The following article appeared in Crain’s New York Business on August 7, 2024.
It was not all that long ago that the merits of climate science were hotly debated at the highest levels of government. We discussed global warming’s impacts in terms of probability and best- and worst-case scenarios, with a sense that any effects were far off in the future.
In the time it took our lexicon to shift from “global warming” to “climate change” to the more definitive “climate crisis,” the impacts have arrived
on our shores and in our streets. These impacts manifest as rising sea levels, flash floods, and prolonged heat waves affecting our most vulnerable populations.
The good news is that the debate is over, the science is accepted, and governments across the globe, including in New York City, are taking action.
To avoid the most devastating consequences of climate change, we must drastically reduce our reliance on fossil fuels and transition to a clean energy economy. Simultaneously, we must prepare for the impacts we are already facing, which will only become more extreme in the coming decades.
What will a well-prepared New York City look like in 2030? In 2050?
Some changes will be visible, part of the landscape for all who visit, live and work in the city, while others will be buried under our streets. We need to shore up our resiliency on all fronts: to prepare for extreme heat, coastal flooding from storm surges, and flooding from cloudbursts — sudden, intense rainfalls that overwhelm our sewers.
New York City’s transformation will include both traditional gray infrastructure (pipes, dams and drains) and also ramping up our green and blue infrastructure — green spaces and waterways. Both man-made and natural defenses will be essential.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has reclassified New York City as a “humid subtropical” climate. This change is not merely a matter of nomenclature; it signifies a shift that requires comprehensive adaptation strategies to handle a greater number of — and more extreme — flash floods.
In recent years, New York has experienced increasingly severe weather events. In 2021, Tropical Storm Henri dropped 1.94 inches of rain in an hour, while Hurricane Ida unleashed 3.15 inches in an hour. On Sept. 29, 2023, the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia dumped 2.5 inches of rain on the city in an hour. Our current sewer network, designed to handle only 1.5 to 1.75 inches per hour, can’t cope.
The results are catastrophic for New Yorkers, affecting subways, schools, homes and businesses, with substantial financial costs for cleanup and recovery.
To combat this, the city must fully fund its cloudburst management program. The city of the future must include a comprehensive network of large, below-ground storage tanks to handle excessive rainfall, and expanded bluebelt corridors — beyond their already successful use in Staten Island — to leverage natural defenses throughout the five boroughs. We need porous pavement, rain gardens and other stormwater retention systems.
Boosting funding for parks is also crucial. This funding will allow for greater upkeep of existing properties and create more greenspaces throughout the city to help absorb stormwater before it reaches basement apartments and first-floor classrooms; it will help our friends and loved ones find a reprieve on a steamy summer day.
Looking ahead, we need much more tree cover, particularly in low-income communities and communities of color, which currently suffer higher temperatures and too much heat-absorbing concrete compared to wealthier neighborhoods. Black New Yorkers account for 50% of heat-related deaths despite being only 25% of the population. Simply put, when a tree grows in Brooklyn, it can be life-saving.
Major initiatives like the Battery Coastal Resilience project, which will rebuild and elevate the wharf promenade, and the larger Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency strategy are critical for protecting Lower Manhattan from sea-level rise and storm surges that wreaked such havoc during Superstorm Sandy. These projects also demonstrate the importance of investments like the $369 billion for climate action in the federal Inflation Reduction Act and the need for dedicated funding to pay for major climate infrastructure upgrades. And instead of diverting millions of dollars from the city’s Department of Environmental Protection for the general fund, we need to invest in storm-proofing our neighborhoods.
Two years ago, I wrote about how I’d rather roll up my sleeves and get to work than have to continue rolling up my pants to walk down the street. We’ve begun to make the necessary changes in policy and planning, but we need more shovels in the ground and more projects completed. We need key agencies on the front lines of the climate fight to be funded.
The city’s future depends on our commitment to embracing green infrastructure and enhancing our natural defenses. By investing in these initiatives today, we can ensure a resilient and sustainable city for generations to come.
Julie Tighe is president of the League of Conservation Voters.