Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In

As we reported this morning, Mayor Bloomberg is in California with Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to make a major policy announcement on a major, long-term, environmental sustainability initiative. The key components of the Mayor's plan include:

    • The creation of the Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability.
    • The undertaking of a major greenhouse gas inventory for City government and the City overall.
    • The appointment of a Sustainability Advisory Board to advise the City on environmentally sound policies and practices.
    • The creation of a new partnership with the Earth Institute of ColumbiaUniversity to provide the City with scientific research and advice onenvironmental and climate change-related issues.

Here are some of the more interesting snippets from the City's press release:

The announcement took place during a visit with California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger to Bloom Energy in Sunnyvale, California, where the Mayor and Governor talked about the State of California's groundbreaking sustainability initiatives.

"Now, we intend to make New York City a national leader in meeting the challenge of making ours an environmentally sustainable city. To make New York a truly sustainable city, we need a bold plan to use our land in the smartest way possible," Bloomberg said (Editor: Clearly the Mayor here is referring to this morning's Park(ing) Squat in Midtown).

The Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability is led by Director Rohit T. Aggarwala the Office's mission is three-fold: to help develop a plan for the City's long-term growth and development, to integrate sustainability goals and practices into every aspect of that plan; and to make New York City government a "green" organization.

The Mayor announced the launch of an unprecedented effort to measure the entire carbon emissions of New York City. This much broader effort, with a target completion date within six months, will give us the first picture of the total carbon impact of everyone who lives in, works in, or visits New York City.

The Sustainability Advisory Board will be chaired by Deputy Mayor for Economic Development and Rebuilding Daniel L. Doctoroff, and its kick-off meeting will take place on Wednesday, September 27th.

Members of the Sustainability Advisory Board include:

    • Christine Quinn, Speaker of the New York City Council
    • James F. Gennaro, Council Member and Chair of the Committee on Environmental Protection
    • Carlton Brown, COO and Founder, Full Spectrum
    • Marcia Bystryn, Executive Director, New York League of Conservation Voters
    • Robert Fox, Partner, Cook + Fox Architects
    • Ester Fuchs, Professor of Public Affairs and Political Science at the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs
    • Peter Goldmark, Program Director of NYC Office, Environmental Defense
    • Ashok Gupta, Program Director of Air and Energy, Natural Resources Defense Council
    • Michael Northrop, Program Officer of Sustainable Development, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
    • Ed Ott, Executive Director, NYC Central Labor Council
    • Elizabeth Girardi Schoen, Senior Director of Environmental Affairs, Pfizer, Inc.
    • Peggy Sheppard, Executive and Co-Founder, West Harlem Environmental Action Coalition (WE ACT)
    • Daniel Tishman, Chairman and CEO, Tishman Construction Corporation
    • Kathryn Wylde, President and CEO, Partnership for New York City
    • Robert Yaro, President, Regional Plan Association
    • Elizabeth Yeampierre, Executive Director, UPROSE

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

New Bill Would Block Apps From Deactivating Workers Without Cause

A Brooklyn Council member wants delivery app companies to be more human and less robot.

July 18, 2025

Friday Video: Is Berlin a Great Biking City?

Have recent moves by anti-bike, pro-car legislators ruined the experience in the capital of a unified Germany? Sort of!

July 18, 2025

Eyes on the Street: Meeker Avenue Bike Lane Is a Failure

The Department of Transportation still hasn't finished a critical bike lane under the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway that the agency has been stalling for over four years even after identifying the strip's danger and lack of proper signals.

July 18, 2025

Friday’s Headlines: Cuomo’s Road Rage Edition

Why does Andrew Cuomo drive so recklessly? Plus other news.

July 18, 2025

Fixing Third Ave. Was Once ‘Top of List’ For Eric Adams — But as Mayor He Backed Off

Mayor Adams has delayed a redesign of Brooklyn's Third Avenue despite once saying safety fixes there should be "at the top of our list."

July 17, 2025

Thursday’s Headlines: Jerry Nadler Edition

U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler faced off with Sean Duffy on Capitol Hill. Plus more news.

July 17, 2025
See all posts