QUESTION
Can the city meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction goals despite budget cuts, and when?
0:29:35
·
3 min
The NYC Department of Citywide Administrative Services acknowledges it will not meet the original 2025 greenhouse gas emission reduction goal but is optimistic about future achievements.
- The Department of Citywide Administrative Services commits to providing a new achievable date for the 40% reduction goal.
- Significant budget cuts from the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) have impacted the ability to meet the goals.
- Ongoing projects such as lighting upgrades and the implementation of solar technology are anticipated to contribute to emission reduction.
- A confirmed timeline for the Champlain Hudson Power Express project is set for spring of 2026, highlighting one of the projects expected to aid in achieving the goals.
Lincoln Restler
0:29:35
With these new cuts, is there any viable path to meeting our greenhouse gas gas emission reduction goals and by what year?
Dawn M. Pinnock
0:29:47
Son, do you wanna take So in terms of the the mandate 40 by 25, as we've stated publicly in a couple of hearings at this point, we will not meet that.
0:29:57
We did commit to council member general that we would be responding with a firmer date as to when the 40% is achievable.
0:30:05
Our deadline is March 12, and we are on pace for that.
0:30:08
There are a few things we've had to consider.
0:30:10
In addition to looking for restorations and our fleet operations, we've had similar discussions specifically around energy management sustainability.
0:30:18
So since the last time that we testified, we have been talking about the restoration of funds and potentially getting other projects, potentially funded in the future, that can contribute to the 40% reduction.
Lincoln Restler
0:30:29
But since you all testified last that you wouldn't be meeting the 2025 goal, OMB has been imposed significantly significant new additional cuts on decast that make it harder for you all to achieve these mandates and goals.
0:30:45
So do you have a, at this time, a year by which you expect to reach that goal?
0:30:50
Have you discussed with decast oh, if you discussed with ONB and city hall, the impacts that these huge cuts will have on your ability to reach the greenhouse gas emission reduction goals.
Dawn M. Pinnock
0:31:00
Absolutely.
0:31:01
We are in consistent conversation with OMB.
0:31:04
Absolutely are in conversations with city hall as well.
0:31:07
We've laid out impact statements And so as I mentioned, we are in pace to provide our response on March 12th.
0:31:14
And and at that time, we'll be able to share that line that we can absolutely stand behind.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:18
1 week from today.
0:31:19
I look forward
Michael J.Ryan
0:31:20
to it.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:20
Yeah.
0:31:21
Terrific.
0:31:21
And I think we'd love I hope in that response, you'll help lay out for us.
0:31:26
The staffing and budget needs that you all have to be able to achieve if it's the 2030 goal is the next big milestone that we're focused on or if there are interim goals between And I just briefly on relatedly, I know that the 25 goal was really tied to the Champlain Hudson Power Express.
Gale A. Brewer
0:31:44
Mhmm.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:44
Do we have a timeline on that right now that you can share?
Dawn M. Pinnock
0:31:48
The timeline is spring of 2026.
0:31:50
Okay.
0:31:50
Well, that's pretty good.
Lincoln Restler
0:31:52
And then can you identify any other big upcoming priority projects in the pipeline that will help us achieve these goals?
Sana Barakat
0:31:59
Yeah.
0:32:00
We think
Lincoln Restler
0:32:00
we should be mindful of.
Sana Barakat
0:32:01
Yeah.
0:32:02
We have many projects like I mentioned before that they are going to be implemented.
0:32:08
They were not affected by the cuts or the stretches.
0:32:12
Can mention couple we're doing lots of lighting upgrades, comprehensive free trophets, deep energy, deep droplets, you know, across the board, you know, in schools, solar, you know, as well.
0:32:28
I think if at want me to mention couple, like
Lincoln Restler
0:32:30
I think we're just if you wouldn't mind following up in writing perhaps if we can.
0:32:33
We can.
0:32:33
Could help us identify, you know, 5 to 10 of the largest projects that have the biggest inner g reduction or mission reduction impacts, we'd love to celebrate them and to do that with you and work with council members so they know about the really important work that you're doing in their districts to achieve these goals.
0:32:50
I wanna acknowledge my friend and neighbor, council member, Shana Hanif, and then I will kick it over to council member, Shulman, some questions followed by council member Brewer, and I do have a lot more questions later.
0:33:01
But we'll hear from colleagues first.