Local Law 97 Protected, NY Court of Appeals Decision
Victory
—New York City’s Local Law 97, enacted in 2019 as part of the Climate Mobilization Act, is local legislation that requires large buildings across the city to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions
Contacts
Nydia Gutiérrez, ngutierrez@earthjustice.org
Today, the New York State Court of Appeals issued its decision stating that the State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act does not preempt Local Law 97 or other local climate laws.
The following statement is attributed to Rachel Spector, Deputy Managing Attorney of the Northeast Office at Earthjustice:
“Today’s decision from the New York Court of Appeals confirms that, in light of the ‘sense of urgency’ expressed by New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, local laws can play a critical role alongside statewide measures to combat and mitigate climate change. This ends the challenge to Local Law 97, New York City’s groundbreaking law to reduce climate emissions from large buildings, and the City should continue to ensure that large buildings increase energy efficiency and reduce pollution in accordance with that law – creating jobs and improving air quality across the city while also combatting climate change.”
Additional Resources
About Earthjustice
Earthjustice is the premier nonprofit environmental law organization. We wield the power of law and the strength of partnership to protect people's health, to preserve magnificent places and wildlife, to advance clean energy, and to combat climate change. We are here because the earth needs a good lawyer.