The New York Assembly Standing Committee on Environmental Conservation is holding hearings on climate change. The members are assessing the causes and effects of extreme weather events, and if there are any measures the state can take to mitigate the events.
Last week the Assembly committee held the first of two hearings to gain input on how New York can mitigate man-made factors that lead to, and reduce the environmental impacts of, extreme weather. A number of conservation and environmental groups testified before the committee.
New York League of Conservation Voters Legislative Director Ricardo Gotla told legislators the state must take action along two tracks.
New York Public Interest Research Group Senior Environmental Associate Laura Haight says part of the thrust of the meeting was what to do next in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
Laura Haight focused her comments to legislators on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
While the hearings are being held in New York City and on Long Island, Environmental Advocates of New YorkPolicy Director David VanLuven says climate change is affecting the lives of people across the state. He’s glad that legislators are beginning to take steps to deal with it.
The second hearing on the Environmental Causes and Effects of Extreme Weather Events will be held on Long Island on January 30th.
