via Council Member Costa Constantinides
April 19, 2019 By Alexa Beyer
The New York City Council passed the boldest climate legislation of any major U.S. city yesterday.
The Climate Mobilization Act will dramatically reduce the city’s greenhouse gas emissions over the next decade by cracking down on big buildings.
Many are describing the sweeping eight-bill package, initiated by Council Member Costa Constantinides, as New York’s version of the Green New Deal.
“It’s a new day in New York City,” City Council Speaker Corey Johnson tweeted yesterday. “Climate change is an existential threat and we must rise to the occasion. The @NYCCouncil and @Costa4NY are taking aggressive action with our Climate Mobilization Act,” the tweet read.
The centerpiece of the legislation takes aim at buildings larger than 25,000 square feet. The owners of these buildings will have to reduce their emissions by 40 percent from 2005 levels by 2030.
The law will take effect in 2024 when the limits begin to kick in. The Dept. of Buildings will establish a new unit to regulate and enforce the standards.
Some buildings, however, will be exempt from the cap, such as apartment buildings with rent-regulated units.
Property owners subject to the law will have to retrofit their buildings to meet the target, or do something else like purchase greenhouse gas offsets. While only 2 percent of the million structures in New York City are 25,000 square feet or larger, they emit 30 percent of the city’s greenhouse gases, according to the city.
Emissions from buildings accounted for 67 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas in 2015, according to an inventory published by the city.
“The Climate Mobilization Act is a downpayment on the future of New York City — one that ensures we lead the way in the ever-growing fight against climate change,” Constantinides said in a statement after the legislation was passed. “Today, we sent that message to the world by enacting the boldest mandate to reduce carbon emissions, tackling one of the biggest drivers of climate change.”
Mark Chambers, the director of the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, told the New York Times that the new legislation will cost building owners more than $4 billion cumulatively. However, the city expects that the legislation will also create thousands of jobs.
Mayor Bill de Blasio is expected to sign the legislation, which passed 45-2 in the council, into law.
Featured Events
11 Comments
Isn’t this a big of a hardship? Any decent size co-op building will be hit by this. It’s 5,000 per floor say, so every 6 story building will be hit. It will be very expensive… You know what, I think they are trying to destroy us. Only the very rich will be able to afford it soon.. Let’s call it for what it is… a plan do destroy our homes.
Guess this is one way of getting those one percenters, well in this case two percenters to pay their fair share. (Since only two percent of the building in NYC meet the city’s criteria). Funny though, how all these progressive laws impact and make requirements of so few, but make for good copy.
More restrictions, more rules, more spending. TAX WASTE DEBT FAILURE
The Democratic way.
Seems like every other car in Queens is Uber or Lyft, leading to increased pollution and congestion, especially in Astoria and the area surrounding LGA. This law won’t take effect for 5 years and offers exclusions and exemptions. It’s o.k., but begin the process with limiting Uber and Lyft and getting those excess cars off the streets!
Another mandate from the city where the costs will be passed on to the commercial renters. You think Steinway is a ghost town now? Just wait.
Line your pockets with developers money—have them build gigantic skyscrapers then throw this at them-classic democratic moves. meanwhile Steinway street is a ghost town, crime is up. Lowlives
This just in: old white man angry about something.
Democrats?
You know the current Republican president built gigantic skyscrapers right?
Costa & Corey lead New York City into a safer future – with new jobs to protect our environment!
Bravo!
Please consider mandating bird migration friendly glass on new high rises. Bird strikes kill literally millions of birds yearly.
I’m sure they’re working on it