Battling Climate Change in the East Coast's Largest Urban Epicenter

Michael Bloomberg, current Mayor of New York City, is a man of innovation. Many people know him as the first Mayor to be elected for three consecutive terms in NYC, or as the founder of Bloomberg LP (an influential financial news and services media company), but few know of his remarkable efforts at battling climate change in one of the world's largest urban epicenters. 

Mayor Bloomberg enacted PlaNYC in 2007 as a very ambitious plan that aimed to ultimately improve the quality of life in NYC through green efforts. The past four years have led to the environment being returned to a healthier natural state through a definite paradigm shift throughout the city in all aspects of sustainability. Energy efficiency standards have been advanced while energy systems are becoming cleaner and more reliable. Public transportation is being cultivated to reduce emissions, and is providing a reputable way to travel. Waterways and public spaces are becoming more accessible, and traditional food systems are being overhauled to achieve a fresher standard that accommodates many.  

The most recent addition to PlaNYC will be the installation of solar panels on five city owned sites. This project should yield enough energy to power just less than 700 homes, or the equivalent of 3 megawatts. This effort is partially in response to NYC lagging behind other cities with solar efforts, but momentum is expected to pick up with the greater federal support of clean energy.

Another venture that Bloomberg actively pursues is the C40 Cities, where he functions as Chair. The C40 Cities is an organization of cities around the world that attempt to battle climate change through multilateral efforts. The C40 Mayors Summit was held last week in Sao Paolo, Brazil, and addressed many of the growing issues with climate change in cities. The outcome of this conference was a partnership with the World Bank, which will likely bolster financial efforts at sustainability in cities around the world, and especially New York, which is leading the way in the urban fight against the changing climate.