By 2100, the seas will rise by 10 feet even with the essential reductions in carbon emissions. In the past year, we’ve seen historic wildfires, winter storms, and a record number of hurricanes! In the next 5 years, we will almost certainly face another Hurricane Sandy type event. We need to prepare for this right now. 

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration confirms there is a rise in devastating climate disasters. Since the 1980s, the amount of  billion-dollar disasters that strike the United States  has trended upwards with consistent record-breaking hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and snow storms. 2020 takes the record for the most billion-dollar disasters in the past 41 years, with the costs of damages  reaching $95 billion, more than double the average of $45.7 billion.

NYS and NYC passed the most ambitious climate change bills in the U.S., but the economic crisis has halted progress while warming continues. Communities affected by sea rise are primarily lower income; upland communities will need to accept higher density and perhaps more economic diversification. This also means re-imagining wastewater treatment (the existing facilities for which will be flooded in the coming decades), decommissioning carbon-emitting electrical power plants, and relocating airports and other strategic transportation infrastructure. The next mayor has the immense challenge of organizing the multi-party, multi-issue conversations that can lead to a consensus for action.

I will plan to eliminate carbon emissions by 2050 and to plan for a 10’ sea rise by 2100, along with the increasing storm surges and weather violence. 

New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act has New York State on track to reach our targets of carbon-free electricity by 2040 and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 -- NYC can do better than that. 

Reimagining our power grid

• The New York City Council recently passed the Climate Mobilization Act which plans to establish emissions caps for buildings over 25,000 square feet, assess the possibility of replacing NYC’s gas-fired power plants with battery storage powered by renewable energy sources, and equip roofs of certain smaller new residential buildings and non-residential buildings with solar panels or green roofs. That is only the beginning. 

• By directing more attention towards facilitating the growth of our solar and offshore wind industries, we can ensure that our energy dollars are being used in our communities, providing NYC with clean, home-grown energy.

Greener and more efficient buildings/housing

• Buildings are the #1 contributor to NYC’s emissions, accounting for 71%. The Climate Mobilization Act’s plan to equip certain new buildings with solar panels and green roofs is a start. However, by dedicating more attention and resources to improving existing buildings’ sustainability we can make far more impact, making every home, office, or shop efficient and electric while improving quality of life for people who live and work in those buildings.

• Incorporating these facets into affordable housing, both existing and developing, is an integral aspect of this plan. By generating more mandated action and provision of resources from the city, such as mass installation of induction cooktops, we can ensure that energy efficient resources are available to all New Yorkers, not just those who can afford to hire private companies.

• Not only would making current and future buildings meet a standard of energy efficiency help vastly reduce NYC emissions, but it has the potential to become the largest source of job growth in the city. With 164,000 clean energy jobs in New York State, taking more action in reducing our emissions has the potential to triple that figure.

Giving our streets back to the people

• 2020 generated great strides in revolutionizing our city’s street use, bringing a record 63.8 miles of new bike lanes and 83 miles of car-free open streets. This trend should continue. 

• By expanding upon the number of planned car-free open streets and bike lanes, we can further encourage more efficient and accessible modes of transportation such as CityBikes and scooters, as well as providing micro-commuters with a safer environment in which to use them.

• This will encourage a lessened need for cars in our city, significantly expediting our progress toward New York State’s current (Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act) target of an 85% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. 

• NYC has committed to city bus electrification, but extending that commitment to trucks and rideshare companies should be our next step. With this comes a vast expansion of electric vehicle infrastructure- increasing both the number and spread of charging stations, and making electric transportation more accessible and sustainable.

• The global transportation sector accounts for almost 25% of GHG emissions, with 72% of that being a result of road transport. By actively encouraging green transportation, NYC can drastically minimize our contribution to that figure while simultaneously improving quality of life in our city.

More reading: Read my interview in Streetsblog about rethinking how we use our streets

Cleaner air for all New Yorkers 

•  Decreasing our city’s emissions as outlined above will additionally improve air quality, decreasing the current rates of childhood asthma within at-risk communities. 

Adapting to the symptoms of climate change

• Fortifying our infrastructure against climate change is a priority. Even if greenhouse gas emissions follow a limited trend, it is projected that sea levels will rise by at least 12 inches by 2100. 

• Our marginalized communities are the most vulnerable to this. With the increase of events such as cold snaps and extreme heat disproportionately affecting those with fewer accessible resources to protect against them, it is essential that we actively provide support to these communities specifically.