Media Contacts
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Sheila Webb-Halpern
Associate Director of Policy and Strategy
Email: sheila.webb-halpern@tnc.org -
May Yeung
Media Relation Manager
Email: may.yeung@tnc.org
Governor Hochul delivered the 2026 State of the State address today. The Nature Conservancy in New York released the following statement from Policy and Strategy Director Jessica Ottney Mahar.
“The Nature Conservancy applauds proposals to continue and boost critical clean water and conservation programs, including $425 million for the Environmental Protection Fund and $3.75 billion over the next five years for water quality improvements. We look forward to seeing more details on these proposals in the Executive Budget.”
“Governor Hochul’s State of the State also included proposals that would make communities more resilient to climate change by protecting New Yorkers from deadly heatwaves and flooding. These proposals include investing in nature and nature-based solutions to cool city neighborhoods, aligning with our Forest for All NYC goals, and ramping up the Flood Safe New York program to enable communities to conserve natural shorelines that buffer neighborhoods and undertake projects that reduce flooding. We are pleased to see the State build on the success of previous state programs; these are promising proposals that would improve public safety and quality of life throughout New York.”
“The State of the State also proposed measures related to the state’s landmark Environmental Quality Review Act. The Nature Conservancy supports the goal of building affordable housing and will be reviewing these proposals carefully to ensure that new policies to support development do not reduce environmental protection or public safety.”
To learn more about The Nature Conservancy’s work, visit nature.org/newyork.
The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.