Scoping Plan to Advance NYS’ Climate Law finalized by NYS Climate Action Council
On Monday, December 19th the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) announced the approval and adoption of the New York State Climate Action Council Scoping Plan (Scoping Plan). The 445-page report that will be submitted to Governor Hochul and the State Legislature by January 1, 2023 “outlines recommended policies and actions to help meet the goals and requirements of the nation-leading Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (Climate Act)” by providing a foundation to “significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, drive critical building and transportation electrification, secure climate justice, and advance the State’s commitment to economywide carbon neutrality by 2050 consistent with interim and long-term directives established in the Climate Act.” It is also noted within the Scoping Plan that “new jobs driven by Climate Act investments are estimated to outnumber potential displaced jobs by a ratio of ten-to-one in 2030, with as many as 211,000 jobs expected to be created in growing sub-sectors by 2030 and 318,000 by 2040;” and that net direct costs are estimated to be up to 0.6% of NYS’ economy in 2030 and 1.3% in 2050 — small relative to the size of the state’s economy.