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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PR- 444-07
December 5, 2007

MAYOR BLOOMBERG SIGNS LEGISLATION CODIFYING PLANYC EMISSIONS REDUCTION TARGETS

Remarks by Mayor Bloomberg at a Public Hearing on Local Laws

"The first of seven bills before me today is Introductory Number 20-A, sponsored by Council Members Gennaro, Avella, Brewer, Fidler, James, Koppell, Liu, Mark-Viverito, McMahon, Recchia, Sanders, Weprin, White, Yassky, Monserrate, Nelson, Lappin, Vallone, Gonzalez, Foster, Vacca, Martinez, Gioia, Garodnick, Rivera, Eugene, de Blasio, Jackson, Gentile, Katz, Mealy, Sears, and the Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum. Introductory Number 20-A establishes citywide and City government targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to climate change.

"Climate change is already affecting our City, and if we don't act now, warming could have devastating consequences for the City in the future, including coastal flooding, contamination of drinking water, and even hotter summers. We must do our part to reduce the emission of greenhouse gases to help reduce the potential impacts of climate change.

"Introductory Number 20-A requires the City to use its best efforts to achieve a citywide emissions reduction target of at least thirty percent by 2030, and a City government emissions reduction target of at least thirty percent by 2017, by implementing the applicable initiatives included in PlaNYC, as well as other effective strategies. This bill also establishes a voluntary program to encourage private entities in the City to reduce their own greenhouse gas emissions, which will help complement City government's efforts.

"In April, our Administration released its first-ever comprehensive inventory of greenhouse gas emissions, which detailed the levels and sources of greenhouse gas emissions both citywide and for City government operations. We committed to taking action in our own government on an aggressive timetable to reduce emissions by thirty percent over the next ten years. Introductory Number 20-A will codify these commitments to ensure that our City remains diligent beyond our Administration.

"I would like to thank Rohit Aggarwala, Director of the Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability, and the agency staff who worked on this bill. I would also like to thank the Council for approving this legislation."







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