Show notes
New York City has set ambitious goals to reduce our City’s greenhouse gas emissions 80% by the year 2050 (“80x50”) in order to help stave off the most devastating impacts of climate change. To accomplish this, deep emissions cuts will be needed across every sector of the City, including from buildings, which account for two-thirds of all greenhouse gas emissions generated in New York City. This program will celebrate and build upon the impressive work that has been accomplished to develop consensus around the New York City Council’s Intro. 1253-C, a first-of-its-kind piece of legislation passed as part of New York City’s Climate Mobilization Act that will require New York City buildings over 25,000 square feet to meet strict emissions limits beginning in 2024. The process to reach consensus around how, when and to what extent emissions should be reduced required collaboration among many different stakeholders with concerns on various issues including emissions reduction impact, cost, timeline, and housing affordability. Significant challenges and opportunities to implement and further expand emissions reductions remain.
The first half of the program explores those previous consensus-building efforts and issues that were left unresolved in the mandate legislation. It then looks forward at the significant work that remains to implement the energy retrofits that will be needed to achieve the emissions reductions required by Intro. 1253-C. In particular, panelists and conference participants look at market-based mechanisms for financing these retrofits (including PACE financing, also passed as part of the Climate Mobilization Act) and at potential ways to achieve broader emissions reductions without threatening housing affordability. Finally, conference participants have the opportunity to join breakout groups for a facilitated discussion to explore potential opportunities to implement the retrofits at a wide scale. The facilitated conversations take place under the guidance of Tim Mealey of the Meridian Institute.
Keynote Speakers:
John Lee, Deputy Director for Buildings and Energy Efficiency, New York City Mayor's Office of Sustainability
Costa Constantinides, New York City Council Member
John Mandyck, Chief Executive Officer, Urban Green Council
Panel 1: Building Consensus on Building Emissions: Bringing the Right Voices to the Table
Speakers:
Cecil Corbin-Mark, WE Act for Environmental Justice
Jared Rodriguez, LeFrak Organization
Pete Sikora, New York Communities for Change
Moderator:
Alexis Saba, Sive, Paget & Riesel, P.C.
Panel 2: How the Market Can Support Needed Building Retrofits
Speakers:
Donnel Baird, BlocPower
Helen Chananie, Building Energy Exchange
Lisa DeVito, Con Edison
Fred Lee, New York City Energy Efficiency Corporation (NYCEEC)
Sadie McKeown, Community Preservation Corporation
Moderator:
Katie Ullman, Drift Energy
Facilitator:
Tim Mealey, Senior Partner and Managing Director, Meridian Institute
Sponsoring Association Committee:
Environmental Law Committee, J. Kevin Healy & Amy E. Turner, Co-chairs
Co-sponsoring Association Committee:
Energy Law Committee, Rossalyn K. Quaye, Chair
International Environmental Law Committee, Michael H. Burger, Chair
Co-sponsoring Organizations:
NYC Climate Action Alliance
Ida and Robert Gordon Family Foundation
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