We need the Build Back Better agenda to combat climate change
Better agenda.
The $3.5 trillion climate infrastructure package
will build more climate-resilient infrastructure,
support the green economy and create good-paying
union jobs right here in New York. It achieves this
by establishing a clean energy standard to get us
to 100% clean electricity by 2035, investing in our
ports to jumpstart offshore wind development, expanding
clean transportation and supporting the
manufacturing jobs that come with these green
technologies, all while prioritizing climate justice.
The billions proposed to repair transportation
infrastructure, including funding for the Gateway
program and mass transit, can create local jobs
and help our state economy grow. Investments in
manufacturing and clean energy can help revitalize
New York’s manufacturing sector, which
employs about 4.5% of the state’s workforce, and
create good union jobs in New York’s clean-energy
sector, a growing industry for our state.
Investments in climate infrastructure can accomplish
several goals at once. For example, by
retrofitting school buildings, which must remain
a priority in federal infrastructure investments,
we can have a real impact on emissions, make
schools healthier and safer, create good union jobs
and save schools millions. In New York City alone,
where we are advocating for Carbon Free and
Healthy Schools, we can have an impact equivalent
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TIMESLEDGER | QNS.COM | SEPT. 17 - SEPT. 23, 2021 13
OP-ED
BY JULIE TIGHE AND JEFF VOCKRODT
This summer New York City has experienced severe
flooding events, devastating and endangering
communities, compromising our infrastructure,
and reinforcing the severity of the climate crisis.
The flooding from Tropical Storm Elsa washed out
several subway stations and local highways, stopping
New Yorkers in their tracks. And we’re not
alone. Across the country, wildfires have been so
severe that the ash caused the sun and moon to appear
red here in NYC.
These major flooding and severe weather events
reinforce not only the increasing intensity of climate
change, but also how our aging infrastructure
is unprepared to deal with these disasters. As global
temperatures continue to rise at alarming rates,
this warming makes weather events more frequent
and intense, which causes devastating impacts to
our outdated infrastructure. To effectively address
the growing climate crisis and jumpstart the move
to a clean energy economy, we must implement ambitious
policies to tackle climate change and create
union jobs.
We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to
invest in our future. Congress is working on both
a bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure package and
an even bolder and more historic $3.5 trillion investment
in line with President Biden’s Build Back
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SUMMARY: If you noticed a long winding line down 30th Avenue
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to planting 400,000 trees, address long-standing
facilities issues in school buildings, create thousands
of union jobs and save schools $70 million
every year on energy costs.
Critically, climate justice must remain central
to the plan, including investments to improve climate
related housing and health outcomes for lowincome
and vulnerable populations, such as greater
access to clean drinking water, lead remediation
in housing, pollution reductions and retrofitting
public housing to make it energy efficient. To build
a clean-energy future that works for all New Yorkers,
we must prioritize communities that have
historically been left behind and overburdened by
pollution.
We thank Rep. Jeffries for being a climate champion
and pushing these critical elements of the
Build Back Better agenda forward. Now is the time
to make sure these crucial infrastructure investments
get across the finish line. Now is the time
to rebuild our economy and create a clean-energy
future. We can’t wait until the next superstorm
devastates our communities. We must act now to
combat climate change, invest in resilient communities
and create good-paying jobs for New Yorkers.
Julie Tighe is president of the New York League
of Conservation Voters. Jeff Vockrodt is executive
director of Climate Jobs NY.