Emissions
Did You Know?
Fossil fuels are non-renewable resources that need to be extracted from the earth by drilling, mining, and fracking. Some of them are refined into “petroleum products,” such as gasoline for cars.
They release significant amounts of GHGs when burned. The most used fossil fuels in New York State are natural gas, diesel, and gasoline.
Fossil fuels also have a long supply chain. They need to be physically extracted, refined, transported over long distances, then delivered or stored. These processes themselves release GHGs, adding to the emissions already created when fossil fuels are burned to heat our homes and businesses, and to power our vehicles.
Emissions in New York State
Buildings and transportation rely heavily on fossil fuels. When their emissions are calculated, they make up more than half the emissions in New York State.
Graphic is adapted from latest Annual GHG Inventory Report, published by the Department of Environmental Conservation.
PROGRESS SPOTLIGHT: Communities
Communities across New York State are taking actions to reduce emissions.
Two cross-cutting programs in New York State encourage participation in clean energy solutions on the community level: Department of Environmental Conservation's Climate Smart Communities and NYSERDA's Clean Energy Communities.
Together, they work to raise awareness about high-impact actions such as permitting community solar, improved energy code compliance, LED street lighting, and the adoption of electric fleets.
The Climate Smart Communities program provides local governments with a robust framework to guide their climate action and recognizes high performing communities for their leadership.
The Clean Energy Communities program provides the tools and resources to implement high impact actions and access grant funding, bringing energy savings and economic opportunities to communities statewide.
Click on a location to see the Clean Energy actions taken by participating communities.
NYSERDA map of Clean Energy Communities
The Numbers
New York State's Climate Act set an Emissions Reduction target of 40% below 1990 levels by 2030.
Progress to Date
Reporting indicates the following progress:
1990 is the baseline year for measuring the State's progress toward its 2030 target. In 2021, total statewide emissions were 367.87 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent, which is 10% below 1990, and 26% of the Climate Act requirement.
Summing It Up
Emissions
Meeting our emissions reduction targets requires "decarbonizing" New York’s buildings, transportation system, and power generation. Decarbonizing can happen by transitioning from equipment and energy systems that involve the combustion of fossil fuels (including oil, propane, and natural gas), to alternative, renewable, non-fossil-fuel sources of energy.
In pursuit of these goals, New York State seeks to address energy affordability concerns, improve our quality of life, protect our environment, strengthen our infrastructure, grow economic opportunities, and ensure equity and inclusion.
