Green goals are difficult but they’re achievable

I concede that fossil fuels will not go away as quickly as I’d like them to, as Paul Fisk said I must in his recent letter “Be realistic in efforts to address climate change,” Feb 14. Anybody who truly understands the destruction, harm and injustice that fossil fuels have directly and indirectly caused over decades would like them gone tomorrow, or better yet, 20 years ago.

There are many encouraging reasons to be optimistic that a rapid and equitable move away from fossil fuels is possible. The Climate Action Council produced a viable action plan that directs state agencies to make rules that will help New York transition to a cleaner economy, for which federal investment under the Inflation Reduction Act will help provide funding. The Office of Renewable Energy Siting has approved more wind and solar farms in the past two years than the previous process did in 10.

Of course, there is much left to do. The heavy gas and oil generation in New York City needs to be replaced with renewable energy, and our grid needs upgrading to carry electricity where it is needed. The 2019 Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act must be fully funded as well.

It is up to our legislators, led by Gov. Kathy Hochul, Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie and Senate Majority Leader Andrea Stewart-cousins, to implement these measures, and up to us to remind them that a green economy may be a challenging goal, but it is an achievable, realistic one and one that we must aggressively work toward for a more equitable, livable and just New York.

Katie Chao

Niskayuna Co-lead organizer, Progressive Schenectady