Calls for implementing key climate laws like LL97, increasing funding for City Parks, and fully staffing frontline City agencies.
Priorities will support NYC’s goal of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 80% by 2050.
The New York League of Conservation Voters and NYLCV Education Fund (NYLCV/EF) released their 2026 New York City Policy Agenda today, outlining policy priorities aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions and strengthening environmental protections to help the city meet its goal of cutting emissions 80 percent by 2050.
The League’s 2026 agenda calls for the city to:
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Implement existing laws, including Local Law 97, the city’s all-electric school bus mandate, the NYC Streets Plan, the Urban Forest Plan, and the Zero Waste Act in a timely manner;
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Fully fund and staff frontline agencies, including the Department of Parks and Recreation and the Department of Environmental Protection;
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Pass legislation to raise NYC’s solar goal to 2 gigawatts by 2035 and establish a goal of at least 2 gigawatts of battery energy storage systems (BESS) capacity by 2030;
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Expand the city’s existing benchmarking law to include buildings greater than 10,000 gross square feet;
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Work with the State to advance an Extended Producer Responsibility program for packaging and coordinate implementation of a safe recycling program for rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, particularly e-bike and e-scooter batteries.
“At a moment when the federal government is retreating from its responsibility to protect the environment and confront the climate crisis, local leadership matters more than ever,” said NYLCV President Julie Tighe. “With new leadership in the Mayor’s Office, at key agencies, and in the City Council, we have a renewed opportunity to ensure that climate action and environmental justice are top priorities in 2026. Our Agenda provides a road map for lawmakers to do just that and deliver a more sustainable, affordable, and resilient city.”
NYLCV/EF stresses that environmental justice and equity must be central to these priorities, including the creation of equitable green jobs and training programs, and directing investment to disadvantaged communities.
The League looks forward to working with Mayor Mamdani, City Agencies, City Council speaker Julie Menin and the entire City Council in the coming year to enact this agenda and ensure a healthier, more sustainable future for New York City.
The full agenda is available here.
RSVP to our Lunch and Learn Webinar on Friday, March 13 to highlight the agenda here.