For the past century, there has been undeniable evidence that the Earth is heating up. Now, with the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles, this climate crisis has become unignorable. Earth’s temperature has risen by an average of 0.11 degrees Fahrenheit per decade since 1850. By 2050, it will have risen 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit overall.
New York City specifically has risen 0.3 degrees Fahrenheit per decade, with has risen a total of 3.4 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters have warmed three times faster than summers, and the sea level has risen 12 inches since 1900, with a predicted 5.4 feet by 2100. This has caused a spike in floods, particularly around Brooklyn, Queens, and other high-risk zones. New York, being the epicenter of manufacturing, transportation, business, and general urban life, makes a big impact on Earth’s atmosphere. In 2023, the city produced an astounding 51.2 million tons of CO2 emissions.
Climate change is predicted to become irreversible between 2026 and 2042, with a central estimate of 2032. With their extensive infrastructure and large population, New York City is put at a much higher risk than other parts of the country. Tens to hundreds of thousands of new residents come each year. Urban population density only worsens climate change. This leaves one to ask- how are New Yorkers reducing their carbon footprint on the environment?
On April 18, 2019, the New York City Council passed the Climate Mobilization Act (CMA), a legislative plan to reduce the city’s impact on the atmosphere. Through this plan, New Yorkers have begun switching to more efficient light bulbs, adjusting their thermostats, unplugging their chargers and electronics when not in use, and purchasing more energy efficient appliances. In some areas, landlords are required to retrofit buildings with energy-efficient systems, electric heating and cooling, and integrate renewable energy sources. Since the implementation of this act, New York’s carbon footprint has shown a slight but steady decrease. Additionally, the city is promoting public transportation and electric vehicles. Improvements such as right-of-way rain gardens, stormwater green streets, and porous pavement lessen the dangerous effects and risks flooding has on everyday living and are small and simple ways to make the city more green. The city is planning to reduce emissions to 0% by 2040.
On December 26, 2024, New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed the Climate Change Superfund Act, otherwise known as The Act. This decision will make companies that are major contributors to carbon emissions held accountable and financially responsible. Companies will now be forced to proportionally pay off the amount of destruction the government has to pay for climate change. This act has already proved to be popular within the city- 70% of New Yorkers support the Climate Change Superfund Act, and 89% of New Yorkers support major fossil fuel companies covering at least some of the cost for climate damages.
However, even with the addition of these energy-efficient and Earth-friendly strategies, it is unclear what the future will hold. Catastrophes including flooding, fires, and unusually warm or cold temperatures are a testament to how soon climate change will be truly irreversible.
