Pricing for Sustainability

In his weekly radio address yesterday, Mayor Bloomberg discussed some steps his administration is taking toward a sustainable future, including the creation of an Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability, and a Sustainability Advisory Board, which held its first meeting last week.

Long-term sustainability is of course right up Streetsblog's alley. Correspondent Charles Komanoff donned his policy-wonk hat last week and came up with an Economist's Agenda for a Sustainable NYC. These recommendations draw heavily on the concept of creating financial incentives and disincentives to encourage people to make the right choices as they consume energy and natural resources. We're hearing through the grapevine that the advisory board is paying close attention.

Komanoff's recommendations:

• Price Peak Power
• Unbundle Electricity
• Price the Roads
• Price the Curbs
• Abolish Privileged Parking
• Universal Bottle and Bag Deposits
• Tax Carbon, Not Commerce

Details are on the other side of this link.