Helping the climate & boosting jobs: Gov. Hochul should sign the New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act - New York Daily News

Helping the climate & boosting jobs: Gov. Hochul should sign the New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act

New York State has a big opportunity to create local jobs and address climate change at the same time — and Gov. Hochul should not let it slip away.

The New York Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act will get New York out of the business of funding rainforest destruction, by ensuring that companies with state contracts have deforestation-free supply chains. The bill will also prevent the unnecessary use of tropical wood for state projects, and it will provide incentives for small businesses to compete.

The legislation passed through both houses of the Legislature with bipartisan, overwhelming majorities, and environmental leaders have called this bill the strongest climate legislation to reach the governor’s desk this year.

The bill also enjoys widespread support among New York businesses — including from the organization I lead, the New York Sustainable Business Council. We represent roughly 2,000 businesses across New York State. In a survey of our network, more than 50% of respondents indicated that the signing of this bill would make them more interested in providing goods or services to New York State and local governments.

Well-known companies like Seventh Generation, Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Kickstarter, and Tony’s Chocolonely have also endorsed the bill.

New Yorkers will benefit because the law will shift more of our government’s procurement dollars to their rightful place: New York businesses. Every government contract with a multinational corporation — like the ones responsible for deforestation — represents dollars leaving our economy. In contrast, the state should be awarding contracts to local businesses, enriching our local economies.

The products in question, high-risk commodities from tropical regions, include soybeans, beef, paper, and wood — all of which can be produced right here in New York State. The remainder of products targeted by this bill, including coffee and cocoa, can also be sourced ethically.

Tropical forests store roughly half of the world’s terrestrial carbon, yet we continue to destroy them at an alarming rate — releasing that carbon into the atmosphere. We have already destroyed or degraded roughly two-thirds of the rainforests globally. This bill leverages the collective purchasing power of state and local governments plus the businesses they contract with to combat this problem.

The unfortunate reality is that when making large purchasing decisions, we tend not to look past the price tag. Multinational corporations that source abroad and support unethical labor practices can charge less despite having to ship these commodities around the world — burning more fossil fuel along the way. We all end up paying the price difference through the impacts of climate change, and our own businesses struggle to compete.

That’s why this climate bill institutes a preference for products grown and produced in New York State. The bill, as passed, includes a 10% pricing differential to help New York businesses compete more effectively against multinational corporations. The bill would also include a transparency assistance program for local businesses.

This investment will provide a clear return by strengthening our local economies and creating jobs across the state. Localizing our economy will also build resilience against international supply chain disruptions, which are bound to become more frequent as climate change accelerates.

Amidst pressure from powerful interests that profit from the ongoing destruction of tropical rainforests, the governor has not yet signed this bill into law. Instead, negotiations are ongoing and reports suggest that the governor’s staff is seeking to weaken the legislation before she will sign it.

Notably, the European Union, the United Kingdom, and other countries have already passed similar legislation. Even in the United States, a bipartisan bill was recently introduced by U.S. Sens. Brian Schatz, a Democrat, and Mike Braun, a Republican, to deal with the issue at the federal level. Governments are already moving in this direction and companies are already having to adapt. It’s in New York’s interest to stay ahead of the curve, not to fall behind.

Gutting — or vetoing — the bill would be a big mistake. The Tropical Deforestation-Free Procurement Act is a win for New York’s businesses, as well as a critical step in mitigating climate change and safeguarding New Yorkers and our economy from its ongoing impact.

Signing the bill will also be a political win for the governor, putting New York once again at the vanguard of climate leadership across the country. We urge Gov. Hochul to sign the bill, and to keep its most important provisions intact.

Rossi is the executive director of the New York Sustainable Business Council (NYSBC), a nonprofit representing 2,000 New York-based businesses and business networks committed to advancing a vibrant, just, and sustainable economy.