Columbia Law School's Sabin Center for Climate Change Law
• Kenneth Gillingham, professor of environmental and energy economics at Yale University's School of the Environment
• The American Petroleum Institute
• The Inflation Reduction Act
• Gothamist.com
• EPA.gov