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Urban community garden composting seen in New York City. Education Images / Universal Images Group / Getty Images
New methods to reuse "fast fashion" clothes, recycling of construction materials, and adoption of electric school buses could all become possible in New York City under far-reaching new climate legislation introduced Thursday by City Council Speaker Corey Johnson.
<p>The proposals include measures to encourage New Yorkers to use the city's composting program to cut down on the 3.1 million tons of garbage, one-third of which is food waste, households produce each year — measures that could eventually become mandatory, the legislation says. Johnson, who is running to replace Mayor Bill de Blasio in 2021, said he also would push proposals to convert Rikers Island into a renewable energy hub and push for solutions to protect the city's shorelines from sea level rise. </p><h4>For a deeper dive:</h4><p><a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/c/*W6G9GSC49SF75V9bGlz1-fkdN0/*W20C3N91X3PttW4V9SX74sF2lF0/5/f18dQhb0S1Xq7w2QxfSmLh1J0V9sVb1XsJ1k8-yyW8K7rSY62Sq51W5z5SSS5jX9CCN6vsjGwXLgF0W5Mdj_l2yry8DW52FCC556tdQDW7W3vYw8tRCC8W7zpcFL5WNSdwW6ZYw2D5hjbs3N7z2bsJYXhtkW4d2sLM63ndKNW6LJzTW6bj8DWW5VVs2v21r3tmW826KRz1PfXSqN6vjRhbGBbWlW5T6R324hptNlVGC1Gj7kDf3jV2L6Sr5kzG92W6CcRYk5hN8BcW8lJ0Sz2Lr3V_W4M41sj2R973JW5jML1h48cPF5VkjsfH61v5HRVsyTgd32HTDWW8sl22P78RrvbN7tG8hm2KW5lW21rfQn7mJ64_W5p7xjk8V7_3gW3MDYVL2G6X0YW4cjrQC3VvWJtN87WmspTHt1FW3pH21r75nQ7FW3Qy98h6Fp0GgW6vnYs086hQ7tW7RKT2s3cPzs9W3Z3W_g7XY074W2KBl_S2ytQ9zW6-_3fW4S4BvxMZB7dKn9CvXW1cZByP22ZZRzW8Zjdk090k_p2VjJfmW6p1H9xW5R1Xj-4rKklNW5JrxlD1hjLF7W901cZ44qMxp20" target="_blank">NY Post</a>, <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/c/*W6G9GSC49SF75V9bGlz1-fkdN0/*W2Nfn0F5rZ-0ZW5SxxLD8Sf69T0/5/f18dQhb0S1Wd2RMFdXVWWdCJ5VRw7gN3hVZwTmWF_0W6yys4H4VR406N2SdT3tqn08tW7L6qS55pVHyKW7yPvFj6z66HDVzlyjr1tGgFdW73Rn5Z7b2DxfW4MQzzJ4rSDNSW8N8Plv1LWBJ5W1zC6zj5Ptms2W8q0GCN3Md4MZW43sPhS7ZH9rrW7TBYCw6xvwfjVrJZh57mZB0jW2YYpG77FYxC7VWxqtG4SKG7BW1RWntN8-6ZbTW7Y3yg01pvm4yW71tg0g3Knn8XW5krlmK8qb4ygW1Y8yJP19XB30N7tzZVfR5Y66N3_qwXG18v9-W33sCGR3vTg9fW5Z_dLg4RPkY2VFsH658fnTqgW8BlH9s3KpxYtVJ-1Dl6t85L4W1SYSYQ4pkzGNW7qPs6f75Qh1_W5p069F3Qxm6-W9hRFRZ3Fmhn2W7sgTZT222kXyN74CwM5JnZ-SW99V7Bp3NLbk8W4k_4gX7lsrPpW2069-P5dy9k9W6l1lp898v7YgW4w589S8H95wyW6cKtwJ3VZ2dpW2grjF_8jFK9wW372D-z7cnRb1W2j0lqc1_N72GW6_L_RZ4D5-RTW638-pK3GV232W7MhyTd6h3hkSW8sgkpy958V9_W4FZ2Sz345nftW6-Rglm8gn5K5W2fjL5H397c12W4gz_4N9cgT1YdbBM8N02" target="_blank">Politico NY</a>, <a href="https://newsletter.climatenexus.org/e2t/c/*W6G9GSC49SF75V9bGlz1-fkdN0/*W70Cb9K6tjq77W4CnHSS7T_zrm0/5/f18dQhb0S3kg252mBcT2s3319JyY0N2lxSGljSRgBW54y7tw4_NpBFW1PJtx26jwdHQW6QVV0v79khScW37Tjnf5kRN5TW3ZvRby9h8-JSVmq_dQ7HcFpBW8hqcqx8-Ml35W20NcBP20ZQySW5HrWwp8yf_q4N3nyGX7V-gy4MBCqTSnMsD1M1xgtZYx1GmW6dgYCd8ydwbbW8lhs-t6JSr63W7Zc0mV3n2LYYN1jqHCsTQ86CW7tlylG38W-qpW2sxR242XPcTmW6Q66VG8NDCPYW4bWry91z9TCwW17cKG61m14bfW2yRZ4c6RLTN2W4K48jJ4MQpXCW6VTmvL4kx1q9W2TR3hW7s1gFxW8Ct0J55jr7g8W3fTLFk7qMwxKW1ZKfbg6H3qd1W3dfjKx6m-msDW1lqQ635sZjs2N5KzbkH-5r2lW7-_7nV1P9tC6W10G1kT89vWZ8W5QFSWB7JtM3fW53P-3t8d4dRsW64yKmV2ljmF8N67tvs4ZwtgBVx5pqV87dLHwW5Rc61g6RcmX1W5yhK-Z502rHjW28C7pv1WV80wW2QVB1V7wTg_L111" target="_blank">New York Times</a></p><p><em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Central Park. Ingfbruno / CC BY-SA 3.0
One of the world's most iconic parks is going vehicle-free this summer; New York City is banning all cars and trucks from Central Park.
"This park was not built for automobiles," Mayor Bill de Blasio announced Friday in Central Park. "It was built for people."
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Starting June 27, the day after public schools close, drives will be closed below 72nd Street. Cars are already banned on park drives north of 72nd Street at all times.
</p><p>
There are roughly 42 million visits to Central Park every year. Its 843 acres of green space is a welcome respite for tourists and residents of the bustling, crowded metropolis. However, a number of motorists drive through the park's various roads to get to their destinations.
</p><p>
"Now all of those people will have a safe, beautiful experience because this park will be car-free," de Blasio said.
</p><p>
The landmark announcement is the culmination of a <a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2018/04/20/central-park-goes-car-free-forever-on-june-27/" target="_blank">50-year</a> fight for a car-free Central Park, dating back to <a href="https://nyc.streetsblog.org/2013/02/08/wayback-machine-a-deeper-look-at-ed-kochs-livable-streets-legacy/" target="_blank">the efforts</a> of future mayor Ed Koch and future NYC Greenmarket founder Barry Benepe.
</p><p>
Mayor de Blasio has prioritized environmental concerns since taking office. <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/new-york-fossil-fuel-divestment-2524494059.html">Earlier this year</a>, the city government said it will <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/divest" target="_blank">divest</a> its pension funds from fossil fuel investments and announced that it filed suit against five oil giants for contributing to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change" target="_blank">climate change</a>. In Sept. 2014, the year he was sworn in, de Blasio announced New York City's plan to reduce carbon emissions by 80 percent from 2005 levels by 2050.
</p><p>
"This announcement is very much connected to understanding what we have to do to protect our Earth and to fight against climate change," he said Friday, just days before <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/earth-day">Earth Day</a>.
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"Parks in this city are sacred because, probably more than any place, our parks are our refuge, they are where we do everything—little league, and kids learning on the playground how to play for the beginning of their lives," de Blasio said. "For some of us, even more important things. My wife Chirlane and I got married under a tree in Prospect Park."
</p><p>
"They are an oasis," he added. "For some people, they are literally where they take their summer vacation, because that's what they can afford, to be in a park and that's even more important for those families."
</p><p>
According to the <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/20/nyregion/central-park-car-ban.html" target="_blank">New York Times</a>, the new rule will not affect the crucial traverses between 65th, 79th, 86th and 97th Streets, which are built below park level. Parks Department vehicles and emergency and police vehicles will be allowed access to the park.</p>
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EcoWatch Daily Newsletter
iStock
By Rachel Hubbard
Tuesday, the city of Paris has said it will explore the possibilities of suing the fossil fuel industry. In response to the city's recent climate damage including massive recent floods, Paris is considering taking this action following in the footsteps of New York and other U.S. cities.
<p style="">Paris made the commitment to divest three years ago in the run-up to COP21 where the Paris agreement was signed. The city council also aims to use its influence, as well as the mandate of president Anne Hidalgo within the <a href="http://www.c40.org/" target="_blank">C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group</a> to convince other big cities to divest.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image" style="">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE2ODk4MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYwNjEwNjg4OH0.976YSWkdII0yG9To5q6X3RwBKa0uxLbBmB9qJsxXZnw/img.jpg?width=980" id="69d32" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="be451c5454b43972fb76d8b3ffd7841f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><br><p style="">This month, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/paris-seine-flooding-2529655294.html">Paris suffered once again major floods</a>, which, according to Anne Hidalgo, poses "clearly a question of adaptation of the city to <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a>." Following the floods that swamped Paris in May 2016, studies have shown that climate change has increased the chances of floods by almost twice as much.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE2OTAxMS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTY0NzM4MzExMn0.s9q4LKNQzprVFGxZaX0ecgy0PnM2Qvb5tSllZwhGU1Q/img.jpg?width=980" id="a27d3" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="98b15941ee2bc98d321547f5976166eb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
</p><p>But Tuesday's announcement shows that cities in the path of climate impacts are ready to take action.</p><p>Clémence Dubois, of 350.org France said:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"It's fantastic news that cities like New York and Paris are mobilizing to protect their citizens and hold multinational fossil fuel companies accountable for the damage they cause. This is a major breakthrough for the <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/divest">divestment movement</a> and the thousands of people around the world who have pushed cities to take a stand against polluters who are destroying our climate and the planet.</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">Fossil fuel companies like Total, Shell, BP and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/exxon">Exxon</a> are causing floods and heat waves that are intensifying in Paris, and severe floods, droughts, forest fires, rising sea levels strike in France and around the world. This wish is a crucial step towards a future free of fossils. "</p><p>On Jan. 10, the mayor of New York, Bill de Blasio, announced that the city would disinvest its pension funds of $191 billion in fuel fossil investments and sued BP, Shell, ExxonMobil, Chevron and ConocoPhillips.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
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</p><p>With Tuesday's statement, the city of Paris affirms its solidarity with the City of New York's bold move. Major cities such as Sydney and Cape Town, as well as many European capitals such as Berlin, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/oslo-becomes-first-capital-city-in-the-world-to-divest-from-fossil-fue-1882108400.html">Oslo</a>, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/copenhagen-set-to-divest-funds-out-of-coal-oil-and-gas-holdings-1882162317.html">Copenhagen</a> and Stockholm have already committed to divest fossil fuels. </p><p>Could this be a start of a wave of cities divesting and institutions suing fossil fuel companies for damages?</p><p style="">In France, 33 other local authorities, such as Bordeaux Lille La Rochelle, Dijon have adopted divestment motions.</p><p>Clémence Dubois said:</p><p style="margin-left: 20px;">"We will mobilize locally to ask other cities to follow: communities have more power than is believed in resistance to the fossil industry, including through their links with the 'Caisse des Depots et Consignation' who manages the pensions of their employees, officials and contractors. We will ask that this crucial public financial institution listens to this momentum that is happening throughout the country, and divests from fossil fuels."</p><p><a href="https://gofossilfree.org/fr/cdc" target="_blank">Find out more about the Caisse des Depot campaign (in French)</a>.</p><p>With this announcement, the global pressure on the fossil fuel industry ramps up some more. To date, more than 800 institutions, including universities, religious and medical groups, have joined the divestment movement. To build on these victories, the Fossil Free movement is preparing to launch a new wave of local actions around the world to keep fossil fuels in the ground and accelerate the shift to community-run renewable energy. </p><p style="">Be a part of it—<a href="https://gofossilfree.org/" target="_blank">find out how you can take action wherever you are</a>.</p>
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Empire State Building Shines Green After NYC's Decision to Take on Fossil Fuel Industry
11 January 2018
Business
NYC Mayor's Office / Twitter
New York City's iconic Empire State Building glowed green Wednesday night following two "watershed" announcements—that the city would seek to divest its pension funds from fossil fuel investments, and that it filed suit against five oil giants for contributing to climate change.
"The Empire State Building is shining green tonight because it's time to put our planet first. #DivestNY," Democratic Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Wednesday.
<p><a href="https://350.org/" target="_blank">350.org</a> co-founder Bill McKibben, a major campaigner in the global divestment movement, remarked <a href="https://twitter.com/billmckibben/status/951271611726024704" target="_blank">in a tweet</a> about the green lighting, "Just this once I think it's worth the carbon!"</p><p><span></span>The Belgium-based European Green Party also chimed in and advocated for European leaders to follow the Big Apple's footsteps. </p><p>"Let's join #DivestNY and #DivestEurope for a Green and sustainable future for us and generations to come," the party said on social media. <br></p><div id="27b00" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="6AU61B1576662829"><blockquote class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-version="4" style=" background:#FFF; border:0;
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<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BdzuCIHl2Lf/" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif;
font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none;
word-wrap:break-word;" target="_top">European Greens on Instagram: “The #EmpireStateBuilding shined green last night to mark #NewYorkCity divesting from fossil fuels and suing oil companies for climate…”</a></p>
</div></blockquote></div><p>The <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/3-4-trillion-fossil-fuel-divestment-commitments-break-new-record-1882128369.html" target="_blank">divestment movement</a> has grown <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/divest-from-fossil-fuels-movement-explodes-across-the-u-s-1882033688.html" target="_blank">in the U.S.</a> and around the world. In November, <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/investment-fund-divests-norway-2510263326.html" target="_blank">Norway proposed</a> to sell off all of its shares (about $35 billion) in oil and natural gas holdings.</p><p>Mayor de Blasio and Comptroller Scott Stringer said they intend to divest New York City's $5 billion in securities of over 190 fossil fuel companies.<br></p><p>New York's lawsuit, filed in federal court, names BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, Exxon Mobil and Royal Dutch Shell as defendants. The city seeks billions of dollars in damages and alleges the fossil fuel industry knew for decades that burning fuels drives global warming.</p><p>Environmentalists cheered the city's historic announcement.</p><p>"Today was an incredible day," author and investigative journalist Naomi Klein
<a href="https://twitter.com/NaomiAKlein/status/951195725702017024" target="_blank">tweeted</a>. "Hearing the mayor of the biggest city in the richest country on earth announce a lawsuit against 5 oil majors for climate damages AND fossil fuel divestment? Wow. We needed this. We will build on it."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
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