Hochul flying to Italy, Ireland on taxpayer dime for climate, business events

Gov. Kathy Hochul is jetting overseas on the taxpayers’ dime this week to attend climate and business events in Italy and Ireland.

The jaunt — Hochul’s second overseas trip since she became governor in August 2021 — comes on the heels of New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ visit to Vatican City and Rome last week, when he was a guest of a papal foundation.

The first leg of Hochul’s state-funded trip will involve a 15-minute address Thursday at the Vatican about building climate resilience in the Empire State, Politico reported.

Afterward, she will be part of an audience with Pope Francis and other foriegn leaders at the conference on climate change at the Pontifical Academies of Science and Social Science there.

Hochul will then travel to Ireland, where she is scheduled to meet with senior government officials before delivering the keynote address at an economic conference in Killarney.

Her office told Politico that the state is covering the cost of the trip since it is official business. The governor’s office did not say how much the trip is expected to cost.

Hochul’s office did not immediately respond to a Post request for comment Tuesday.

The governor last traveled out of the country — to Israel — in the immediate aftermath of Hamas’ attack Oct. 7.

“Our goal for this trip is simple: strengthen international connections that will create economic opportunities for New Yorkers and a cleaner future for the next generation,” Hochul said in a statement. 

“From fighting the climate crisis to harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, New York continues to lead the world with innovative solutions to global challenges.”