Zohran , the Democratic nominee poised to become New York City’s next mayor, centered his campaign on affordability—advancing pledges for complimentary bus services and improved housing access. Climate change was infrequently brought up during his campaign stops or debate discussions.
However, as a densely populated city situated on the Atlantic coast, New York City is growing increasingly susceptible to the effects of escalating global temperatures—from widespread flooding to extreme heatwaves. In late October, a storm broke in various parts of the city, submerging streets and subways, and claiming two lives.
“New York City’s climate challenges are exceedingly serious. We have trillions of dollars worth of infrastructure at risk here, and the way climate change impacts people is highly disproportionate,” states Timon McPhearson, a professor and director of the Urban Systems Lab at New York University, an entity focused on developing comprehensive solutions to social and environmental issues in urban areas.
Nonetheless, Mamdani contends that affordability and climate action can proceed in tandem. “Climate and quality of life are not two distinct concerns,” he expressed earlier this year. “They are, in fact, inherently connected.”
As mayor of the most populous city in the United States, Mamdani’s administration will encounter distinct challenges—and opportunities—in addressing climate risks. And although climate issues were not a central theme during Mamdani’s campaign, experts suggest that many of his policies offer a dual approach: tackling the city’s affordability crisis while simultaneously advancing climate action.
“He is truly considering the co-benefits of climate initiatives,” remarks Eunice Ko, deputy director of the NYC Environmental Justice Alliance, who points out that lower-income neighborhoods are more prone to exposure to environmental hazards or significant pollution. “A city climate plan is, in essence, an affordability and quality of life plan.”
One illustration is Mamdani’s proposed free fare bus initiative, which his campaign asserts will enhance the affordability of public transportation. This kind of program also yields the added advantage of encouraging more residents to use public transit, thereby reducing the city’s carbon footprint. “Anything that shifts individuals from cars to mass transit offers a huge [emissions reduction] benefit, and demonstrating that mass transit can be efficient and affordable or free is also a considerable political advantage,” says Stephan Edel, executive director of the New York Renews coalition.
Mamdani’s campaign has also unveiled its “Green Schools for a Healthier New York City” program, which would involve renovating 500 public schools, implementing renewable energy infrastructure and HVAC improvements, and creating green spaces. It would additionally transform 50 schools across the city into “resilience hubs,” equipping them to provide essential resources and safe havens during emergencies.
“He views schools not merely as educational environments, but also as locations that can address flooding and extreme heat,” Ko explains. “It acts as a resiliency measure capable of absorbing floodwaters, or mitigating the urban heat island effect. We can genuinely utilize the physical space of schools to effectively lessen the impacts of climate change.”
Mamdani also put forth a plan to assist homeowners in complying with Local Law 97, which mandates buildings to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 40% by 2030 and 80% by 2050. To help achieve these goals, the plan advocates for increased investments in , a program designed to aid landlords in decarbonizing their properties, and for the city to purchase heat pumps for resale to landlords.
As an assemblyman, Mamdani identified various methods to bolster climate action within the city. He opposed the construction of a natural gas plant in a Queens neighborhood—ultimately on the grounds that the project was inconsistent with New York state’s climate objectives. He was a staunch of the Con Edison rate increase proposed in 2022 that was eventually approved. And he the New York HEAT Act as a co-sponsor this year, which would cap utility bills at 6% of household income.
Mamdani also endorsed the 2023 Build Public Renewables Act, which authorized the state’s public power utility to undertake the bulk of the renewable energy projects required to meet the state’s emissions targets.
“He was truly a champion of that, not solely as a climate objective, but recognizing that leveraging the climate fight to enhance community self-determination and reduce costs all contribute to the overarching goal of improving the state,” says Edel.
Implementing robust climate policies in New York could have effects extending beyond the city, paving the way for other cities and states to adopt similar approaches. “New York possesses the capacity to take action on climate change, both practically as a city with nine million people and a budget larger than not only most states, but many countries, and through the moral and cultural influence it brings to these matters,” says Edel. “[Mamdani] as a leader is set to significantly influence our ability to advance policy at both the state and, indeed, federal levels.”
