In this episode, we hear from Xaver Kandler, Campaigns Director at NY Renews. NY Renews is a coalition of over 380 environmental, justice, faith, labor, & community groups, working to further legislation to support climate, jobs, and justice in New York State. We discuss NY state policies including the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act, the New York Heat Act, the Just Energy Transition Act, the Climate Superfund Act, and more. This episode explores the power of grassroots organizing and coalitions to further environmental justice through climate policy.
In this episode, we hear from Xaver Kandler, Campaigns Director at NY Renews. NY Renews is a coalition of over 380 environmental, justice, faith, labor, & community groups, working to further legislation to support climate, jobs, and justice in New York State. We discuss NY state policies including the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act, the New York Heat Act, the Just Energy Transition Act, the Climate Superfund Act, and more. This episode explores the power of grassroots organizing and coalitions to further environmental justice through climate policy.
Credits
Hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan
Edited and co-produced by Lucy Little
For resources, transcripts, and more information about the guests: https://www.climatewithkiana.com/podcast/the-power-of-coalitions-with-xaver-kandler
Kiana Michaan: [00:00:00] Welcome to Climate with Kiana, a podcast about climate solutions shared through a framework of joy and justice. I'm your host, Kiana, a solar and clean energy advocate passionate about just climate action. In this show, let's explore solutions to the climate crisis. Through inspiring conversations with climate experts who are leading important and innovative work to shape a more just and sustainable world.
Let's cultivate hope and joy by exploring these climate solutions and visioning new possibilities together. In today's episode, I speak with Xaver Kandler, campaigns director at New York Renews. New York Renews is a coalition working to further legislation to support climate, jobs, and justice.
Xaver Kandler: Climate change is one of the biggest threats [00:01:00] humanity will ever face.
Like, we're in such a unique moment in human history where we actually are still able to stop this. Every single, like, little bit makes an insane difference in the big picture. The motivations coming together is honestly one of the most beautiful parts about a coalition, about a work. Because in that you really see everyone's humanity, which is like why we're all doing this together.
Kiana Michaan: In this conversation, we discuss policies including the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act, the New York Heat Act, the Just Energy Transition Act, and the Climate Superfund Act. So enjoy this episode to hear about the power of grassroots organizing and coalitions to further climate action through policy.
Here's our conversation.
This podcast is brought to you in part by support from the Clean Energy Leadership Institute.[00:02:00]
Xaver Kandler: So my name is Xaver, uh, Kandler. I am Campaigns Director at New York Renews. And New York Renews is a really unique coalition within the United States, um, And we call ourselves a climate jobs and justice coalition. And what that means is we really have three pillars to our, our, um, coalition. We have environmental justice organizations, we have labor unions, um, and we have more traditional, um, climate groups.
Of course, we also have, because we have 380 organizations across the state, we have, you know, organizations kind of of all shapes and sizes, multi issue community groups, faith groups, but those three pillars are really kind of the core of who York Renews is. Um, and New Yorker News really came together after the People's Climate March in 2014, um, which was this really unique moment, um, not just because it was the [00:03:00] largest climate march in world history at that point, but also because it brought together, um, So many different kinds of groups that hadn't always worked well together, right?
So we had, um, these like big climate organizations, you know, with hundreds of employees, um, and we also had labor, um, we had a lot of indigenous groups, um, nations and tribes represented there, um, and environmental justice groups. And so after, you know, putting that together, some of the core organizers, um, you know, they sat her on, they thought, okay.
Well, like, it's great to have a march, right? Like, it, you know, it improves visibility, like, it brings all these people in. But what we really want is, like, to reduce emissions and, you know, increase environmental justice. And so we then went on this road trip across New York State. And we stopped at 80 different, you know, cities, towns, municipalities, and asked people and asked community groups, [00:04:00] Like, what does environmental and climate justice look like for you in New York State?
Like, what would you actually want to see passed? Um, and that then led us to actually formalizing into New York Renews. Um, we drafted a policy platform, um, I can talk a little bit later about where that policy platform went, um, but, um, and we adopted the Jemez principles for democratic organizing and just came up with, with a set of New York Renews principles.
Um, and so that really kind of became the foundation of, of New York court news. And that was, that was back in 2016.
Kiana Michaan: Amazing. Yeah, 380 organizations is no small feat, particularly when they are so diverse, as you said, and I want to talk more about that, but yeah, I was going to say that the, the People's Climate March was definitely like a foundational moment for me too, in my climate journey.
Um, I, Was like interning with them and did organizing was like out in the street [00:05:00] canvassing for that march. And then also like, I don't
Xaver Kandler: think I knew that about you.
Kiana Michaan: Yeah. It was, I guess my first semester of college. And I like brought like a whole organized a whole group from my school to come to the march.
Um, and I just feel like that experience of, of the march and then the energy of how many people were there was like really, um, Just like an important moment in my young organizing journey. And I feel like I saw other young people have a similar moment with that, with the March last September here in New York, um, which was still huge post pandemic, but much smaller than the 2014 one.
Um, but yeah, and we also, just to say, we met while we were both interning at the same, uh, environmental justice, org college. Uh, so I just appreciate. You, um, in. In my climate journey as well, uh, and, um, I think seeing the work of, of New York Renews was just like [00:06:00] really inspiring to me, um, for briefly, I haven't been as involved, but like going up to Albany when I, uh, did, um, to advocate for the different pieces of, of policy we're going to talk about, so I'm just like, all that to say I'm like deeply appreciative of the work of New York Renews, and it's great to like hear that, that journey of how it, how it, Um, I can't wait to get started again.
Xaver Kandler: Totally. I'll just really quickly say, before you move on, which is just to say, that was actually a really important moment for me too. I was at the 2014 march, and um, like I will never forget when, yeah. Just like looking down the street that just looked like it went forever with people and then there was that moment of silence and then kind of that like uproar and being like that was the first time, you know, having like grown up when the narrative was really like doom and gloom.
Right. It's like pre greener deals is pre like kind of a lot of the visioning work that people have done. And, um, at least in the spaces that [00:07:00] I was in, like, it was like, this is like terrible was the kind of the big message. And that was like the first moment where I was like, Oh, we could, we can like win it.
Like we can like build the future we want. Um, and I think that that was the, the moment for Sony people. So it's so sweet. I didn't know that you were there and that, But kind of we have that shared connection of that being such a pivotal moment in, in our climate journeys.
Kiana Michaan: And I agree of that moment of the, the moment of silence in the uproar was really powerful.
And similar to kind of, I think what I deeply appreciate about New York Renews is that moment of in that kind of context of a march where there's so many people, you're just feeling your connection to so many people in such a diverse group of people. And I think that's really beautiful. Um, and like you were saying that.
You felt more doom and gloom at the time, just generally. I think so much has changed in the last 10 years. And I think about, like, my limited climate education in high school. [00:08:00] Um, and then I was teaching a workshop to high schoolers in the last few months who were all, like, super engaged with New York Renews and with local climate work.
And there's just so many more opportunities, I think, for young people to get involved. And there's so much more hope and optimism because there's so much amazing work happening. So, I think that's just, like, a lovely moment to, reflect on and see how, how the work has expanded. And, you know, New York state has been a leader in many ways, very much thanks to the work of everyone on the ground and, and New York Renews bringing people and stakeholders together.
So yeah, it's just, it's a great, great thing to reflect on truly.
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, totally. Well said.
Kiana Michaan: Yeah, so, I guess let's just dive into talking a little bit about, uh, some of the, the policies and the impact that New Yorker News has, has spearheaded, um, [00:09:00] which is, um, A lot. So, um, I'm imagining a good place to start is the CLCPA, the Climate Leadership and Communities Protection Act.
But, um, also if you want to start in a different place, go for it. But I think of that as foundational in the evolution of the work.
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, totally. Um, and that goes back to, to what I was saying about, like, when we came together, we, we crafted that vision. And, and a core part of that vision was. Um, what has, you know, became New York's climate law, um, the, the CLCPA, as you said.
And, um, and so maybe what I'll do is I'll just quickly tell the story of how we got the CLCPA. And then I can dive a little bit into, into what it is. Um, you know, we, we crafted this. It was really this vision that, you know, then became a, a bill, and it passed for multiple years in the New York State Assembly.
Um, but every [00:10:00] year, um, we were unable to, to get it to pass in the Senate. And at this point, the Senate was, you know, Um, actually like controlled by the Republicans, even though that there was a majority of Democrats in the, um, in the state Senate. And so after the 2018 elections, um, when the state Senate flip, there was this huge moment not just for climate and environmental justice, but really like across New York.
Um, and. Everyone knew like this could be the year, um, that, that we really pass this transformational piece of legislation. And so, 2019 was, um, was this really big rush moment. And, and I had actually just started, um, at the beginning of the year working for one of the, um, steering committee members of, of New York Renews, Environmental Advocates NY.
And so, um, I was actually loaned to New York Renews during the final push to help organize, Um, Our, our final action and, um, kind of as we got closer and closer to the end, um, you know, we had these hearings all over the state. [00:11:00] We had really built up this like groundswell of public support and it was being talked about in the media as like, you know, this kind of like must pass piece of legislation before the end session.
Um, And so, um, about a week before the end of session, Governor Cuomo, who at that point had actually proposed his alternative to the law, which was a much weaker version that he called the Climate Leadership Act, um, and we were pushing what was at that time called the Climate and Community Protection Act, the CCPA, um, and so, um, about a week before, um, The end of session, he said, you know, we're just not going to get, um, get something done on the climate.
And that's because he, you know, wasn't willing to accept like a really kind of progressive approach. Um, uh, climate law, you know, both it's ambitious, but also really prioritizes environmental justice communities. And so we have this really big action where we brought about 400 people to Albany, um, and we did civil disobedience right outside of his [00:12:00] office and really kind of hammered home the narrative that if something didn't happen on climate, it was on the governor and it was really governor Cuomo's fault.
And like, I think it really was one of those. One of those moments that will like stick with me for the rest of my life. And, um, and you could like feel the power in the room. Like we were so close and we could feel how close we were. Um, and yeah, and then we, um, he came back to the negotiating table, um, and right before the end of session, um, You know, after a lot of negotiations between the governor, between the assembly and between the Senate, we ended up with, um, a pretty good version, a version that we were really happy with, you know, it didn't have everything, um, and, uh, that is indicated by also the, the name of the law, we were trying to pass the Climate Community Protection Act and it ended up being the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, the L being for, for Cuomo's ego, um, and, [00:13:00] um, we, you know, And yeah, and it was this historic moment.
Um, and I remember waking up the next morning, um, and going to the, the bodega and just seeing on the front page of the New York Times, like, you know, New York passes, like, nation's most progressive climate law. And that moment being, like, the moment it sunk in. Like, oh, wow, like we, like, you know, we, we changed history.
Um, which all begs the question of like, well, what, what is the, what is New York's climate law? And like, you know, why was it so unique? And I think that it's really comes down to kind of two ways. The first is that it was, it was just really ambitious. And so it was, you know, it's all sectors of the economy.
A lot of the laws before then were, you know, just the electricity sector or, you know, just related to buildings or something like this. And the CLCPA is, you know, across all sectors. Um, And, you know, setting ambitious timelines, you know, needing to be at net zero by 2050, [00:14:00] um, and really just developing an entire state apparatus, um, with the Climate Action Council and other, um, entities to, to really implement the law.
So that was the first part, but the second part was also that it was the first law, um, that really brought together climate and environmental justice at the scale that it did. And so. I think, you know, one of the kind of premises of New York Renews is the belief that not only is doing environmental justice and climate together the right thing to do, but that it is the politically savvy thing to do.
And it's the strategic thing to do. And I think that that really proved that hypothesis. Because It, you know, established the environmental justice investment mandate, um, which became the basis for, for what folks are calling justice board at the federal level, which says 40 percent of investments.
For our transition need to go to environmental justice [00:15:00] communities. Um, but it also established environmental justice screens, um, created a disadvantaged communities map, um, that, um, you know, we, we helped shape and, and is out now. Um, and, and really like shifted the, I think the landscape that if you're going to do something on climate, it really has to be hand in hand with environmental justice.
Um, and so I think that's like really, you know, one of the big lasting legacies of, Of the New York climate law.
Kiana Michaan: Absolutely. And I think what's so powerful is so many of the individuals and organizations who contributed to the advocacy that allowed this to pass are all, you know, small grassroots local organizations that are oftentimes focused on just improvements in their own communities and and beyond.
But all of that from that local work and passion. So you said led to you influencing federal policy on that level and really sort of changing the landscape [00:16:00] of how environmental justice is being included and thought about at a high level in this country, which, to me, just ties back to just how deeply important grassroots community organizing has is and has been historically to contributing to large level system change.
Um, so I guess I'm curious to hear a little bit. In your role, uh, your experience working with all of the, all of the different members of the coalition and, um, and organizations and community members and how you, how you experience that impact, you know, kind of rippling out from the local level to, to much larger scale.
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, it's such a good question. I feel like you put it really well, um, about like the kind of foundational goal of, of grassroots organizing. Um, One thing we always say is organizing gets the goods. Um, [00:17:00] and you know, when we think about all different kinds of power, like my, you know, fundamental belief is like organizing power, people power is really the, the foundation of, of all of that.
Um, and I think that, that, that was seen also, you know, to go back to the example of the climate law, um, was, You know, like the groups in the European news spent time over years really, um, building up a base of support specifically for this law, right? So it wasn't just like, Oh, you know, our community says they want this, but they don't actually like know what this is, right?
It was taking the time to really be deeply embedded and engage with community around what this would, would look like and what this could do, you know, for each community knowing that that was different. Um, and. And so I think that, um, you know, like I, you know, the role of a coalition really fundamentally is to bring together different kinds of [00:18:00] power, um, and, and, you know, to bring together different stakeholders.
And, you know, of course there's organizing power I mentioned, there's also disruptive power, there's legislative power, right? Like you can't pass legislation unless you have relationships to legislators and you know how to, you know, write policy or, you know, have access to folks who do. Um, and of course then there's, you know, narrative power.
You know, how can we make. Our narrative common sense. And I think that, um, you know, what we do as New York Core News is, is we bring together all those different kind of groups and, um, and, you know, figure out alignment towards what it is that we all want to fight, fight for together. But fundamentally, behind all of that, Is the people power.
Um, and it is, is, you know, the power of, of organizers really, um, deeply engaging and building leaders around climate. And I think that's, that's something that we've seen a big shift around in the climate movement, um, over the past [00:19:00] 10 years is people really realizing, you know, you can build a, a base of people that are really, really energized and invigorated by climate and environmental justice.
Um, you know, people used to always say like, You know, the only people who care about climate are people who are like intellectually concerned or, you know, what have you, but it's like, at this point, that's, that's not true. You know, people are, are engaged. Um, you know, when you talk to people on the street, people are really worried about climate and, and with that comes this immense opportunity for us as a climate movement to, to really be engaging with, um, with people on a, on a day to day basis, um, around what this, What these transformations could look like for their lives.
Kiana Michaan: Yes. And it's interesting because I think some of the perceptions around environmental work or environmental justice work often being siloed has just sort of been a narrative issue historically, right? That's just disconnected from [00:20:00] actually how diverse the environmental movement is and the people who care, um, and are doing this work.
And I do think that is changing, uh, for the better and there is more kind of integration between different facets of the movement, whether that's, you know, like environmental justice, conservation, energy, like all of these things are, I think, intersecting more, uh, given how deeply interrelated all of these challenges are and we, we need all the different perspectives and experiences and expertise, um, to craft equitable, inclusive solutions.
Um, yeah, I had, there was a another, I had another guest on this show say that like a budget is a moral document. When we're talking about policy. And I also just, Thinking about kind of how the allocation of funds in the, in the climate law to EJ communities, um, [00:21:00] yeah, what that, that really means, because, you know, a lot of it, it's, you see big numbers, millions of dollars, billions of dollars, uh, big, uh, emissions targets, reductions, but all of that boils down to, to real impacts that communities are feeling, um, and, And I guess with that said, now that it's been a few years since we've had the climate law in place, what are some of the, I guess, wins we're already seeing from it, but also on the flip side, implementation challenges to such an ambitious law?
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, it's such a good question, and I'll just say really quickly one thing to your last point before answering it, which is, I think you spoke really eloquently to like the kind of changing nature and the changing narrative of the climate movement, and I think one thing that is interesting is that people have always viewed the climate movement as really white, um, and I think one of the underlying assumptions is that because you That's because white people care [00:22:00] more about climate change.
Um, but the polling shows the exact opposite. Um, black and brown folks and Hispanic people, um, consistently poll us caring so much more about climate change and about environmental issues generally. Um, and so it's this really interesting, um, narrative where there's all these people that are saying, well, you know, the climate movement is historically white just because that's, you know, That's, you know, just kind of a natural, you know, way based on what, you know, what people think.
But that's actually just a hundred percent the opposite. And so I think as, as we think about that and we think about where do we want to organize and how do we want to build power over a long term perspective, it makes more sense actually to be organizing the people that, that care the most about climate change, which, um, in this country are, are more black and brown people.
Um, and so I think that's just speaks to the kind of difference between the like, you know, You know, what you, what you call like [00:23:00] the narrative and the facts on the ground. So, um, just wanted to, to share that cause I think you, you spoke so well on what is a very counterintuitive kind of dynamic in, in, in this world we live in.
So, you know, one of the big things that has been a challenge, but it also really represents a huge opportunity is the investments. And so the, the climate law, the CLCPA is. is really about, you know, setting the goals, setting up the framework, changing the laws. Um, in addition to the big policy and regulatory changes that need to happen, which are immense and, and, and are transformational, there is also just a need for a significant amount of money going into our communities to really transform every aspect of our lives.
Um, and we're not going to reach the mandates in the climate law, um, unless we are making those investments. And we've [00:24:00] seen over the past five years that New York State fundamentally has not prioritized this and has not taken seriously climate change. The amount of investment that is needed, and as a result, we are not going to be on track to meet our investments unless there are, I mean, to meet our mandates, unless there are serious investments starting next year.
Um, and so, one, you know, kind of thing that helps us set this up, um, is that in, in 2013, in the New York State budget, um, was, Included a really important item called the Climate Action Fund, and the Climate Action Fund is this fund specifically dedicated to climate and environmental justice spending, um, that has that 35 percent investment mandate with the, you know, the 40 percent goal that I mentioned earlier, um, but it also has a ton of incredibly strong labor language, um, in it, and, um, and it says that all [00:25:00] monies that are created from the CLCPA Shall, which is a language but need to go into the Climate Action Fund.
And that's transformational because that means any sort of money that's raised because of the, the C-L-C-P-A will go into this fund before it goes back out into our communities. And that means that through the legislature we really have a say. On where that money can go. And so that's ensuring, you know, a big opportunity for us is ensuring that that money goes to the communities that need it worst, the communities who are hit first and worst by the climate crisis.
And also that this is an opportunity to really bring in new constituencies and new people who might not have previously cared about climate and environmental injustice. Um, and, um, and really show that. Investing in climate and investing in environmental justice is a winning issue, right? I think so much of the narrative that the fossil fuel industry is trying to create around the transition is to scare [00:26:00] people about the costs of the transition.
Oh, it's going to cost you like, you know, 100, 000 to transition, you know, your home, et cetera, et cetera, right? It's like the price of the pump is going to rise. But we know actually that if we make these investments that people are going to be saving money, they're going to have lower utility rates over time.
Um, and that these investments are also going to just lead to healthier communities. Fossil fuels inherently are just polluting where we live, and poisoning the communities that bear the worst of pollution. And that these investments in particular have the opportunity to transform that. And so, there is You know, a real case to be made that this is not only something that is, you know, great for, for communities, great for the climate, but it's also a winning political issue.
And I think that that is the big place that we need to be putting a lot more of our, our time and energy into. In addition, of course, to passing, you know, transformational piece of [00:27:00] legislation like it. Um, the New York Heat Act, the Just Energy Transition Act, which we campaigned for this year. Um, and the governor signing the Climate Superfund Act, which is a bill that recently passed.
Um, and so
Kiana Michaan: Yeah, no, it's so important that the money actually goes where it needs to go. And like you said, in terms of the narrative from the fossil fuel industry about the cost of transitioning, um, we A just transition, ultimately all the investment up front ends up resulting in lower costs over time because less people are going to be suffering from health conditions as a result of harmful energy infrastructure.
So that's less medical costs, less costs to, you know, adapt to, to climate impacts. So, you know, it is, it seems like a big cost up front, but all of the projections show that this saves massively in the long term. Um, and then it's a question of we need these, [00:28:00] you know, we need to hold the government accountable to investing this money so that the cost of the transition doesn't fall on those who are already being overly economically burdened by, um, you know, energy costs or, uh, local pollution as a result of energy infrastructure.
Um, so how do we protect, um, rate payers, um, and protect vulnerable communities, vulnerable to like predatory funding practices around this. Um, so, Yeah, I think it, it can seem, it can maybe seem kind of overwhelming in terms of the scope, but all of these, um, policies are ultimately just going to be benefiting the long term kind of financial health for, for everyone, hopefully, is, is the vision.
Um, but I guess with that said, could you talk more about, which you just mentioned a little bit, the climate jobs and justice package, which has, you know, A few of those, uh, those [00:29:00] policies you just touched on kind of would love to, I know also that's kind of more more ongoing with some of them being passed.
So I'm not yet. So I would love to love to hear more about that.
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, it's a great question. So after passing the climate law and then fighting for a couple years on on different pieces of legislation, um, New Yorker news, uh, Took a step back and we thought, okay, so we to continue to implement the climate law.
We really need a package of bills that we think are really the most critical bills to getting, um, to getting New York on track to hit our mandates. And so, um, we went through a process, um, In, uh, in 2022 leading to the 23 session to put together the first iteration of the climate jobs and justice package.
And, um, as part of that, um, included what ended up becoming the climate action fund that I mentioned earlier. It also included the bills, the Bill Public Renewables [00:30:00] Act, um, which was a public power bill that passed in 2013 as well, and then a number of, of, of other bills. And so after we, you know, got those, those two big ones in, in 2013, we thought, okay, You know, it's time to reassess the climate jobs and justice package and and, you know, relaunched for next year with slightly different bills.
And so out of that, we had our budget demand, which we call the People's Climate Justice Budget, and that really goes to the investment pieces that I was talking about just a minute ago. And and it was a list of projects actually developed by our community members that we knew would have major climate impacts.
Um, health improvements and also improve, you know, local communities. Um, and so we push for that. And then we also pa push for free pieces of legislation, the Climate Change Super Fund Act, which fundamentally makes polluters pay for the mess that they got us in, um, [00:31:00] by putting a fee on retroactive pollution, just like a normal Superfund site, right?
Where like a polluter pollutes the site and then they have to pay for those damages. Same concept, but you just apply to the, to the climate. Um, and that actually passed this year. It passed at about 4am on Saturday morning, um, of the final day of legislative session. Um, that's a huge victory. Um, and I think, uh, is really important because at this point, the fossil fuel industry, they're, they're trying to do the sneaky thing where they're saying, It's going to cost you so much money.
And then you say like, well, why are you not paying for it? As the people who got us here? And they're like, Oh, but we could, we could never do that. Cause then we'll just like pass them, you know, it all onto you while they, of course, continue to make record profits. And so what this does is it, um, the bill is structured.
So it's on past. Harm. Um, and so the past can't be, uh, the costs can't be passed on to consumers and it makes them pay and [00:32:00] invest in, you know, in, in, um, infrastructure to make the climate crisis a little more manageable. Um, and then the second bill is the New York Heat Act, and that really is about, um, transforming our, um, heating and cooling systems and saving people money.
And so it's, um, right now we have this. system that really prioritizes gas? over other forms of heating and cooling. And so what it would fundamentally do is it would say, all forms of energy should be on an equal playing foot. Um, and, um, people shouldn't be subsidizing new people getting on the gas system when we know that all that money we're investing into the gas system is soon going to be stranded.
It's going to be what people call stranded assets. And then we're going to have to pay for that down the road. down the line. And so right now it's actually if you live within 100 feet of a gas line, the entire rate paying system [00:33:00] pay for you for free to hook up to that gas line. And the New York Heat Act, among other things, ends that.
And then the final thing that the New York Heat Act does is it says right now people are paying way too much for energy, and especially low and moderate income And so it caps the amount of money that folks will, uh, pay for their Um, for their energy, for their utility bills at 6 percent of their income.
Um, and that would save New Yorkers tons of money. Um, and we actually have, at New York News, we did this in depth analysis with, with wind climate. We found by area how much people would save. And, you know, sometimes it's tremendous amounts. It's, you know, it's over 100 a month, which is, you know, You know, a really significant amount of money for, for folks who are struggling paycheck to paycheck.
And so, and then the final bill is the Just Energy Transition Act, um, or we call it JETA. Um, and JETA is all about, um, transforming the peaker [00:34:00] plants, the plants that only run sometimes, that are located almost entirely in environmental justice communities. Shutting them down and transforming them into the next generation of energy.
And so that's really a key priority for environmental justice communities and for New York Renews. And so we, this session, were able to pass the Climate Change Sewer Fund Act alongside NYPIRG and a lot of other great organizations. Um, but then your key to act and the just energy transition act both passed in the Senate and died in the assembly.
Um, and so, you know, it's really incumbent right now on the, the assembly to, you know, to pick, pick itself back up and, and then really pass these, the pieces of legislation, um, because the assembly was really the leader when it came to the CLCPA, um, and now has become the place where, Um, where climate legislation goes to die.
And so, you know, this is like, it's been a really radical transformation and it's, um, I [00:35:00] think next year will hopefully represent a really big shift back to, back to the Assembly prioritizing climate and environmental justice.
Kiana Michaan: Yeah, there's so much political uncertainty. I mean, kind of the landscape is always, Changing and it's interesting also just to see between states kind of what is successful and what isn't and a lot of it sometimes can be just about how something is framed or like the name of, of the policy, even if it's saying the same thing, right?
Like, there's just so many, um, just, you know, People to appease, in a sense, to get something to, to pass, um, but yeah, interesting to see kind of what ends up moving faster and what doesn't, but would be super transformational to have that cap on, uh, energy bills and peaker plants have been such a, a massive issue, particularly here in, in, in New York City.
Shifting a little bit, having kind of gone over all the different policies you're working on, I'm curious [00:36:00] in your experience with all the different organizations, and I know New Yorker News also works with a lot of like young people to bring them into the movement, like what you see as people's kind of different motivations or How Driving fact, like driving motivations coming into this work, um, because as you said, whether they're coming from like, uh, a labor union perspective, or maybe even like a faith group or different kinds of environmental groups, um, yeah, do you see like different, different perspectives in coalition members coming in and, and how, uh, how that contributes kind of to the larger, the larger picture of this work?
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, it's interesting. I mean, people really do come, come to it from, from such different places. Um, and I think we're seeing that also [00:37:00] shift over time. Like, I think when you and I joined the climate movement, um, was a very different time and people were, were seeing very different amounts of destruction in their kind of daily lives.
Um, and, um, We had a youth day of action this year with Treeage, which is a incredible youth climate organization based in New York City and
people, we had like a share out while we were up in Albany and pretty much everyone there has suffered through some sort of climate disaster in their schools, whether that's It being flooded during either or, you know, right now, as we're talking with a massive heat dome over New York City, um, I don't know about you, but I'm currently sweating.
Um, so it's like real right now. And, and I think that yes, um, people that are, they're growing up. Um, at this time, all really feel, um, just the, the weight of the climate [00:38:00] crisis already being here. Um, but I think that if people come to it from so many different places, like we have a pretty strong faith contingent in, in New York Renews, and obviously they have a unique perspective on, you know, creation care and, and the morality of, of what we're doing right now.
Um, of course you mentioned the labor perspective. That's another big one. Um, there's. There's a whole world to build, um, that's based on union labor and is based on good green jobs. And, um, we know that these policies create tons and tons of jobs. Um, and that's why when you hear people talk about climate change now, like if you ever hear Biden talk about climate change, you pretty much, he's just talking about jobs, right?
And that's, um, that's, you know, another big perspective. Um, but I think that. One common thread that maybe isn't shared by everyone, but I think it's shared by many and is definitely, you know, something that, that I feel deeply in my soul is like, [00:39:00] um, is that almost everyone has had that moment where they realize, like, the climate change is like, is one of the biggest threats humanity will ever face.
Um, maybe the, the biggest challenge of our lifetimes and, um, you know, I personally believe it is. And, and I think so many people have had that moment, you know, whether it's like seeing a climate disaster or it's reading something or watching something where you can like really feel like, Oh, like this is.
Like, we're in such a unique moment in human history where we actually are still able to stop this. Um, and every single, like, little bit makes an insane difference in the big picture, um, knowing that even just 0. 1 degrees of warming difference is, you know, millions of lives. And so, um, yeah, I think that.
The motivations coming together is honestly one of the most beautiful parts about a coalition, about a work, because in that you [00:40:00] really see everyone's humanity, um, which is like why we're, we're all doing this together.
Kiana Michaan: Absolutely. And the, the magnitude of sort of the existential or even spiritual, uh, threat or crisis that emerges from this can be intense at times.
Um, which is why I think it's so important to like ground and also all of the joy, hope, and optimism that there is in this work, which seeing coalitions such as New York Renews, um, and people come together on that scale, I think that definitely gives me hope and optimism, and I just love to hear what is bringing you hope and joy in this work, because I also think to stay Thank you.
Doing this kind of work in a sustained, long term way, you really do have to find the joy and love of it as well.
Xaver Kandler: Yeah, well said. I'll share, but I also am so [00:41:00] curious what, what brings you hope? But yeah, I'll, I mean, I'll say I real, the thing that brings me the most hope really is, um, is people power. It's knowing that there are just so many more of us than there are of the fossil fuel billionaires.
And knowing that, um, fundamentally the vast majority of people want a livable planet for themselves. People they love for their children and grandchildren and, um, knowing that there will come a time where we are united and, and we will build the world that we want to live in. Um, and, and I feel that, um, that just belief deep, deep inside of me.
Um, and I also think, To see the way that the world adapts into, you know, resilience of people, but also the resilience of the natural world is always a place that I go to when I'm, you know, in, in the, the darkest moments when it's really late at night and the budget's still not done and you're, it's not [00:42:00] looking good.
You know, I think that that's like one of the places that I go. Um, but I think the final thing is that I'll say is. I think a lot of people build their kind of their foundation or their, you know, they build their work on hope and hope comes and goes. It's like any other emotion or any other thing in the world.
Um, and relying on hope as a foundation, as opposed to relying on a deep commitment or relying on, um, a, you know, a will, um, I think is an unstrategic thing to do. Um, because. Hope will come and go and if in the moments where you don't have hope, then your foundation comes crashing down, you know, that's, that's a shaky place to be in.
So I think, um, to me, it's like, it's, it [00:43:00] comes to, to a belief, like a belief in people power, a belief in the resilience of, of this world we live in, um, and less like a hope that everything will work out. Um, because they're, it's here right now. It's, it's about the degrees in which we're able to, to, you know, um, to make a difference.
And, um, it's not like, will climate change destroy us or not? Um, which I think is, you know, the binary thinking of, of the world we live in. Um, yeah, in some ways it's kind of a rejection of the question, but in some ways I think it's, yeah, that's like what, what, what I built my foundation on. What about you?
No,
Kiana Michaan: that makes sense. I appreciate that. I think that the world has faced a lot of huge existential challenges historically. And I think This is a really long term movement, like the work is sort of never done, as you said, so like the hope will come and go, and so many other, you know, parallel movements [00:44:00] for, for justice have seen their, their ups and downs, right, over time, where, uh, there's huge wins and progress, and then sometimes things kind of slide backwards before they move forward, um, so I do sort of trust in the, In the long term movement towards progress, even when there's, you know, challenges, hiccups, things that moving fast enough along the way, but I mean, I see the work towards having a thriving, healthy environment as crucial to have space for kind of the fullness of the human spirit and for us to all experience joy, right?
Like it's hard, it's harder to be joyous, uh, when there's so much, uh, in, in climate disaster or right, all the different challenges we, we [00:45:00] face. How can we make room for, uh, joy and community that like nourishes our spirit? spirit while we're doing this work, because I think that is equally important.
Xaver Kandler: Oh, really?
Kiana Michaan: Yes. Final question here. But, um, yeah, what are you, I guess, looking towards the future, what do you hope to, to see, whether that's kind of more specifically in terms of New York state policy or just, you know, the movement as a whole, what are you looking, looking forward towards in this work?
Xaver Kandler: I'm looking forward to seeing the world that we build through this transformation and everyone seeing that it's like a much better world.
And it's not like, Oh, we're going to have to make all of these sacrifices, but it's actually like, we're going to work less and people are going to be healthier. And. Like everything's gonna be cheaper and this chain, this [00:46:00] transformation is going to necessitate a lot of changes that I think, um, make billionaires less rich, but will benefit all of us.
And I'm really looking forward to seeing that transformation. Um, and then on a granular level, I'm looking forward to billions of dollars in investments next year. Uh, so let's, let's get that money. That's the, let's get that money for our communities.
Kiana Michaan: Well, I appreciate you and I'm looking forward to seeing the, the ongoing impact of, of New York Renews and how that local impact ripples out and that we can inspire, inspire change in, in other places and also be inspired by, by other change.
So
Xaver Kandler: thank you so much. My pleasure. Thank you.
Kiana Michaan: Thank you for listening. Climate with Kiana is hosted and produced by Kiana Michaan. This episode was edited and co produced by Lucy Little. Original theme music by [00:47:00] Naima Mackrel. This podcast is recorded and produced in New York City on unceded Lenape land. If you enjoyed the episode, please share it with a friend, leave a comment, and subscribe anywhere you listen to podcasts.
For more information about the guests and topics discussed, please visit ClimateWithKiana. com. Until the next time, be well and stay joyous.