Politicians come under pressure at the Accountability Forum

On July 18, 2024, climate justice activists in Harlem will join organizations across New York City for a major Climate Accountability Forum.

The goal of the event is to engage city and state officials on their plans to address the worsening climate crisis affecting our communities..

The town hall-style forum is being held at the Society for Ethical Culture Concert Hall at 2 W 64th St and has already received RSVPs from 700 concerned New Yorkers. This high turnout comes as the city endures another summer of record heat, underscoring the urgency of climate action..

Confirmed speakers for the forum include Comptroller Brad Lander and Senator Liz Krueger. Governor Kathy Hochul, Mayor Eric Adams and Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie have also been invited to attend. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed beginning at 6:30 p.m. EST..

Livestream available here: https://www.facebook.com/foodandwaterwatchNY/

The main topics on the agenda include:

• Stop the Iroquois Fracked Gas Pipeline Expansion
• Implementation of the Climate Superfund Act
• Combating congestion charges and improving public transport
• Enforcement of local law 97
• Municipal pension funds should divest from environmentally harmful investments

This event comes at a critical time when many believe elected officials have failed on climate action. Recent controversies include Governor Hochul’s reversal on congestion pricing, the Assembly’s failure to pass the NY HEAT Act, and Mayor Adams’ perceived efforts to undermine Local Law 97..

The Climate Accountability Forum is organized by a broad coalition of climate justice groups including Food & Water Watch, New York Communities for Change, NYPIRG, Fridays for Future NYC, 350NYC, Climate Reality NYC, Strong Economy for All, Riders Alliance, Transportation Alternatives, Rise and Resist, Third Act Upstate New York, Third Act NYC, New York Society for Ethical Culture, 350Brooklyn, Forest Hills Green Team, Sane Energy Project, Climate & Resilience Education Task Force, WE ACT for environmental justiceALIGN-NY, Sunrise NYC, Save Our Compost, Big Reuse, Seeding Sovereignty, The Climate Cannot Wait, Environmentalists of New York, New York Lawyers for the Public Interest, Green Education and Legal Fund, Climate Reality Project Long Island Chapter, Rewiring America, Jewish Climate Action Network – NYC, Indivisible BK.

This collaboration underscores the growing demand for concrete climate action in various communities in New York City.

RELATED: Harlem-born Nobel Prize winner Dr. Falkowski talks about the mega flood in Harlem in 2100.

As Harlem continues to face the disproportionate impacts of climate change, this forum provides an important opportunity for our community to raise its voice and demand accountability from our elected leaders. It is a chance to ensure that Harlem’s concerns are at the center of climate policy discussions in New York.

Photo credit: HWM.