Through EMEP and other programs NYSERDA sponsors scientific research into the environmental impacts of energy generation and use. This research informs policymaking on the state and regional levels. Environmental policy is also set by the federal government, which participates in international agreements, and by local municipalities, which primarily regulate land use. Thus, environmental policy in New York State is determined by an interconnected web of laws and regulations ranging in scope from the local to the global.
It is important to understand that environmental policy is not a collection of static rules. Frequently these laws and regulatory frameworks unfold over time. For example, air emissions caps may decrease over a period of years, as goals are met and new targets are set. Viewed on a timeline, it is possible to trace the progress of the existing laws and regulations, from past achievements to future targets.
To see an environmental policy timeline of New York State and federal regulations, please click here. Please note: the timeline opens in a separate window.
