Speakers will address the movement for climate justice, the federal Green New Deal resolution, NYC legislation to reduce GHG emissions from large buildings, and the proposed New York State Climate and Community Protection Act.

Costa Constantinides

Costa Constantinides represents the New York City Council’s 22nd District, which includes his native Astoria along with parts of Jackson Heights, Woodside, and East Elmhurst. He serves as chair of the Council’s Environmental Protection Committee and sits on four additional committees: Parks, Transportation, For-Hire Vehicles, and Land Use, as well as the sub-committee on Zoning and Franchises. In 2013, he became the first Greek-Cypriot-American elected to office in New York City. During his time in the Council, Costa helped pass a landmark zoning agreement on a future development in Astoria. For the first time in city history, a developer was be required by law to provide permanently affordable housing. Environmental policy has been a priority for Costa. The Council unanimously passed his bill to reduce carbon emissions 80% by 2050, now Local Law 66 of 2014. To help achieve this, Costa has sponsored additional legislation to encourage more use of solar, wind, geothermal, and biofuels. Costa graduated Cum Laude from CUNY Queens College and the Benjamin Cardozo School of Law.

Andres Bernal

Andres Bernal is an Adjunct Professor of Urban Studies at Queens College and a PhD student in Public and Urban Policy at The New School. His research focuses on the public discourse and political economy of the Green New Deal as a counter-neoliberal policy agenda. Andres was an advisor to the Alexandria Ocasio Cortez Congressional campaign and the Representative’s current efforts to design public policy beyond the status quo. He is a Research Fellow at the Global Institute for Sustainable Prosperity and a Visiting Research Fellow with the University of Missouri Kansas City department of Economics.

Leslie Cagan

Leslie Cagan has worked in peace and justice movements for more than 50 years. In 2014, Leslie was co-coordinator of the Sept. 21^st People’s Climate March, which brought 400,000 people into the streets demanding action on the global climate crisis. Since then she has been in the leadership of the Peoples Climate Movement NY and has served on the steering committee of NY Renews (statewide climate coalition), Climate Works for All (citywide climate coalition) as well as the national Peoples Climate Movement. From 2002 to 2009, Leslie was the National Coordinator of United for Peace and Justice, a coalition that grew to 1,400 member groups and was central to the movement against the war in Iraq.  She has worked on several progressive electoral campaigns, including serving as the Field Director in the 1988 Dinkins NY Mayoral race. Her writings appear in 10 anthologies and in scores of print and online outlets. Leslie has done more workshops, conference presentations, and speeches at rallies than she can count.

Annel Hernandez

Annel Hernandez is the Associate Director of the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance. Annel works on city and statewide climate policy issues, focusing on local advocacy and research that further equitable investments in coastal resiliency, green infrastructure, and renewable energy. She also works on various coalition campaigns to push for more aggressive climate legislation – with equity as a central focus. She previously worked with the Urban Climate Change Research Network at the Earth Institute, collaborating with scholars, experts, and advocates on pushing forward new climate change resources for cities. Annel also worked in the NYC Mayor’s Office of Economic Opportunity as Social Innovation Fund Advisor managing the program implementation of a multi-city initiative focused on economic opportunity programs, and was also a NYC Urban Fellow. Annel received an MPA in Energy and Environment from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs, and her BA in Political Science and Latino Studies from Fordham University.