Action on Global Warming: NYC’s Green New Deal

New York City (April 22, 2019)—Mayor de Blasio has announced New York City’s Green New Deal, a plan to attack global warming on all fronts. It is comprised of $14 billion in new and committed investments, legislation and concrete action at the city level that will ensure a nearly 30% additional reduction in emissions by 2030. 

The laws and investments of New York City’s Green New Deal will directly confront income inequality, generating tens of thousands of good-paying jobs retrofitting buildings and expanding renewable energy.

“Every day we wait is a day our planet gets closer to the point of no-return. New York City’s Green New Deal meets that reality head on,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio. “We are confronting the same interests that created the climate crisis and deepened inequality. There’s no time to waste. We’re taking action now, before it’s too late.”

New York City is not only taking steps to adhere to the Paris Climate pact, it is frontloading the most significant greenhouse gas reductions for the coming decade, before it’s too late. The city is going after the largest source of emissions in New York by mandating that all large existing buildings cut their emissions—a global first.

In addition, the administration will convert government operations to 100% clean electricity, implement a plan to ban inefficient all-glass buildings that waste energy and reduce vehicle emissions.

The Green New Deal policies are laid out in “OneNYC 2050: Building a Strong and Fair City,” a new, comprehensive plan to prepare the city for the future and leading the way for the nation on how to address the existential threats posed by climate change, economic insecurity, inequity and rising global intolerance.

In combination with actions taken prior to this administration, New York City on track to achieve a 40% reduction in emissions from a 2005 baseline by 2030.

Yesterday’s announcements will reduce the city’s emissions by the following percentages from a 2005 baseline:

• 10%—Mandating that all large, existing buildings implement retrofits to be more efficient and lower emissions
• 6%—Further reducing emissions including more renewable energy, expanded energy efficiency in buildings and reduced reliance on fossil fuel vehicles, through OneNYC initiatives
• 5%—Pursuing a deal to power 100% of city operations with clean electricity sources like Canadian hydropower
• 2%—Cleaning up vehicle fleet and implementing congestion pricing.

For more information, visit onenyc.cityofnewyork.us.