Opinion: Working toward a green future in New York City

James Gennaro is a city councilmember representing District 24 in Queens and the chair of the council’s Committee on Environmental Protection.  Photo via Gennaro

By James Gennaro

Last month, I was appointed to serve once again as Chair of the New York Council's Committee on Environmental Protection. I have 25 years of experience with this committee – 12 years as the environmental policy advisor as staff to the Committee from 1990 to 2001, 12 years as Chair of the Committee from 2002 to 2013, and another year as Chair in 2021 after I returned to the City Council. In that time, I have authored and passed more than 50 major environmental laws, shepherded hundreds of additional laws through the committee, and developed a national profile on the critical environmental issues of our day. And I’ve only just begun.

While I am so proud of all that the Council and I have accomplished in my years as Chair, there is still so much work to be done. New York City has made great strides to become “greener,” but climate change is still one of the biggest threats facing our city – and our country. I am prioritizing and incentivizing clean energy in our buildings to reduce greenhouse gas emissions – and creating green union jobs in the process in partnership with the Climate Jobs NY initiative, a consortium comprised of the Building Trades Council of Greater New York, the Central Labor Council, and other organized labor partners.

And although it is true that the City’s actions alone cannot move the needle significantly on the worldwide climate change phenomenon, it can be a leader and show other cities and states the way and thereby have an impact beyond the City’s borders. Also, reducing greenhouse gases by burning less fossil fuel significantly reduces all of the other air pollutants that cause asthma and respiratory disease, so incalculable local air quality benefits and health benefits will accrue to the City from these low carbon energy strategies.

In May of 2019, New York City passed Local Law 97 – one of the world’s most ambitious bills aimed to tackle greenhouse gas emissions from existing buildings, with the goal of reducing building-based emissions by 40 percent by 2030. Now it’s my job to see that Local Law 97 is implemented fairly, comprehensively, and on time. The Adams Administration has pledged to me its full cooperation in this endeavor.

And nearly a decade after Superstorm Sandy devastated New York, flooding continues to be a major issue all over the city – especially in areas like Southeast Queens, where the storm sewer infrastructure is either insufficient or non-existent. I will ensure that this year’s budget will reflect the imperative to invest in our sewer infrastructure. Twelve years ago, I passed a law mandating that the City’s Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) implement a comprehensive stormwater management plan utilizing the latest stormwater control practices at that time, which was very successful in its day, but the mega-storms of today demand a new stormwater plan which deploys the latest stormwater management strategies. The bill to create this plan has been drafted, its passage is imminent, and I’m working closely with DEP to ensure the funding and personnel are in place to implement the entirety of the plan.

These are just some of the many initiatives in the pipeline this year. I am very humbled and most grateful for this opportunity to serve once again as Chair of the Council’s Committee on Environmental Protection. I look forward to working with the members of the Committee and my other Council colleagues and with my partners in the Adams Administration to advance environmental justice, public heath, green union jobs, and environmental economic development. We can and will have it all. To a green future ahead!

James Gennaro is a city councilmember representing District 24 in Queens.