Our City Could Become One of the World’s Greenest, but It Won’t Be Easy

Rules are being drafted to guide compliance with a 2019 New York City law that requires most of about 50,000 buildings, many over 25,000 square feet, to cut their greenhouse gas emissions by 40 percent by the end of this decade and to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

These cuts are important. New York City’s buildings are responsible for over 70 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, most generated on site.

Few other cities have taken such an aggressive step, and New York should be applauded for this effort. Other cities will be watching this transition closely.