Statement From Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins Regarding Climate Change

Attached is a letter Senate Democratic Leader Andrea Stewart-Cousins sent to Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan regarding the need for the State Senate to take action on legislation to protect the environment and New York’s resources. This action is essential given President Trump’s decision to pull the United States out of the Paris Climate Change Accord.

Below is background information on the Senate Republican Leadership’s stance on climate change.

BACKGROUND

>>PoliticoNY: New Senate leader questions climate change

>>In a radio interview on "The Capitol Pressroom," Flanagan, a Republican from Long Island, said, “Based on the winter we just had, you say to yourself, are we really going through climate change."

• Flanagan's comments echo those of State Senator John DeFrancisco of Syracuse, who he defeated to become majority leader.
• Last month, when explaining why the Senate passed an Earth Day resolution that omitted the phrase “climate change,” DeFrancisco said it was a “politically correct term.”

>>Senator DeFrancisco explains why the term "climate change" was missing from resolution

• DeFrancisco said "climate change" was left out of the resolution "because it's sometimes difficult to follow the politically correct term. It was global warming a few years ago."

>>Banning the words doesn't stop the reality of a changing climate (Your letters: Howie Hawkins)