De Blasio Promises to Reduce NYC Greenhouse Gas Emissions by 80 Percent

New York City aims to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050 from 2005 levels, beginning with a plan to retrofit public and private buildings.

Every municipal building that uses significant amounts of energy, about 3,000 structures, will be improved by 2025, Mayor Bill de Blasio said in a statement today. The city will give private landlords incentives and, later, mandates to ensure their buildings pollute less. About three-quarters of the city’s emissions result from power used for heating, cooling and operations.

“Climate change is an existential threat to New Yorkers and our planet,” de Blasio said. “Acting no