Summary/Abstract
This bill enacts the New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) that sets a statewide target of net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Specifically, the bill requires an 85% emissions reduction by 2050, with any remaining emissions to be either directly reduced or offset through projects that remove greenhouse gases from the atmosphere. The bill lists several different projects that could be implemented to accomplish this goal, which are natural carbon sinks including but not limited to afforestation, reforestation or wetlands restoration, the restoration and sustainable management of coastal wetlands and sub-tidal habitats, and carbon capture and sequestration.
The offsets must be verifiable and permanent and represent new, additional reductions in emissions that would not otherwise have occurred. The only emissions that are eligible to be offset are those where it is technologically infeasible to reduce the emissions by other means. Electric generators are not eligible for offsets. The offset program must be designed in a manner that does not disproportionately harm disadvantaged communities. Moreover, to the greatest extent practicable, offset projects must be located within 25 miles of the source they’re offsetting, ensuring that the benefits of offsetting emissions will be locally realized.