As Communities Warn of Health Risks, New York Will Weaken Its Landmark Climate Law
Key takeaways
- If Hochul gets her way, the timeline will change.
- During a press conference this month, Hochul said the state will revise its emissions targets through the state budget process, aiming for a 60 percent reduction by 2040 while keeping the 2050 target intact.
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May 23, 2026 Share This Article Republish Gov. Kathy Hochul speaks during a news conference on May 5 in Menands, N.Y. Credit: Will Waldron/Albany Times Union via Getty Images Related New York’s Governor Pushes to Delay a Key Portion of the State’s Climate Law Judge Rejects Trump Administration’s Plan to End NYC Congestion Pricing Hochul Wants More Nuclear Power in New York Share This Article Republish Most Popular Wildfire Crews Race to Keep Fierce California Blaze From Former Nuclear Reactor Site EPA Claims ‘Overwhelming Rejection’ of EVs as It Moves to Loosen Air Pollution Rules Top Climate Scientists Accuse the Livestock Industry of Pushing Fuzzy Math to Downplay Its Climate Warming Emissions As part of ongoing budget negotiations, New York Gov. Kathy Hochul is pushing to delay emissions-reduction targets established in the state’s climate law.
Over the past year, Hochul has hinted that she doesn’t think the state can hit the targets established in the 2019 Climate Act: a 40 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 2030, and an 85 percent reduction by 2050.
If Hochul gets her way, the timeline will change.