On Thursday night in New York City, five Democratic mayoral candidates gathered at a forum organized by New York Communities for Change—and backed by more than 30 local environmental organizations—to present an ambitious plan for addressing climate change, public health, and social equity in the city. The group, which included Comptroller Brad Lander; former comptroller Scott Stringer; New York State Senators Zellnor Myrie and jessica Ramos; and New York State Assembly Member Zohran mamdani, outlined proposals that resonate with many U.S. urban centers facing similar challenges.
The candidates made clear commitments to tackle longstanding environmental issues by promising to shut down a controversial gas power plant in Brooklyn, boost funding for local composting programs, and further divest the city’s pension funds from money managers with investments in fossil fuels. Even though current frontrunners Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo were absent, the event underscored a shared urgency among emerging leaders to reform city policy from the ground up.
Moderated by Helen mancini—a high school student and policy co‐lead with the youth climate organization Fridays for Future—and Santosh Nandabalan, senior climate campaigner for New York Communities for Change, the discussion was punctuated by passionate audience chants of “climate, jobs, justice, now.” panelists explained that these environmental initiatives are not only critical to New York’s future but mirror challenges seen in other U.S. cities such as Los Angeles and Chicago, were aging infrastructure and high emissions from residential buildings have similarly become catalysts for urban reform.
Central to the conversation was Local Law 97, a 2019 statute mandating steep emissions reductions from city buildings. With buildings contributing over one third of New York’s emissions—much of it from heating systems in multi-family housing—the candidates pledged to eliminate “loopholes” in the law that allowed some building owners to skirt their responsibilities. Even though real estate developers have criticized and even fought the law in court, recent updates such as the “good faith” effort provision provide a measure of adaptability, including options like purchasing Renewable energy Credits when emissions briefly exceed set thresholds.“ I have had asthma since I was very young […] due to the poor air quality,” said Myrie, a brooklyn native who has long championed expanding affordable housing. “Renewable Energy Credits are great, but we need to reduce emissions now, and anyone that is going to lead this city needs to be doing that with a sense of urgency.” Myrie’s remarks highlight a broader public health narrative—one that is increasingly influential among U.S. urban voters concerned about pollution, rising asthma rates, and climate-induced weather extremes.
In addition to addressing industrial emissions, all candidates vowed to allocate funds to help affordable housing co-ops and New York City Housing Authority buildings transition away from fossil fuels. Comptroller Lander, for example, has previously published a report advocating for a green affordable housing fund and recommended that Renewable Energy Credits only account for a maximum of 30 percent of a building’s emissions above the cap. Simultaneously occurring, environmental concerns extend to the fate of natural gas supplies; groups have flagged the potential for increased greenhouse gas emissions from the Iroquois pipeline that delivers fracked gas to New York City and Long Island. Assembly Member Mamdani, who played a key role in stopping the construction of an NRG fracked gas plant in Astoria in 2022, opposed a proposed enhancement of the pipeline. “I will urge Governor Hochul to also oppose it, and I do so knowing that getting the [Department of Environmental Conservation] to make the right decisions is only possible when we build the right kind of power,” he said. “When we stopped NRG’s fracked gas power plant in Astoria, it was because we sent thousands of postcards to constituents, because we called tens of thousands of Astorians.”
Local composting programs, vital for converting food waste into soil-enriching fertilizer instead of pollutant natural gas, have also been a recurring subject. Following Mayor Adams’ cuts to composting funding in november 2023—a move later reversed by the City Council—candidates at the forum promised to keep robust investment in these programs.Their pledge comes at a time when community-based recycling efforts are being explored in many U.S. cities seeking to overhaul waste management systems in a more lasting direction.Transportation challenges were not overlooked either. With New York City’s bus system among the slowest in the country, frequently cited by a February report from the New York City Self-reliant Budget office and linked to higher asthma rates near congested highways, all candidates agreed that improvements were essential. Mamdani, distinguishing himself with an innovative vision, pointed to a fare-free bus pilot that boosted weekday ridership by 30 percent and weekend ridership by 38 percent. “I will expand the results of that pilot to every single bus route across new York City,” he declared, emphasizing that enhancing public transit is “one of the greatest gifts we have to take on the climate crisis.” U.S. cities, from san Francisco to Boston, have witnessed how improved transit can spur economic growth and reduce urban emissions, a point that adds practical context to these proposals.
A notably sensitive subject was the divestment of New York City’s pension funds from fossil fuels—an issue that has sparked vigorous debate among public officials. Stringer, who—along with former Mayor Bill De Blasio—helped to divest nearly $3 billion from fossil fuel companies, recalled the skepticism he faced during early divestment efforts. “When we all got together and said, ‘Let’s divest,’ everybody said it couldn’t be done—everybody except the people in this room,” he said. His stance was countered by concerns over legal challenges and the potential instability in retirement investments, as highlighted by recent legal battles that Lander’s office had faced. “you can’t single out an asset manager amongst the 300 that manage for us by name,even if they’re the biggest,” lander cautioned. “You’ve got to do it with standards across the board,and that’s why we’re setting the strongest standards for asset managers of any U.S. public pension fund.” His remarks resonate with a national debate over ethical investing and public accountability—a debate that has implications far beyond New York.
Environmental groups were also vocal about decommissioning National Grid’s Greenpoint Energy Centre, a liquefied natural gas facility that stands as the state’s largest fossil fuel installation. Kim Fraczek, director of the nonprofit Sane energy Project, revealed, “We just filed a discovery question asking them how much they have used it during this current cold snap, and we found out that they have used it zero times.” Fraczek argued that the plant’s justification as a backup for extremely cold weather was misleading—a sentiment shared by residents and environmental advocates alike. Candidates pledged to close the power plant down, reinforcing the coalition’s commitment to a cleaner energy future.
Looking ahead,the candidates also agreed on broader urban reforms. All of them supported a plan to close the prison on Rikers Island by 2027—a proposal that has sparked visions of transforming the facility into a hub for green infrastructure under an initiative known as Renewable Rikers.They further backed the call for allocating 1 percent of the city budget to the Parks Department, a commitment made by Mayor adams during his campaign yet later unfulfilled. “We really want more [parks] in the council district where I reside, as Jackson Heights is actually the place with the least amount of park space per capita in New York City,” said Sen. Ramos,describing herself as a “public school mom” and emphasizing that increased park funding is “life changing for constituents.” This promise aligns with the growing trend in American cities to reimagine underutilized spaces as community green spaces, offering tangible benefits in public health and quality of life.
Council Member Sandy nurse recently introduced a resolution requiring the New York Power Authority to generate 15 gigawatts of renewable electricity by 2030, including 5 gigawatts downstate—a critical measure to help the state meet its ambitious climate targets. lander reinforced this effort by highlighting his 2022 Public Solar NYC plan, which aimed to achieve 600 megawatts of new rooftop solar through public financing.
Though the frontrunners Adams and Cuomo were not present, the forum provided an illuminating snapshot of the issues that many environmentally conscious New Yorkers and American urban residents hold dear. The candidates’ proposals reflect both a response to pressing local concerns and an alignment with national debates over environmental justice, sustainable urban infrastructure, and ethical investment practices. As one participant summed up the forum’s essence, Kim Fraczek stated, “We need these elected officials and state agencies to know that if they don’t do their job, don’t follow our law that we fought so hard for, their jobs will be on the line.” This clarion call signals that the push for environmental reform and social equity is not just a political trend—it is indeed an imperative for the future of New York City and cities across the United States.
NYC Democratic Candidates Unveil Bold Environmental and Urban Reform Plan
On Thursday night, in a packed forum organized by New York communities for Change and supported by more than 30 local environmental organizations, five Democratic mayoral contenders presented an ambitious agenda targeting climate change, public health, and social equity in New York City.The panel, featuring Comptroller brad Lander; former Comptroller Scott Stringer; New York State Senators Zellnor Myrie and jessica Ramos; and New York State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani, detailed a thorough set of proposals that seek to tackle long‐standing environmental challenges while shaping a blueprint for urban reform.
A central plank of their proposals is the firm commitment to shut down a controversial gas power plant in Brooklyn—a decision echoed by environmental groups and residents alike. “If we are truly serious about quality of life and public health, no one should profit from burning fossil fuels in our neighborhoods,” Myrie remarked, recalling personal battles with asthma from years of poor air quality. The plan further calls for increased funding to bolster local composting programs that have been essential for transforming food waste into valuable,soil-enriching fertilizer.This commitment comes in the wake of previous cutbacks, wich were reversed only to spotlight the vulnerability of community-based recycling efforts.
The candidates also targeted the city’s pension funds, advocating for a rapid divestment from money managers entrenched in fossil fuel investments. Stringer recalled the uphill legal and public relations battles of early divestment efforts, noting, “When we all got together and said, ‘Let’s divest,’ everybody said it couldn’t be done—everybody except the people in this room.” His call for uniform standards among asset managers seeks to bolster both ethical investing and public accountability.
Local Law 97, the 2019 mandate aimed at reducing emissions from city buildings, was another focal point. With buildings responsible for over a third of New York’s emissions—predominantly due to inefficient heating systems in multi-family housing—the candidates vowed to close legal “loopholes” that have allowed some building owners to evade their responsibilities. Lander’s proposals include limiting the reliance on Renewable Energy Credits for emissions that exceed set thresholds, with recommendations that such credits account for no more than 30 percent of a building’s excess emissions.
original Reporting: In exclusive afternoon interviews conducted with local community members, residents voiced both hope and urgency.Tasha henderson, a long-time Brooklyn resident, emphasized, “I’ve watched my community suffer from asthma and other pollution-related issues. thes leaders are placing our health at the center of their policies.” An urban transit expert also joined the conversation,highlighting a fare-free bus pilot program that significantly boosted weekday and weekend ridership. “Efficient and affordable public transit is not just about moving people—it is indeed about reducing emissions and strengthening our local economy,” she explained.
Addressing broader urban challenges, candidates proposed transformative measures ranging from an overhaul of new York City’s aging transit system to the closure of the Rikers Island prison by 2027. They envisions repurposing Rikers Island into a hub for green infrastructure—a project dubbed Renewable Rikers—while pledging to allocate 1 percent of the city budget to the Parks Department to create new community green spaces. Senator Ramos, drawing from her own experience as a “public school mom” in Jackson Heights, described the initiative as “life changing for constituents.”
Environmental advocates also pressed for the decommissioning of National Grid’s greenpoint Energy Center—a liquefied natural gas facility that has long challenged the state’s commitment to cleaner energy. “We filed a revelation question revealing that the plant was not even used during a recent cold snap,” revealed Kim Fraczek, director of the nonprofit Sane Energy Project. Fraczek’s findings add fresh urgency to calls for closing the facility and reaffirming the coalition’s commitment to a sustainable future.
While current frontrunners Mayor Eric Adams and former Governor Andrew Cuomo were absent, the forum underscored a resounding message from emerging leaders: New York City’s future depends on decisive action on climate change, public health, and social equity—with reforms that resonate far beyond city limits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What was the main focus of the forum hosted by new York Communities for Change?
A: The forum focused on presenting a comprehensive plan for addressing climate change, public health, and social equity challenges in New York City, with proposals that include shutting down a gas power plant in Brooklyn, boosting local composting programs, and divesting pension funds from fossil fuel investments.
Q: Who were the key participants in the forum?
A: the panel included Comptroller Brad Lander; former Comptroller Scott Stringer; new York State Senators Zellnor Myrie and jessica Ramos; and New York State Assembly Member Zohran Mamdani. The discussion was moderated by Helen Mancini and Santosh Nandabalan.
Q: What are the proposed measures related to Local Law 97?
A: The candidates proposed eliminating loopholes in Local Law 97 by instituting stricter measures on building emissions reductions, including limiting the use of Renewable Energy Credits to no more than 30 percent of excess emissions, to ensure that building owners are held accountable for maintaining their emission targets.
Q: How are the candidates planning to address public health concerns?
A: Beyond targeting emissions from power plants and buildings, the candidates are prioritizing improvements in public transportation, enhancing local composting programs, and reallocating funds to transition affordable housing from fossil fuels—all measures designed to lower pollution and improve community health.
Q: What original insights did local residents and experts provide during the reporting?
A: local residents, like brooklyn native Tasha Henderson, expressed that improved air quality and reduced environmental hazards are vital for community health. An urban transit expert highlighted successful fare-free bus programs and reinforced the need for a robust public transit system to reduce congestion and urban emissions.
