Opinion: New York Needs to Move Now on Cap-and-Invest

“Our state should be a leader in clean energy creation. Instead, because of government flip-flopping and cowardice, we cannot even stick to a plan of action.”

When thinking about climate change, it’s impossible to not get overwhelmed. With doomsday clocks and terrifying emissions numbers everywhere you turn, it can feel like there’s nothing any of us can really do to make a difference.

I’m in my senior year of high school and sometimes I feel trapped in a state of fear-paralysis, like my future and my descendants’ future are all weighing on governmental decisions from officials appointed in elections in which I was not able to vote.

But while It’s easy to see climate change and environmental protection as only all-encompassing national and global issues, local laws and local action are essential in making progress toward a safe and sustainable future for everyone.

This year we have the chance to take a giant step toward our emissions goals by implementing a Cap-and-Invest system. A good Cap-and-Invest system would require corporations to pay for a permit to emit any greenhouse gas emissions associated with their activities, and sets a limit on the total amount of those emissions.

Those funds would go straight into New York’s “Climate Action Fund” where they would be used to upgrade buildings to run on clean, renewable energy while also investing in community-led environmental projects. Every year the cap would be lowered, which in combination with the creation of new clean energy, would help transition us away from fossil fuels entirely.

The reality of the climate crisis is that correcting it is going to take an extraordinary amount of money, and so why not take that money from the corporations who are keeping us in this situation? If we want any chance of preserving a livable planet for future generations, somebody is going to need to foot these bills. 

A Cap-and-Invest system for New York State has been in the works for years and was supposed to be implemented in 2025. But in January, Gov. Kathy Hochul put it on indefinite hold. Last May, Gov. Hochul spoke at the Vatican to an audience that included the Pope himself about her pledge toward climate action, yet she has continually backpedaled on even the most moderate environmental legislation.

Our state should be a leader in clean energy creation. Instead, because of government flip-flopping and cowardice, we cannot even stick to a plan of action.

We need a well thought out Cap-and-Invest that safeguards against price gouging and makes the restrictions large enough to make a real impact. I encourage anyone who is concerned about saving the future livability of our state, as well as making sure that the money to save it comes from the right place, to urge Gov. Hochul to implement the Cap-and-Invest system immediately.

I love my city, state and country and I believe that all three are worth protecting and preserving for the generations that will come after us.

Asher Cohen is a high school senior living in Lefferts Gardens. He works for Theater For The New City and is a member of 350 Brooklyn, a local environmental organization.