Law. Human. Environment

Evaluating New Yorkʼs Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act for equitable and effective climate governance

Emmanuel Olusola Adu, Benjamin Damoah, Sean Hildebrand
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Abstract

New Yorkʼs Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) sets some of the most ambitious climate targets in the United States, calling for a 40% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, an 85% reduction by 2050, and a fully zero-emission power sector by 2040. This study examined whether the CLCPAʼs design and early implementation can deliver on its environmental, social, and economic goals. The study employed a qualitative policy analysis using peer-reviewed articles, state agency reports, and advocacy documents published between 2019 and 2025. The paper coded findings thematically across three dimensions-environmental effectiveness, social equity, and economic viability- and compared the CLCPA with Californiaʼs Executive Order N-79- 20 and the European Unionʼs Green Deal to identify transferable strategies. The CLCPA stands out for its binding equity mandate, which directs 35-40% of climate investments to disadvantaged communities. Despite this, the study found delays in program implementation, grid infrastructure bottlenecks, and limited planning for workforce transitions. Californiaʼs focus on transportation decarbonization and the EUʼs financing mechanisms offer proven strategies that can strengthen enforcement, streamline permitting, equitable access to benefits. New York can position the CLCPA as a national model for equitable decarbonization by closing implementation gaps, aligning administrative capacity with statutory targets, and rigorously tracking outcomes. The analysis contributed to climate governance scholarship by showing how states can pair ambitious emissions targets with justice-centered implementation to deliver measurable climate and social gains 

Keywords

climate policy; Climate Change; environmental justice; renewable energy; equity

Suggested citation
Olusola Adu, E., Damoah, B., & Hildebrand, S. (2025). Evaluating New Yorkʼs Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act for equitable and effective climate governance. Law. Human. Environment, 16(4), 9-24. https://doi.org/10.31548/law/4.2025.09
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