The following article is from the February 2007 issue of

In New York's environmental circles there's a welcome dose of optimism in the air -- and rightfully so. Not only do we have new environmental stewards in the offices of governor, attorney general, and congress, but across the state we're seeing a groundswell of action at the local level to promote long-term sustainability initiatives. These plans can go a long way in securing renewable energy supplies, improving the health of communities, reducing pollution, and addressing climate change.

In December, Mayor Bloomberg launched a plan to make New York a sustainable city by 2030. To get there, he's proposing bold goals that range from ensuring that all New Yorkers live within a ten-minute walk of a park to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. In Westchester, County Executive Andy Spano has set up a task force to tackle global warming and other sustainability concerns. On Long Island, the town of Babylon has implemented what some consider to be the most comprehensive green building code in the nation. [Click HERE to read the Newsday article.]

What is coming together at the local level is a bigger picture of how to handle New York's energy, economic, and environmental challenges. Action from mayors and other elected leaders offers solutions that can bolster efforts already underway at the state, regional, and national levels.

In the coming months, we will be working hard to advance these sustainability initiatives. We will also be keeping tabs on whether these long-term plans produce real solutions. We look forward to keeping you informed of these efforts.

To do so more regularly we've created this monthly e-newsletter, Ecopolitics Monthly. We're also starting a blog called Ecopolitics Daily, an up-close look at New York politics and the environment.

We hope Ecopolitics Monthly and our forthcoming blog are useful to you, and we welcome any suggestions you have on how best to keep you informed.

Sincerely,
Marcia Bystryn

Newsletter Issue

• Ecopolitics Monthly --- February 2007