Our nation-leading climate law is in jeopardy – and we need your voice to help protect it.
The Governor has announced her intentions to roll back portions of NYS's climate law during state budget negotiations. We know that climate change is already threatening birds and the habitats they depend on across New York, and that now is not the time to weaken our commitment to fighting climate change.
Give birds a voice—urge your legislator to defend the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act.
I am your constituent and a supporter of the National Audubon Society, and I am deeply concerned about the Governor's proposal to weaken the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA).
According to Audubon's climate science report, Survival by Degrees: 389 Bird Species on the Brink, two-thirds of North American bird species are vulnerable to extinction due to climate change if warming continues unchecked. The impacts are particularly significant for New York. The report finds that at least 116 species could be vulnerable to climate change under a high-warming scenario, as rising temperatures, drought, extreme weather, and sea-level rise transform the habitats birds depend on.
These changes threaten forest songbirds like the Wood Thrush, grassland birds such as the Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow, and coastal species like the Saltmarsh Sparrow and Piping Plover that rely on tidal marshes and shorelines increasingly at risk from sea-level rise and more intense storms. But the impacts extend far beyond birds. The same ecosystems that birds depend on—forests, wetlands, rivers, and coastlines—also protect communities from flooding, support local economies, and provide clean air and water for New Yorkers.
The CLCPA is one of the most important tools we have to address the challenges posed by climate change. Weakening this landmark climate law would put birds, wildlife habitat, and communities at greater risk. I urge you to defend this critical law and ensure New York continues moving forward on climate solutions that protect birds, habitats, and people alike.
