Increased Focus on State Agency Sustainability & Climate Actions
Governor Kathy Hochul has Signed Executive Order 22, a new Executive Order that empowers the GreenNY Council to implement the order.
EO 22 Overview:
- EO 22 sets several operational goals and targets for agencies to meet, including:
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by:
- 100% clean electricity use in State operations by 2030
- Transitioning to a fully Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) non-emergency light-duty vehicle fleet by 2035 and all ZEV medium/heavy duty fleet by 2040
- Restricting fossil fuel equipment in all new facilities greater than 5,000 sq/ft that enter design/permitting starting in 2024.
- Utilizing construction materials that have a lower greenhouse gas output.
- Reducing Waste Disposal
- Reducing waste disposal 10% every five years until reaching a goal of 75% below a FY 18/19 baseline
- Eliminates single-use plastics in State operations
- Reducing the use of toxic substances
- Increasing climate resiliency at State facilities
- Enhancing habitats managed by State agencies
- Decreasing negative environmental impacts on disadvantaged communities
- Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions by:
- The order calls for state agencies to create and file two plans with the GreenNY Council to make their operations more sustainable. The plans and timelines are:
- Within 12 months: a fleet electrification plan
- Within 12 months of the GreenNY Council issuing plan templates: Reducing Waste
Today is a big step forward for efforts to green the SUNY system and other state agencies, while we have a lot of work ahead of us, it is exciting to continue to be making progress towards the cleaner, more sustainable future that the entire campus community deserves.