Moms in New York - Moms Clean Air Force

Moms are working in New York to fight for clean air and a stable climate. We host events, share information about what’s going on, and create opportunities for mothers to talk to their legislators about their concerns. Please join us in New York, and let us know about your priorities.

What We’re Working On

Tell Governor Hochul: Lead on Climate Safety

It is more important than ever for states to act on climate change. States—and their governors—can be powerful leaders in building a clean energy economy. That’s why we’re asking Governor Hochul to keep stepping up to slash climate pollution, protect children’s health, and ensure clean air for all. Our future depends on it.

Take Action

Meet Your New York State Organizer

Elizabeth Hauptman

Elizabeth is Moms’ field organizer in Brighton, Michigan. She also coordinates volunteer engagement for Moms across the U.S. She serves on Congresswoman Elissa Slotkin’s Environmental Advisory Board and the Brighton Area Chamber Environmental Council. Elizabeth’s work with Moms is deeply personal because her son suffers from asthma and is affected by poor air quality.

Pictured: Moms at the March to End Fossil Fuels in New York City.

Contact Elizabeth

Highlights

Moms crisscrossed New York City to participate in Climate Week 2024. We spoke at several events, from a panel for Extreme Weather Survivors, to lessons for avoiding chemicals in household products, to a lunch and learn about community health and justice. The highlight: The Atlantic’s panel discussion, “Building a Sustainable Future,” featuring Moms’ Dominique Browning. Read more.
New York Moms attend annual Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC. In July 2024, Dominique Browning and Ali Simpson joined Moms from across the country at the National Children’s Museum for a morning of purposeful play and a press conference about children’s health in our changing climate, followed by meetings with elected officials at the Capitol. Read more.
New York Moms called on the State Assembly to cut plastic waste. In 2024, the New York State Assembly considered a bill to reduce plastic waste 50% and cut 15 toxic chemicals out of packaging manufacture. Hundreds of Moms reached out to lawmakers in support of this legislation. It has not passed yet, but we are keeping our eye on it for the 2025 session. Read more.
Moms travel to New York City for the March to End Fossil Fuels. In September 2023, Moms’ Samantha Schmitz and EcoMadres’ Danielle Berkowitz-Sklar marched with 75,000 advocates through midtown to demand that world leaders implement and support policies to end our reliance on polluting oil, gas, and coal.
New York Moms join staff and members nationwide to tell EPA to slash carbon pollution from power plants. In June 2023, New York Moms Dominique Browning and Ali Simpson joined more than 70 staff and members in 22 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for carbon pollution from power plants. Read Dominique’s testimony.

Events and Resources in New York

Why We Care

New York has a pollution problem. Seven counties received C, D, or F grades for ozone—which means dangerous breathing days for our 330,000 children with asthma.

Ozone is not our only problem. In 2023, Canadian wildfire smoke drifted down the East Coast, causing Code Red, Purple, and Maroon days for soot pollution across the state. Yet 59% of New York counties don’t have air monitoring systems, so we can’t accurately assess the health risks local polluted air poses to much of our population.

Climate change is putting beautiful Lake Ontario and Lake Erie at risk. The source of drinking water to more than 40 million people, the Great Lakes are threatened by pollution, rising water temperatures, and erratic water levels, as extreme weather affects evaporation and precipitation patterns.

Thankfully, we’ve passed path-breaking climate legislation committing the state to achieving 70% renewable energy by 2030, 100% zero-emission electricity by 2040, and an 85% reduction in climate pollution by 2050. The New York State Climate Action Council has created an actionable plan for reaching these goals.

Past Events

September 2024

On September 26, Moms Clean Air Force Project Manager, National Events and EcoMadres Danielle Berkowitz-Sklar represented EcoMadres in speaking at the National Partnership for New American’s Climate Justice Collaborative as part of NY Climate Week.

On September 25, Moms Clean Air Force Mom Detective Alexandra Zissu spoke alongside MadeSafe and SheKnows at Naturepedic Gallery as part of NY Climate Week.

On September 25, Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning, National Field Director Patrice Tomcik, and Senior Analyst, Petrochemicals Cynthia Palmer joined the Bloomberg Philanthropies Fossil Fuel Summit as part of NY Climate Week.

On September 24, Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning spoke at The Atlantic Live: Special Climate Event during New York Climate Week.

On September 22-23, Moms Clean Air Force Director of DEIJ and Strategic Implementation Stephanie Reese and National Manager of Health Equity Almeta Cooper joined the Climate Justice Summit: People Deliver in New York as part of NY Climate Week.

September 2023

On September 22, Isabel González Whitaker, Moms Clean Air Force Associate Vice President, attended the Latino Leaders Network 69th Latino Leaders Luncheon in New York City.

On September 17, Moms Clean Air Force’s Sam Schmitz and Danielle Berkowitz-Sklar joined our members in New York City for the March to End Fossil Fuels, during which some 75,000 people gathered to demand that world leaders implement and support policies to end our reliance on polluting oil, gas, and coal.

June 2023

On June 13, Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning and National Field Manager Ali Simpson joined more than 70 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 22 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for carbon pollution from power plants. Read Dominique’s testimony here and Ali’s here.

May 2023

On May 9, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Ali Simpson joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 16 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for pollution from cars and trucks. Read Ali’s testimony here.

On May 9, Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning and National Field Manager Ali Simpson joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 15 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on the proposal to strengthen the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Read Dominique’s testimony here and Ali’s here.

On May 2, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Ali Simpson joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and members in 18 states and Washington, DC, to testify at EPA’s virtual public hearing on proposed federal standards for greenhouse gas pollution from heavy-duty trucks. Read Ali’s testimony here.

February 2023

On February 21, Moms Clean Air Force National Field Manager Ali Simpson joined more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members across the country to testify at the EPA hearing on proposed federal standards for soot pollution. Read Ali’s testimony here.

January 2023

On January 10, 11, and 12, more than 60 Moms Clean Air Force staff and members from 21 states and Washington, DC, spoke out at EPA’s virtual public hearing about its updated proposal to cut methane and other harmful pollutants from new and existing oil and gas operations. Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning and National Field Manager Ali Simpson offered testimony. Read Dominique’s testimony here and Ali’s here.

February 2022

On February 24, Moms Clean Air Force New York joined dozens of Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from 15 states and DC to deliver testimony at EPA’s public hearing on its proposal to restore the appropriate and necessary finding of the Mercury and Air Toxics Standards. Moms Clean Air Force Co-Founder and Director Dominique Browning offered testimony. Read Dominique’s testimony HERE.

June 2021

New York moms joined Moms Clean Air Force staff and volunteers from across the country to participate in EPA’s listening sessions on its upcoming oil and natural gas methane rule. Moms Clean Air Force intern Julie Silverman offered testimony. Read Julie’s testimony.

August 2019

Moms Clean Air Force joined the welcome group for Greta Thunberg as she arrived to New York for the September 20 Climate Strike.

July 2019

Members of Moms Clean Air Force New York attended the sixth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

July 2018

Members of Moms Clean Air Force New York attended the fifth annual Play-In for Climate Action on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC.

January 2018

Moms Clean Air Force members testified at a hearing focused on America’s Clean Power Plan in New York City.

July 2017

Moms Clean Air Force New York members attended the 2017 Play-In for Climate Action in Washington, DC, where they met with Senator Schumer’s and Senator Gillibrand’s staff.

May 2016

Wendy Cole, Director of Maple Street School, conducted a Read-In of Every Breath We Take at Maple Street School, 21 Lincoln Rd, Brooklyn, NY.

Moms Clean Air Force New York attended Dear Tomorrow and 100% Campaign’s ‘Toast To The Mamas’ Event in Brooklyn, NY. The event kicked-off a Mother’s and Father’s Day campaign launched by DearTomorrow in partnership with the Solutions Project, Climate Parents and Moms Clean Air Force.

April 2016

Moms Clean Air Force New York participated in two special screenings of Love Thy Nature at Cinema Village. After the screening, attendees enjoyed a Q&A with the film director Sylvie Rokab and a special presentation of “Every Breath We Take”.