Julie Tighe is president of New York League of Conservation Voters (NYLCV). She is based in New York City.
New York is heading into a challenging budget season. Federal support is becoming less certain, costs are rising, and lawmakers are facing tough decisions about how to invest limited resources. In moments like this, it’s important to remember that environmental investments are not optional add-ons. They are essential to protecting public health, strengthening local economies and supporting the jobs and communities New Yorkers rely on.
New York must sustain and strengthen its commitment to proven environmental investments. That includes continued support for the Environmental Protection Fund, the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, capital funding for state parks and the Department of Environmental Conservation, and the Sustainable Future Fund. Together, these investments deliver real benefits for communities across the state.
The Environmental Protection Fund (EPF) is one of the most effective tools New York has to protect natural resources while driving economic activity. EPF programs support land conservation, farmland protection, recycling, environmental justice initiatives and cultural institutions that serve as anchors in communities statewide. Demand for these programs continues to exceed available funding. Yet the EPF represents only a small share of the state budget while supporting roughly 350,000 jobs and contributing more than $40 billion annually to New York’s economy. With so many worthwhile projects still waiting for support, we applaud the governor for investing another $425 million in this budget and urge the legislature to support it.
Clean water infrastructure is another area where sustained investment is critical. Much of New York’s drinking water and wastewater infrastructure is aging, and communities are struggling to keep up with population growth and increasingly severe weather. Since 2017, the state has invested $6 billion through the Clean Water Infrastructure Act, allowing communities to move forward with projects they otherwise could not afford. But the need far outpaces that investment, with more than $90 billion in upgrades still required statewide. I am thrilled to see Gov. Kathy Hochul commit $3.75 billion to addressing the most critical needs in our clean water infrastructure and urge the legislature to ensure this funding is in the enacted budget. This will protect public health, keep water rates manageable and support thousands of good-paying construction and skilled trades jobs across New York.
New York’s state parks and public lands also depend on consistent capital investment. With tens of millions of visitors each year, parks and DEC-managed lands are essential spaces for recreation, tourism and community connection, supporting small businesses and local economies across the state. These investments improve trails, facilities and infrastructure, protect natural resources under growing strain, and support local construction and contracting jobs. As use continues to rise and infrastructure ages, sustained capital funding — including $200 million for state parks and $90 million for DEC capital improvements — is critical to ensuring these public spaces remain safe, accessible, and well maintained.
Last year, Hochul created the $1 billion Sustainable Future Fund, the largest single investment the state has made in climate action. The fund supports clean energy and climate infrastructure projects that cut costs for families, reduce pollution, modernize energy systems and strengthen reliability. Just as importantly, it helps create family-sustaining union jobs across the state. While Washington is slashing climate funding, the Sustainable Future Fund ensures New York can continue delivering real, on-the-ground improvements, particularly in communities that have long borne the greatest environmental burdens. The state should commit another $1 billion to the Sustainable Future Fund to maintain momentum and keep critical projects moving forward.
We recognize the fiscal pressures lawmakers face this year. But sustaining and strategically increasing these environmental investments is one of the smartest choices New York can make. These programs prevent costly pollution, modernize essential infrastructure, create steady employment, and reduce long-term costs for taxpayers.
New York has made meaningful progress, and we’re grateful for the leadership that helped get us here. Ahead of budget negotiations, we urge lawmakers to build on that progress and uphold the investments that protect our environment, strengthen our economy, and support the well-being of communities across the state. Because every New Yorker deserves clean air and water, and access to parks and open space.
