‘Every day is Earth Day in our office,’ says AG James in a pledge to protect NY’s environment

April 23, 2024 Robert Abruzzese, Courthouse Editor

Attorney General Letitia James celebrated Earth Day 2024 by highlighting her office's sustained efforts to enhance environmental and public health protections. Photo: Bebeto Matthews/AP

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In observance of Earth Day 2024, Attorney General Letitia James highlighted the efforts of her office to bolster environmental and public health protections in New York.

Over her tenure, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) has recovered more than $28.5 million through actions enforcing environmental laws, a testament to the state’s aggressive stance against pollution and other harmful practices.

“Throughout my career, I have always fought to protect our environment because this planet belongs to all of us,” said Attorney General James. “Earth Day is every day in this office, and we cannot separate caring for the environment from caring for New Yorkers, their families and the places they call home. That is why I continue to prioritize an equity-focused approach to our environmental and public health work, to protect our people, our places, and our entire planet.

“This Earth Day, I remain committed to defending our communities, safeguarding our natural resources, and fighting for environmental justice.”

Attorney General Letitia James has focused on protecting New Yorkers through various environmental and public health initiatives. She has worked on expanding emergency weather alerts to include more languages and advocated for better food safety standards, particularly concerning lead in children’s food. James has also pushed for a national extreme heat standard to protect workers from climate change-induced temperatures and has enforced strict actions against landlords to prevent lead poisoning.

In the realm of environmental protection, James has led efforts to hold landlords accountable for lead safety violations, defended the EPA’s authority under the Clean Air Act, and tackled air pollution issues at the local level, such as those from the Norlite plant in Cohoes. She has secured settlements to address violations of water and air pollution laws, including a notable settlement with FrieslandCampina.

James has taken legal action against major corporations for greenwashing and contributing to plastic pollution, securing funds to mitigate environmental damage and protect public health. Her efforts extend to preserving protected lands, such as the Pine Barrens on Long Island, ensuring they remain uncontaminated and available as a natural resource for New Yorkers.