FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 15th, 2025
New York clean air advocates applaud Gov. Hochul’s commitment to state climate programs, urge action on clean air protections
Amid federal attacks on clean air and water, state leaders point to clean truck standards as key policy tool to protect New Yorkers
New York – Last week, President Trump signed an executive order attacking state climate programs that aim to protect the health of communities and hold corporate polluters accountable to the damage they cause. In response, Governor Hochul and New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, co-chairs of the US Climate Alliance, issued the following statement:
“The federal government cannot unilaterally strip states’ independent constitutional authority. We are a nation of states — and laws — and we will not be deterred. We will keep advancing solutions to the climate crisis that safeguard Americans’ fundamental right to clean air and water, create good-paying jobs, grow the clean energy economy, and make our future healthier and safer.”
Under the Clean Air Act, New York has the clear and longstanding right to adopt California’s clean vehicle standards to protect public health. For decades, under democratic and republican governors, New York has been a national leader on clean transportation policy and investments to build a cleaner, healthier economy. Because of this leadership, New Yorkers have been able to buy and drive the cleanest vehicles on the market making for healthier rides for them, their workers and their families and saving them money at the gas pumps.
State leadership and state authority is more important than ever as the Trump administration seeks to take away states rights and has repeatedly promised to roll back the minimum federal baseline for car and truck pollution. This means that states with severe air quality issues like New York have more to lose than ever from threats against their own stronger-than-federal policies.
In response to Governor Hochul’s US Climate Alliance announcement, clean air advocates released the following statements:
“We appreciate Governor Hochul’s commitment to clean air and climate action in the midst of federal attacks from the Trump administration attempting to unravel states’ progress, and we need that same energy defending New York’s Advanced Clean Trucks standard in the face of corporate polluter attacks. New Yorkers deserve to breathe clean air, and diesel trucks present a dire, deadly health risk to us. New York cannot afford to delay the transition to cleaner, more efficient trucks–which provide lower fuel costs and emissions– at the expense of our communities,” said Jessica Enzmann, Sierra Club Senior Campaign Organizer
"Every New Yorker deserves the right to breathe clean air, but this right is under attack by the federal administration and corporate polluters," said Jaqi Cohen, Director of Climate and Equity Policy at Tri-State Transportation Campaign. "Diesel pollution kills thousands of New Yorkers every year. It has never been more important for Governor Hochul to lead by example and protect New York's existing clean air protections, starting with standing firm on implementation of the ACT rule."
“As the federal government pursues illegal actions to protect corporate polluters over public health, we need Governor Hochul to stand by her word and defend New York’s Advanced Clean Truck standard,” said Liz Moran, New York Policy Advocate with Earthjustice. “Our state has the right to protect the health of our communities, we need our state leadership to continue to fight for life-saving clean air programs.”
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