In August of 2009 Governor David A. Paterson signed Executive Order No. 24  setting 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 draft Climate Action Plan by September 30, 2010. 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 will draw on several advisory panels including an Integration Advisory Panel (IAP) made up of New Yorkers who will provide advice and assist 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 will participate in Technical Work Groups (TWGs) representing the key sectors of the states' economy. Four technical work groups will focus on "mitigation" -- ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. A fifth TWG will address "adaptation" -- measures that will safeguard public health, the environment, and our infrastructure from expected climatic changes. The work of the TWGs will inform the decision making of the CAC and the New York Climate Action Plan. In addition, the 2050 Visioning Advisory Panel will offer 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, will provide 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, NYSERDA’s greenhouse gas abatement cost curve study and ClimAID adaptation project, the NYS Sea Level Rise Task Force, and PlaNYC.  

Please use the navigation links on the left to read more on this and other climate-related initiatives.

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Dates and locations
of upcoming meetings
will be posted here.

The 4th Intergration Advisory Panel meeting
was held
August  19, 2010,
10 am - 3:30 pm.
in Albany, NY.

For further information, 
including the final report of the
Electric Grid-Powered Vehicle Subgroup
visit the Integration Advisory Panel page.