2020 NYC Climate Justice Agenda

A Critical Decade for Climate, Equity, and Health

On Tuesday, April 21st, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance released a new report, NYC Climate Justice Agenda 2020: A Critical Decade for Climate, Equity, and Health which outlines urgent recommended strategies to enact a Just Transition, including specific timelines and concrete financial and legislative commitments to create healthy and resilient neighborhoods; tackle emissions in an equitable way; support climate adaptation for frontline communities; and generate good, green jobs in the process. Additionally, the report includes an analysis of the overlaps between environmental justice and COVID-19.

The report focuses on three main themes aimed at achieving an intersectional set of environmental and climate justice goals: (1) Reduce Greenhouse Gases and Localized Emissions, (2) Advance a Just Transition Towards an Inclusive, Regenerative Economy and (3) Cultivate Healthy and Resilient Communities.

Link to press release here.

Download the 2020 NYC Climate Justice Agenda here.

The NYC Climate Justice Agenda is a research and advocacy campaign to address the need for comprehensive community-based approaches to climate action. Informed by the experiences of our member organizations, NYC-EJA monitors government progress towards meaningfully and equitably addressing climate change, and provides strategic recommendations to dismantle historic environmental burdens for frontline communities in New York City.

Previous Reports

2018 – Midway to 2030: Building Resiliency and Equity for a Just Transition

In April 2018, the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance released a new report, NYC Climate Justice Agenda 2018 – Midway to 2030: Building Resiliency and Equity for a Just Transition, detailing key strategies for climate change mitigation and adaptation that should be adopted by the City and State to ensure a Just Transition in New York City. The report focuses on four key areas of government action and policy: 1) Extreme Heat and Community Preparedness; 2) Air Quality; 3) Green Infrastructure Equity; and 4) Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency.

To read NYC-EJA’s 2018 report click here.

2017 – Climate Justice in a State of Emergency: What New York City Can Do

In April 2017, NYC-EJA released NYC Climate Justice Agenda –  Climate Justice in a State of Emergency: What New York City Can Do. The report is a pragmatic roadmap with specific policy recommendations for how a progressive city can lead the way on environmental and climate issues while challenging the reactionary policies of the Trump administration. The report analyzed sustainability and resiliency efforts from City government, as laid out in OneNYC: The Plan for a Strong and Just City and New York City’s Roadmap to 80×50, and proposed specific policy recommendations.

To read NYC-EJA’s 2017 report click here.

2016 – Strengthening the Mayor’s OneNYC Plan

In 2016, NYC-EJA released NYC Climate Justice Agenda –  Strengthening the Mayor’s OneNYC Plan. This pioneering report is a critical evaluation of OneNYC: The Plan for a Strong and Just City. The 2016 NYC Climate Justice Agenda reported on New York City’s progress over the inaugural year of OneNYC while providing recommendations on how the City could bolster its commitment to equity through specific policy and programmatic recommendations.