New York state needs Climate Investment Act

The editorial “Cohoes’ dirty neighbor,” April 2, brings environmental injustice into sharp focus by providing examples of it in our area. The editorial points out that government regulation of polluters is simply not sufficient when it leads to a cycle of pollute, pay and pollute.

Norlite’s disregard of regulations merits court action. But rather than litigating each case, why not write the responsibilities that polluters flout into law?

Environmental groups statewide have joined to support the Climate and Community Investment Act, which would do just that by instituting a fee on greenhouse gases and co-pollutants. It would raise at least $15 billion per year from corporate polluters and invest the funds into communities most affected by pollution.

The act also accounts for and penalizes noxious by-products, such as Norlite’s quartz silica dust, that may not contribute to climate change but still poison disadvantaged communities, contributing to asthma, heart disease and other ailments.

Cornell Professor Fengqi You has just released a study demonstrating that New York’s pledge to reduce its total carbon pollution by 85 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 is “aggressive” yet “feasible … as long as New York starts making changes now.”

It is time to remind lawmakers that passing the Climate and Community Investment Act is a way to turn our climate goals into realities.

John Poreba New Lebanon