ENVIRONMENT

Description of the Committee

Chairs: Iris Hiskey Arno and Natalie Polvere
email

We work on environmental issues that affect us locally, nationally, and globally, engaging our members and neighbors in environmental matters through action at the local level.

Since 2017, we’ve helped block oil tanker anchorages on the Hudson River; solicited public comments on Hudson River Storm Surge Barrier plans; educated the public and undertaken actions around the decommissioning of the Indian Point Nuclear Energy plant, including support for a citizens’ oversight board. We advocated actively and successfully for passage of the New York State landmark legislation, the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA), marched against the NESE Williams Pipeline, and rallied against the Danskammer Power Plant. We worked extensively to educate the public to vote YES on the Environmental Rights Amendment to the NYS Constitution

While following developments on the issues above, we are focused on the global climate crisis. Working alongside advocacy groups in New York (Food & Water Watch, Divest NY, Environmental Advocates of NY, and NY Renews, among others), we continue to pressure the state to stop all new fossil fuel infrastructure and demand that the governor and legislature ensure that the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions mandated by the CLCPA is met. Knowing that frontline and disadvantaged communities have borne and will continue to bear the brunt of the impact of the climate crisis, we are committed to promoting legislation and taking actions that address environmental justice.

Meetings/Communication

Our monthly meetings in Hastings-on-Hudson have been on pause due to the Covid-19 pandemic, but we continue to be active by calling and writing to elected officials and educating ourselves through webinars and online meetings. Email us if you want to get our committee emails with updates, actions and announcements of future meetings.

Check the weekly NYCD16 Indivisible Newsletter and the Activist Calendar for upcoming events and actions.

Resources of interest
Clearwater
Environmental Advocates of New York (EANY)
Food & Water Watch
Indian Point Safe Energy Coalition (IPSEC)
NY Renews
Riverkeeper
Sierra Club Lower Hudson Valley