New York Plans to Achieve Net-Zero Emissions by 2050

New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo and legislative leaders reached an agreement to enact Senate Bill S6599, which sets a goal of achieving a net-zero emissions economy by 2050. The legislation ranks among the most aggressive climate change action plans the United States has undertaken to date. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio initially introduced the 'Green New Deal' in April, a plan totaling USD 14 billion aimed at reducing the city's greenhouse gas emissions by 30 percent by 2030. The plan included the concept "OneNYC 2050: Building a Strong and Just City." According to the city's press bulletin, the plan will encompass various initiatives that will reduce emissions by certain percentages and could help the state achieve full carbon neutrality by 2050, based on figures tracked since 2005. Later that same April, a package of legislative proposals and measures known as the Climate Mobilization Act, designed for radical energy efficiency improvements, was approved. Under these legislative proposals, 100 percent of roof areas on new residential and commercial buildings must be covered with one of three green roof options. These options are green roofs, solar panels, and/or small wind turbines. In other U.S. cities, this ratio is only at the 25–50 percent level, which is why various incentives are being planned for New York to offset installation costs. The renovation of thousands of buildings is estimated to cost approximately USD 4 billion.