JUSTGREEN PARTNERSHIP RESPONDS TO GOVERNOR HOCHUL'S STATE OF THE STATE

governor kathy hochul gave her 2023 state of the state on tuesday, january 10th in albany

ALBANY, NY — Sonal Jessel and Bobbi Wilding, Co-Chairs of the JustGreen Partnership released this statement on behalf of the coalition:

“The JustGreen Partnership applauds Governor Hochul's commitment to combating climate change. As she directs the state to invest dollars in making building construction zero-emissions from an energy perspective, we urge her to ensure that these new, well-insulated homes are zero-emissions indoors, with materials families use to decorate and furnish their homes also being free of harmful chemicals.

“We applaud her commitment to cleaning up PFAS contamination; to prevent future problems, however, we must turn off the tap. Therefore we urge her to work with the legislature to enact bans on PFAS in common products, and to further limit releases of this and other toxic chemicals into our environment.

“As she develops her plans to address waste reduction, reuse, and recycling, it is essential that these policies also prevent toxic chemicals from being cycled through over and over again, continually exposing workers and product users for years. It is especially vital during product redesign to ensure that new products are made without chemicals that cause cancer, asthma and diabetes; disrupt our hormones; mutate our DNA; drive heart disease; or damage our organs.

“We also urge Governor Hochul to ensure adequate staffing at the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, particularly in the Pollution Prevention Unit, which is responsible for implementation of many critical policies that, when enforced effectively, can protect our health and the health of future generations from harm caused or exacerbated by toxic chemicals. 

We look forward to working with Governor Hochul and her staff to secure a just and healthy New York for all its people and communities.”