The Catskills are our home, a true New York treasure. But each and every day they’re threatened by various projects that could change the face of our Park and Region forever. That’s why it’s so important for you to join us in Albany on February 5th to advocate for the place we love so much.

Mountainkeeper has been extremely busy and productive this year, scoring big wins and making important progress in protecting the Catskills while building a clean and sustainable future. I’m really proud of our team, and grateful for friends like you who help us stay strong.

It’s clear that 2019 is going to be a huge year for the Catskills. Lonely Planet named the Catskills as one of its 2019 Top Ten Regions to Visit in the world, and our beautiful area is experiencing a renaissance, with a lot of new interest, creative energy, and economic development coming our way.

Dear Friend --

Clean air, clean water, access to the outdoors, and healthy food are the backbone of children’s health. They’re also our core values at Catskill Mountainkeeper and the driving force behind all of our campaigns. We work with each of you and all of our organizational partners every day to bring these goals to life. But we can't be successful if our elected officials don't share our values. So I’m asking you to do one thing: vote.

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The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change released a hard-hitting report earlier this month that left no room for interpretation: unless we drastically change course in the next 12 years, we will lock in the worst climate change scenarios. We cannot continue building out climate-wrecking fracking operations and infrastructure. And we cannot allow our leaders to commit us to a dangerous fossil fuel past: we need bold leadership that moves us to our renewable future.

That’s why we need you to sign our petition calling on Governor Cuomo to vote for a complete ban on fracking and all its related activities in the Delaware River Basin.

Earlier this week, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations’ scientific panel established to guide world leaders on climate change issues, released a report. And it’s not good news.

According to these climate experts from more than 195 countries, we have 12 years before we hit a tipping point with no return – meaning, 12 years to move our economies from fossil fuels to renewable energy. As a society, we have made unthinkable leaps before. It’s time to dig in--there is no going back and there is no backing down. We need to raise our standards and expectations about what our leaders can and should do on our behalf.

This is our moment to shine. Right here in New York, we can pass the Climate & Community Protection Act and get our state on the path to 100% renewable energy.  Join us this Saturday, October 13, in New York City for an in-person 100% renewable energy campaign training. Register here.

Since 2015 Catskill Mountainkeeper has made powering your home with solar energy easier and more affordable. Through our RenewableNY program we've helped more than 775 households across the state go solar. Today I'm writing to tell you about New York State's exciting and newly launched Solar for All program. Solar for All provides eligible households the opportunity to subscribe to community solar at no cost. Free solar energy for eligible households!!

I am writing to tell you about a project Catskill Mountainkeeper is involved in to support our region: FarmHearts -- an important new partnership to support and protect small family farms, the backbone of life in the Catskills for generations and an essential driver for our region’s economy.

Small farms play an integral role in our communities, providing healthy produce and dairy for our families and broader markets, and protecting open space that is critical for wildlife habitat and the overall heath of our environment. Unfortunately, without our help, the rich tradition of small family farms in the Catskills is at risk of becoming just a fond memory. As the market for agricultural products skews in favor of huge industrial farms, small farms are increasingly being squeezed out of business.

I’m writing to you today from the Delaware River Basin Commission’s (DRBC’s) meeting in New Jersey where Catskill Mountainkeeper is demanding that the commission ban fracking and all related activities in the Basin. Earlier this year DRBC proposed to ban fracking, but its draft rules would still allow fracking companies to use the basin as a storage area or a dump for dangerous, toxic fracking wastes. We need Governor Cuomo to use his power as a member of the DRBC to demand a COMPLETE ban against fracking and all its activities. Call Governor Cuomo and tell him to push the DRBC for a complete ban in the Basin.

On September 6th and 8th, Mountainkeeper is joining the Peoples Climate Movement and partners from around the world to marshal tens of thousands of people from across the country into the streets to show our elected leaders that we demand action on climate change. Read on for information on events all over New York State.

The Catskills' hemlock trees are a foundation species for the forests' unique ecosystem. The hemlocks are beautiful and strong, providing homes for animals and shade to keep our streams cool enough for trout and other fish native to our area. Without the hemlocks, New York State would be a different place entirely, and right now these these amazing trees are threatened by a voracious invasive insect called the Hemlock Woolly Adelgid (HWA). Watch our new video to learn more.