The Long Island Solar Farm is part of the state’s commitment to limit statewide greenhouse-gas emissions to 40 percent of 1990 levels by 2030 and 85 percent by 2050. (Brookhaven National Laboratory)

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By Suzanne Potter

November 5, 2021

GLASGOW, Scotland — A contingent of current and former elected officials from New York and across the country is in Glasgow, Scotland, this week and next, pressing for immediate action to combat climate change.

Dominic Frongillo, executive director and co-founder of the group Elected Officials to Protect America and a former council member and deputy supervisor in Caroline, New York, said he is at the conference to underscore the importance of the moment, and noted the predicted rise in average global temperature. “We are on track for a 2.7-degree Celsius world, which is catastrophic,” Frongillo asserted. “If we don’t act now, then we will miss this opportunity to have a safe, prosperous future for all.”

He noted New York already is seeing the effects of climate change, with either not enough water or too much. Last summer, creeks started drying up, affecting agriculture upstate, and extreme storms have caused basement apartments to flood.

Frongillo noted the Build Back Better reconciliation act would put $555 billion toward programs to promote clean energy, electric vehicles and energy efficiency.

“We can’t keep fighting this one community, one city, one state at a time,” Frongillo contended. “We need a national and a global response. So that’s why we’re here, calling for a federal climate emergency plan and for Congress to act, passing the Build Back Better Act.”

A vote on the Build Back Better Act is imminent in the U.S. House and then will proceed to the Senate. More than 400 elected officials from across the U.S. recently signed a letter calling on President Joe Biden to declare a climate emergency, phase out fossil fuels and transition to renewable energy.

References:  COP26 conference United Nations 2021
Build Back Better framework White House 10/28/2021
Letter Elected Officials to Protect America 09/15/2021