Call to Action: Advocate for Embodied Carbon Policy!

Our leaders in Albany need to hear from design professionals about the importance of addressing our embodied carbon emissions head on. We are calling on all AIA New York members to call your State Senator and State Assemblymember urging them to pass A6566/S7648, A8202/S8000, and A8456/S7998 this session.  

In an effort to reduce embodied carbon emissions in New York, AIA New York, with technical guidance from the Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF), has identified three policy strategies: (1) financial tools to encourage the use of low-carbon construction materials, (2) embodied carbon procurement requirements for state projects, and (3) establishing three pathways for compliance with global warming potential thresholds in the building code – reuse, material carbon caps, and whole building life cycle assessments. 

Embodied carbon refers to the GHG emissions generated by the manufacturing, transportation, installation, maintenance, and disposal of construction materials used in buildings, roads, and other infrastructure. 17% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are from manufacturing of construction materials. Emissions released now are more critical than emissions released later, and reducing embodied carbon is as important as reducing operational carbon.  

Find your State Senator here, and find your State Assemblymember here. 

There are only a few days left of session this year! Please take 10 minutes to call your representations, tell them about this package of legislation, and explain why we must address embodied carbon today.  

The ask to legislators: 

Hi, I am a constituent of Senator/Assemblymember [NAME], and I am calling to express my support for comprehensive embodied carbon policy. As a design professional, I have a unique understanding of the implications of embodied carbon on our environment and the need to take action to use more low-carbon materials. A6566/S7648, A8202/S8000, and A8456/S7998 will help New York take action to reduce embodied carbon emissions, which account for 17% of global greenhouse gas emissions. I urge Senator/Assemblymember [NAME] to add their name as a co-sponsor and work with their colleagues to pass these bills before the end of session. *Be prepared to say your home address* 

A6566 (Carroll) / S7648 (Kavanagh) – Financial Tools 

• Sponsors: Assemblymember Robert Carroll and Senator Brian Kavanagh 

• Incentivizes the use of low-carbon construction materials and products by providing financial support for concrete manufacturers to develop environmental product declarations (EPDs) and unlocking a sales tax exemption to benefit customers of low-carbon materials 

A8202 (Epstein) / S8000 (Comrie) – Requirements 

• Sponsors: Assemblymember Harvey Epstein and Senator Leroy Comrie 

• Codifies a portion of Executive Order 22 on embodied carbon procurement requirements for state projects  

A8456 (Kelles) / S7998 (Kavanagh) – Codes  

• Sponsors: Assemblymember Anna Kelles and Senator Brian Kavanagh 

• Establishes a long-term strategy for reducing embodied carbon by establishing three pathways for compliance with global warming potential limits in the building code: (1) reuse a substantial portion of the existing building, (2) use low carbon materials, (3) conduct a whole building life cycle assessment 

• Modeled off of California’s Green Building Code (CALGreen)