Environmental issues in New York City

Last updated

Central Park's reservoirs were historically important components of the New York City water supply system. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir.jpg
Central Park's reservoirs were historically important components of the New York City water supply system.

Environmental issues in New York City are affected by the city's size, density, abundant public transportation infrastructure, and location at the mouth of the Hudson River.

Contents

New York's population density has environmental pros and cons. It facilitates the highest mass transit use in the United States, but also concentrates pollution. Gasoline consumption in the city is at the rate the national average was in the 1920s, [1] and greenhouse gas emissions are a fraction of the national average, at 7.1 metric tons per person per year, below San Francisco, at 11.2 metric tons, and the national average, at 24.5 metric tons. [2] New York City accounts for only 1% of United States greenhouse gas emissions while housing 2.7% of its population. [2] In September 2012, New York was named the #1 "America's Dirtiest City," by a Travel+Leisure readership survey that rated the environmental quality of 35 prominent cities in the United States. Governors Island in New York Harbor is planned to host a US$1 billion research and education center poised to make New York City the global leader in addressing the climate crisis. [3]

Population density

Environmental concerns in the city involve managing the city's extraordinary population density. Mass transit use is the highest in the nation and gasoline consumption in the city is at the rate the national average was in the 1920s. [1] New York City's dense population and low automobile dependence help make New York among the most energy efficient in the United States. [4] The city's greenhouse gas emission levels are relatively low when measured per capita, at 7.1 metric tons per person, below San Francisco, at 11.2 metric tons, and the national average, at 24.5. [2] New Yorkers are collectively responsible for one percent of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions, [2] though comprise 2.7% of the nation's population. The average New Yorker consumes less than half the electricity used by a resident of San Francisco and nearly one-quarter the electricity consumed by a resident of Dallas. [5]

Concentrated pollution in New York City leads to high incidence of asthma and other respiratory conditions among the city's residents. [6] In recent years the city has focused on reducing its environmental impact. The city government is required to purchase only the most energy-efficient equipment for use in city offices and public housing. [7] New York has the largest clean air diesel-hybrid and compressed natural gas bus fleet in the country, and some of the first hybrid taxis. [8] The city is also a leader in the construction of energy-efficient green office buildings, including the Hearst Tower among others. [9]

Policy and influence

Lower Manhattan in 1660, when it was part of New Amsterdam (Nieuw Amsterdam). Castelloplan.jpg
Lower Manhattan in 1660, when it was part of New Amsterdam (Nieuw Amsterdam).

As of 2005, the city has focused on reducing its environmental impact. The city government is required to purchase only the most energy-efficient equipment for use in city offices and public housing. [10] New York has the largest clean-air diesel-hybrid and compressed natural gas bus fleet in the country, and some of the first hybrid taxis. [11] The city is also a leader in energy-efficient "green" office buildings, such as Hearst Tower and 7 World Trade Center. [9]

Environmental groups make large efforts to help shape legislation in New York because they see the strategy as an efficient way to influence national programs. New York City's economy is larger than Switzerland's, [12] [13] a size that means the city has potential to set new de facto standards. Manufacturers are also attuned to the latest trends and needs in the city because the market is simply too big to ignore.

Ex-mayor Michael Bloomberg is one of 248 mayors from 41 states to have signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. Under the agreement, mayors "strive to meet or beat the Kyoto Protocol targets in their own communities". The city was a petitioner in the landmark Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency Supreme Court case forcing the EPA to regulate greenhouse gases as pollutants.

Environmental injustices

Throughout the history of New York City, there has been undenied mistreatment of vulnerable populations in various aspects which has led to present day environmental injustices that plague many of the neighborhoods that these people live in. This is piled on with current day issues that worsen the quality of life for many individuals. As a result, there has been more of a push for more environmental justice in New York City as many are fighting for safer environments to live in.

Redlining

The current state of many deteriorating New York City neighborhoods is the result of the long history of redlining. This resulted in many areas (those with high minority populations) not receiving proper development, investment, and poor infrastructure decisions.

Some examples of the issues of redlining include lack of green spaces in low-income minority neighborhoods, [14] the placement of highways in The Bronx, higher incidents of asthma in low-income neighborhoods, [15] and low-income minority neighborhoods being overburdened with waste transfers. [16] These are just a few of the many issues present in the city.

Energy efficiency

Average annual residential electricity usage by city, 2000-2005 [17]
Cityper-customer kwh use
New York City
4,696
San Francisco
6,753
Chicago
8,143
Phoenix
13,344
Houston
14,542
Dallas
16,611

The city's uniquely high density, encouraged by much of it being surrounded by water, facilitates the highest rate of mass transit use in the United States. New York is one of the most energy efficient cities in the United States as a result. Gasoline consumption in New York is at the rate the national average was in the 1920s. [18] The city's mass transit system, multifamily housing, mixed neighborhoods and the fact that greenfield land is no longer available to development, make building in New York very energy efficient. New York City has a larger population than all but eleven states, and consumes less energy per-capita than any. [19] The average New Yorker consumes a little more than half of the electricity of someone who lives in Chicago and nearly one-quarter the electricity consumed by someone who lives in Dallas. [20]

Nevertheless, New York faces growing energy demands and limited space. The city has introduced a series of environmental policies since the 1990s to address these problems. Detailed measures included switching more than 11,000 traffic lights and pedestrian signals in the city to new energy-efficient light-emitting diodes that use 90% less energy than conventional fixtures. The city replaced 149,000 "cobra head" street lights with new energy-efficient designs by 2008. Over 180,000 inefficient refrigerators in public housing projects have been replaced with new ones that use a quarter of the power of the old ones. By law, the city government can purchase only the most efficient cars, air-conditioners and copy machines. [21] The electricity used to power the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island and 22 other federal buildings in New York City, an annual electricity demand of roughly 27 million kilowatt hours, is provided by wind power. [22]

New York City is home to several clean energy projects. Two attempts to provide electricity to Roosevelt Island by installing underwater turbines in the East River failed when the turbine blades were torn off by currents. An improved turbine design proved to be successful and on January 23, 2012 FERC issued a 10-year pilot commercial license to Verdant Power's RITE Project – the first commercial license for tidal power in the United States. Under the license, Verdant Power expects to generate up to 1 megawatt after a staged installation of up to 30 turbines. Planning is also underway to construct windmills on a hill in the former Fresh Kills Landfill. The wind energy project would power 5,000 homes on Staten Island.[ citation needed ]

Transportation

New York is distinguished from other American cities by its extensive use of public transportation. While nearly 90% of Americans drive to their jobs, public transit is overwhelmingly dominant for New Yorkers. [23] According to the 2000 U.S. Census, New York City is the only locality in the United States where more than half of all households do not own a car (the figure is even higher in Manhattan, over 75%; nationally, the rate is 8%). [23] About one-third of users of mass transit in the United States and two-thirds of the nation's rail riders live in New York and its suburbs, and New York City's public transit system accounts for nearly four times as many passenger miles as the Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles metro regions combined. [24] Only 6% of shopping trips by New Yorkers involve the use of a car. [25]

New York City's high rate of transit use saved 1.8 billion US gallons (6,800,000 m3) of oil in 2006 and $4.6 billion in gasoline costs. New York saves half of all the oil saved by transit nationwide. The reduction in oil consumption meant 11.8 million metric tons of carbon dioxide pollution was kept out of the air. [26] The city's extraordinary public transit use means that New Yorkers emit far fewer greenhouse gases on a per capita basis than the average American. New York City's greenhouse gas emissions are 7.1 metric tons per person compared with the national average of 24.5. [2] New Yorkers are collectively responsible for one percent of the nation's total greenhouse gas emissions [2] though comprising 2.7% of the nation's population.

Green building

For years New York City was slow to embrace green building guidelines used in cities like San Francisco to promote environmentally friendly construction. In the post-World War II construction boom, changes in zoning regulations and the widespread use of air conditioning led to the design of sealed glass and steel towers. Without natural sources of light and ventilation, such buildings required large amounts of fossil fuels to operate.

This phase of building style is rapidly changing in New York, which has become a leader in energy-efficient green office buildings like 7 World Trade Center, which recycles rainwater and uses it in toilets and for irrigation, and computer-controlled heating and lighting. The United States Green Building Council estimates 3,000 new green apartments in New York City have been built since 2001.

In 2000 the state of New York introduced a green building tax credit, the first one of its kind in the United States, that has allowed some developers of environmentally friendly buildings to write off as much as $6 million on their tax bill. The city's Department of Design and Construction developed a set of guidelines in 1999 that encourage environmentally sound building methods for municipal projects. The guidelines had led to approximately $700 million in green city construction projects by the end of 2005. [27] In 2005, New York City mandated that nonresidential public buildings costing $2 million or more be built to standards set by Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), which grade buildings in areas like energy and water consumption, indoor air quality and use of renewable materials. The legislation also applies to private projects that receive $10 million or more in public funds or half of whose budgets come from public money.

Air pollution

Prior to the passage of the federal Clean Air Act of 1970 and other local and state regulations in the late 60s, New York City suffered severe smog, with several instances of major smog events like the 1966 New York City smog. [28]

High cancer risk from airborne chemicals

According to the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment study, residents of New York County, NY (Manhattan), have the third highest cancer risk caused by airborne chemicals of all counties in the United States (including the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands). [29] Manhattan follows only Tippah County, Mississippi (highest risk), and Boyd County, Kentucky (second highest risk). Bronx and Kings Counties rank 8th and 9th out of the 3,223 counties and county-equivalents in the United States, while Queens County ranks 13th nationwide. [30]

The 2009 annual report of the American Lung Association ranks the New York City region as 22nd among the top 25 regions in the United States most affected by year-round particle pollution, and 17th of the top 25 most polluted cities.

Air pollution exposure and risk of violent behavior

Although the environmental basis of violent behaviors is not well understood, scientists have been able to link air pollution to violent and aggressive behaviors in humans. [31] A 2019 study reported emerging evidence that air pollution causes aggressive or impulsive reactions in people. The study was designed to estimate the change in violent and nonviolent criminal behavior risk associated with short-term air pollution in U.S. counties. The study used daily monitoring data for ozone from EPA, and Federal Bureau of Investigation crime data, for 2002 to 2013. The study evaluated the exposure-response relation and assessed differences in risk by community characteristics of poverty, urbanicity, race, and age. The findings suggest that even a slight increase in air pollution can result in violent behavior, regardless of the community type. [32]

A 2022 research paper by Wesselbaum Dennis studied the effect of weather and air pollution on violent crime and homicides in New York City, using data collected from all the crimes committed in NYC between 2006 and 2020. He concluded that the pollutant carbon monoxide , when present in high concentration increased violent crimes in the city in a U-shaped relation. [33]

New York City is ranked the second most polluted in urban air quality compared to other New York State cities. However with air pollutant increasing during February, June through August, November and December, [34] it was not on the FBI 2022’s ten most dangerous cities in New York State. [35]

Emissions management and community impact

New York has the largest hybrid bus fleet in the country, and some of the first hybrid taxis. A large percentage of the city-owned vehicle fleet, including the personal cars of top city officials, are required since 2005 to be fuel efficient hybrid vehicles like the Toyota Prius or Honda Accord gas-electric sedan that produce minimal particulates and carbon dioxide emissions. In 2005 the city's vehicle fleet had 6,000 alternative fuel and 70 electric vehicles. A biodiesel processing plant will soon open in Brooklyn that will process 2.5 million US gallons (9,500 m3) of biodiesel a year and distribute it to conventional gas stations in the city. [18]

The Department of Sanitation, which has 1,500 trucks of its 2,200-vehicle fleet on the streets each day, is working with truck manufacturers to introduce gas-electric hybrid garbage trucks. The Department switched to using low-sulfur fuel in 2001 and uses corn-based ethanol in 500 of its 1,500 light-duty trucks. [36]

New York City has more than 2,000 hybrid taxis as of mid 2009, more than any other city in North America (although it is also the largest city in North America). Hybrid taxis NYC 07 2010 9752.JPG
New York City has more than 2,000 hybrid taxis as of mid 2009, more than any other city in North America (although it is also the largest city in North America).

Air pollution is an ongoing political issue in neighborhoods that contain bus depots. [18] A combination of stakeholder interests regarding profit and a lack of space in NYC leads to air pollution being a difficult issue to solve. Waste Factories and other sources of air pollution besides bus depots affect NYC, and particularly affect boroughs like the Bronx and parts of Manhattan.

In New York City, low-income neighborhoods like those in Northern Manhattan and the Bronx, bear a disproportionate share of pollution sources. [39] Health experts have long believed this is the result of environmental racism. This can be defined as “the planned and deliberate targeting of Black and Brown communities in deciding where to place roadways, toxic waste facilities, along with industrial and commercial sites like bus depots and tractor trailer distribution centers” (Dow, 2020).

The Bronx is one of the poorest counties in all of America. When compared to the other boroughs and counties of New York, Bronx County accounts for the highest rate of asthma related emergency room admissions in both the city and the state.

The South Bronx is particularly affected. Asthma is the leading cause of hospitalizations and school absences for Bronx children (Warman et al., 2009). In 2016, there were 42,712 asthma related emergency room admissions in New York City for children ages 0–17. The Bronx accounted for approximately 38% of these cases with 16,378 admissions (Citizens’ Committee for Children, 2016).

Bronx residents are also disproportionately burdened by exposure to transportation generated air pollution. For example, a ring of major highways surrounds the South Bronx: the Cross Bronx Expressway, Major Deegan Expressway, and the Sheridan Expressway. Bus depots, sanitation centers, and shipping facilities also account for the higher rates of emission exposure.

Health professionals and researchers believe that these glaring disparities created a "perfect storm of events" that led to the Bronx becoming an early COVID-19 epicenter.[ citation needed ]

Water supply

Many of the city's environmental assets are related to geography and a long tradition of environmental stewardship in the mountain ranges north of the city. Because much of the watershed is in one of the largest protected wilderness areas in the United States, the natural water filtration process remains fairly effective, but has been supplemented with engineered filtration and ultraviolet disinfection systems in the early 21st century. [40]

All water entering New York City's distribution system is treated with chlorine, fluoride, food-grade phosphoric acid, and, in some cases, sodium hydroxide, to comply with the New York State Sanitary Code and federal Safe Drinking Water Act disinfection requirements. Fluoride, at a concentration of one part per million, is added to help prevent tooth decay and has been added since 1966 in accordance with the New York City Health Code. Phosphoric acid is added to create a protective film on pipes that reduces the release of metals such as lead and copper from household plumbing. Additionally, a sequestering phosphate is applied at several wells to prevent the precipitation of naturally occurring minerals, mostly iron and manganese, in the distribution mains and customers' household piping. Air stripper facilities can be operated at several wells to remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs). The only well in operation in 2007 had an air stripper in operation. [41]

The Ashokan Reservoir is one of several providing drinking water for New York City. Ashokan Reservoir.jpg
The Ashokan Reservoir is one of several providing drinking water for New York City.

The complex New York City water supply system—with 19 reservoirs bringing mountain water from as far as 125 miles (201 km) away through a gravity-fed web of aqueducts — consists of three different systems. The Croton system, the oldest and smallest section, sits in Westchester and Putnam Counties. The second oldest is the Catskill system. In the early years of the 20th century, the city and state allocated thousands of acres in the eastern Catskill Mountains to build two reservoirs that more than doubled the city's capacity. In the 1950s and 1960s, the city expanded again with the Delaware Aqueduct, tapping the east and west branches of the Delaware River and other tributaries to create the newest and largest of its three systems. [42]

The Croton system is the source of some turbidity issues for the city's water. The turbidity problem stems largely from conditions that have been present in the Catskill system from the beginning. Engineering studies in 1903 recognized that the clay of the steeply sloped eastern Catskills turned the clear waters of the Schoharie and Esopus Creeks muddy after storms. Engineers decided to go ahead anyway, devising a two-reservoir system with built-in turbidity controls. The city has sought to restrict development throughout its watershed. One of its largest watershed protection programs is the Land Acquisition Program, under which the New York City Department of Environmental Protection has purchased or protected through conservation easement over 70,000 acres (280 km2) since 1997. [43] Turbidity problems continued in the Croton system throughout the 20th century, leading to violations of environmental regulations and a 1997 lawsuit against the city by the federal government and the State of New York. [44] In response the city built the Croton Water Filtration Plant, which began operation in 2015. [40]

In the 12 months that ended on June 30, 2006, daily consumption averaged 1.086 billion US gallons (4,110,000 m3) in the city, a decline of 5.2% since 2002 and the lowest total daily use since 1951, when the city had about 7.9 million people and New York was experiencing a severe drought. Daily consumption peaked at 1.512 billion US gallons (5,720,000 m3) in 1979; in the next year's census, the city's population was 7.1 million, its lowest since 1930. Despite having grown to a population of 8.2 million in 2006, the city is now using 28% less water than it did in 1979. The drop in consumption is mostly a result of city policy; water-saving plumbing fixtures and devices in renovations and new construction are required, the city has been more diligent in finding and fixing leaks, and since the late 1980s it has been metering residential customers’ water use. The city uses sonar and other equipment to more efficiently find and fix leaks in its millions of feet of water mains and has taken steps like installing sprinkler caps on fire hydrants during the summer, letting overheated kids cool off without torrents of gushing water. [45]

Garbage disposal

In September 2012, Travel+Leisure named New York City the #1 'America's Dirtiest City', from the results of a readership survey rating 35 "Favorite Cities" in the United States.

In 2001 Mayor Rudolph Giuliani closed the Fresh Kills Landfill on Staten Island. The City did not have a subsequent plan for garbage disposal. An interim system was put in place in which most of the city's garbage was trucked out of the city to landfills in other states. This generated an unacceptable amount of truck traffic in low-income neighbourhoods, leading to exacerbated air pollution.[ citation needed ] In 2006 Mayor Michael Bloomberg signed legislation establishing a new solid waste management plan, which will use barges and trains to export 90% of the city's 12,000 daily tons of residential trash. Under the previous scheme trucks and tractor-trailers were used for 84% of the trash. Passage of the new legislation was delayed by opponents in a Manhattan neighbourhood who protested the use of a marine transfer station in the Hudson River Park. Environmentalists and social activists argued the plan promoted environmental justice because no one borough or neighbourhood would bear a disproportionate burden under the proposal, and they, therefore, supported it.

Other issues

Much of the city's housing stock is old, and lead paint is an ongoing public health issue. Some parts of the city are also at risk if current global warming patterns continue and sea levels rise.

The city is home to several thriving non-native species of plants and animals. Populations of wild South American monk parakeets, also known as the Quaker parrot, live in Greenwood Cemetery, Marine Park, Bensonhurst, and Bay Ridge in Brooklyn, and in the East Bronx.

Farmers' markets

The farmers' market at Union Square. Union Square Farmers Market.jpg
The farmers' market at Union Square.

In 1976 the Council on the Environment of New York City established the Greenmarket program, which provides regional small family farmers opportunities to sell their fruits, vegetables and other farm products at open-air markets in city public squares. The Greenmarket program manages 45 markets in the five boroughs. More than 100 New York City restaurants source their ingredients from Greenmarket farmers each week; Greenmarket farmers also annually donate about 500,000 pounds of food to City Harvest and other hunger relief organizations each year. The most famous location is the Union Square Greenmarket, held Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. year-round. The market has 250,000 customers a week who purchase 1,000 varieties of fruits and vegetables at the market.

The markets are anchored by 164 farmers who travel a median distance of 90 miles (140 km), including 90 vegetable and orchard growers, 29 meat, dairy, poultry, wool and fish producers, 12 producers of honey, maple syrup, jam, and wine, 19 growers of plants and flowers, and 14 bakers.

In 2006 the City Council announced it would make farmers' markets the centerpiece of efforts to reduce hunger and increase awareness of nutrition in the city, especially in lower-income areas, and that 10 new farmers' markets would open serving low-income neighborhoods including public housing projects.

Greenpoint oil spill

The Greenpoint neighborhood of Brooklyn was once home to many oil refineries for more than a century. In 1950, Mobil was alleged to have spilled 17 million US gallons (64,000 m3) of oil into Newtown Creek in what is one of the worst oil spills in United States history. [46] Oil continues seeping into a city waterway decades after the leak was first noticed.

The oil business has largely moved elsewhere, but countless small and large spills went unnoticed for decades and eventually formed a subterranean blob of more than 50 acres (200,000 m2). Authorities have been aware of the problem since 1978. ExxonMobil accepted responsibility for much of the damage in 1990 and has since pumped some 9 million US gallons (34,000 m3) out of the ground.

The slow pace of the cleanup, however, has increasingly angered Greenpoint residents and elected officials, who have launched a series of lawsuits against ExxonMobil in 2004. In June 2006 the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation announced it would sue ExxonMobil to hasten completion of the cleanup.

Pests

There are typically 40-50 rats within a colony, and rat colonies are territorial. Two colonies are unlikely to inhabit the exact location, which would suggest what the rat population within New York would be. A 2014 paper estimated the rat population of New York City proper to be about 2 million, or one for every four people. [47] In 2013 Evangelista et al. first detected the Japanese cockroach (Periplaneta japonica). [48] The Japanese joins four congeners that already inhabited the city (and other cities in North and South America), P. americana , P. fuliginosa , P. brunnea , and P. australasiae . [48] This is the first detection of P. japonica anywhere in North America. [48] Carlen & Munshi-South 2020 find that the city's building landscape is helping feral pigeon gene flow here, contrary to the case of rats (see Rats in New York City § Genetics). [49] In 2010, a rising number of bed bugs were reported in the city. [50]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Exhaust gas</span> Gases emitted as a result of fuel reactions in combustion engines

Exhaust gas or flue gas is emitted as a result of the combustion of fuels such as natural gas, gasoline (petrol), diesel fuel, fuel oil, biodiesel blends, or coal. According to the type of engine, it is discharged into the atmosphere through an exhaust pipe, flue gas stack, or propelling nozzle. It often disperses downwind in a pattern called an exhaust plume.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sustainable transport</span> Sustainable transport in the senses of social, environmental and climate impacts

Sustainable transport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used for road, water or air transport; the source of energy; and the infrastructure used to accommodate the transport. Transport operations and logistics as well as transit-oriented development are also involved in evaluation. Transportation sustainability is largely being measured by transportation system effectiveness and efficiency as well as the environmental and climate impacts of the system. Transport systems have significant impacts on the environment, accounting for between 20% and 25% of world energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions. The majority of the emissions, almost 97%, came from direct burning of fossil fuels. In 2019, about 95% of the fuel came from fossil sources. The main source of greenhouse gas emissions in the European Union is transportation. In 2019 it contributes to about 31% of global emissions and 24% of emissions in the EU. In addition, up to the COVID-19 pandemic, emissions have only increased in this one sector. Greenhouse gas emissions from transport are increasing at a faster rate than any other energy using sector. Road transport is also a major contributor to local air pollution and smog.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green building</span> Structures and processes of building structures that are more environmentally responsible

Green building refers to both a structure and the application of processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle: from planning to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and demolition. This requires close cooperation of the contractor, the architects, the engineers, and the client at all project stages. The Green Building practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort. Green building also refers to saving resources to the maximum extent, including energy saving, land saving, water saving, material saving, etc., during the whole life cycle of the building, protecting the environment and reducing pollution, providing people with healthy, comfortable and efficient use of space, and being in harmony with nature. Buildings that live in harmony; green building technology focuses on low consumption, high efficiency, economy, environmental protection, integration and optimization.’

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Green vehicle</span> Environmentally friendly vehicles

A green vehicle, clean vehicle, eco-friendly vehicle or environmentally friendly vehicle is a road motor vehicle that produces less harmful impacts to the environment than comparable conventional internal combustion engine vehicles running on gasoline or diesel, or one that uses certain alternative fuels. Presently, in some countries the term is used for any vehicle complying or surpassing the more stringent European emission standards, or California's zero-emissions vehicle standards, or the low-carbon fuel standards enacted in several countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environmental technology</span> Technical and technological processes for protection of the environment

Environmental technology (envirotech) or green technology (greentech), also known as clean technology (cleantech), is the application of one or more of environmental science, green chemistry, environmental monitoring and electronic devices to monitor, model and conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gas stove</span> Type of cooking stove

A gas stove is a stove that is fuelled by combustible gas such as natural gas, propane, butane, liquefied petroleum gas, syngas, or other flammable gas. Before the advent of gas, cooking stoves relied on solid fuels such as coal or wood. The first gas stoves were developed in the 1820s and a gas stove factory was established in England in 1836. This new cooking technology had the advantage of being easily adjustable and could be turned off when not in use. The gas stove, however, did not become a commercial success until the 1880s, by which time supplies of piped gas were available in cities and large towns in Britain. The stoves became widespread on the European Continent and in the United States in the early 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Harlem Environmental Action</span> Nonprofit organization

WE ACT for Environmental Justice is a nonprofit environmental justice organization based in Harlem, Manhattan, New York City. The organization was founded in March 1988 to mobilize community opposition to the city's operation of the North River Sewage Treatment Plant, and the siting of the sixth bus depot in Northern Manhattan.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenhouse gas emissions by the United States</span> Climate changing gases from the North American country

The United States produced 5.2 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020, the second largest in the world after greenhouse gas emissions by China and among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person. In 2019 China is estimated to have emitted 27% of world GHG, followed by the United States with 11%, then India with 6.6%. In total the United States has emitted a quarter of world GHG, more than any other country. Annual emissions are over 15 tons per person and, amongst the top eight emitters, is the highest country by greenhouse gas emissions per person. However, the IEA estimates that the richest decile in the US emits over 55 tonnes of CO2 per capita each year. Because coal-fired power stations are gradually shutting down, in the 2010s emissions from electricity generation fell to second place behind transportation which is now the largest single source. In 2020, 27% of the GHG emissions of the United States were from transportation, 25% from electricity, 24% from industry, 13% from commercial and residential buildings and 11% from agriculture. In 2021, the electric power sector was the second largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions, accounting for 25% of the U.S. total. These greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to climate change in the United States, as well as worldwide.

PlaNYC was a strategic plan released by New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg in 2007 to prepare the city for one million more residents, strengthen the economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. The plan brought together over 25 City agencies to work toward the vision of a greener, greater New York and significant progress was made towards the long-term goals over the following years.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Food and water in New York City</span>

In New York City, there is an extensive water supply system that supports several programs and infrastructure pertaining to the city's food supply. City officials, agencies, and organizations cooperate with rural farmers to grow food more locally, as well as protect waterways in the New York metropolitan area. The New York City Department of Education operates a school-time and summertime breakfast/lunch program. The city is also deprived of supermarkets in several neighborhoods, and the city government has addressed the problem by allowing extra street vendors to operate. To encourage food safety, the government also operates a restaurant-grading system that it introduced in 2010. The various food programs have made the city a model for food systems internationally.

High-performance buildings are those which deliver a relatively higher level of energy efficiency performance or greenhouse gas reduction than what is required by building codes or other regulations. Architects, designers, and builders typically design and build high-performance buildings using a range of established strategies, techniques, tools, and materials to ensure that, upon completion, the building will consume a minimal amount of energy for heating, cooling, illumination, and ventilation during operation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change in New York City</span> Overview of the effects of the climate change in New York City

Climate change in New York City could affect buildings/structures, wetlands, water supply, health, and energy demand, due to the high population and extensive infrastructure in the region. A seaport like New York is especially at risk if the sea level rises, with many bridges and tunnels in the city. Major facilities for Aviation in the New York metropolitan area, and the New York Passenger Ship Terminal, are also located in areas vulnerable to flooding. Flooding would be expensive to reverse. Tide gauge records indicate a rise in sea level of about 50 cm since 1860.

The climate change policy of the United States has major impacts on global climate change and global climate change mitigation. This is because the United States is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gasses in the world after China, and is among the countries with the highest greenhouse gas emissions per person in the world. In total, the United States has emitted over a trillion metric tons of greenhouse gasses, more than any country in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hybrid Scorecard</span> Ranking method for hybrid electric vehicles

The Hybrid Scorecard was created by the Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) to give consumers a comprehensive comparison of hybrid electric vehicles available in the U.S. market. The UCS Hybrid Scorecard ratings take into considerations fuel economy as rated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); the environmental benefits as compared to its similar or closest conventional internal combustion engine counterpart; how cost-effectively a particular hybrid achieves its environmental performance; and premium features that are bundled on a hybrid as standard equipment raising its purchase price.

The Environmental Health Coalition (EHC) is an organization founded in 1980 by Diane Takvorian and Tony Pettina, and includes a staff of 19 other individuals. Its goal is to achieve environmental and social justice in San Diego, California. Its work mainly concerns low income communities and communities of color in San Diego. It also works to affect public policy both locally and nationally. The coalition believes that by working closely with communities, it will be able to help mitigate the excessive amounts of pollution and other environmental hazards such as hazardous air pollution (HAPs), toxic waste disposal facilities, or superfund sites. One of its main goals is to prevent environmental injustice in San Diego and use that work to influence national environmental justice issues. Its mission statement is as follows:

California Senate Bill 535 is a California bill that was introduced by Senator Kevin De Leon of Los Angeles and signed into law on September 30, 2012 by Governor Jerry Brown. SB 535 is largely based on the actions introduced by Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006, commonly known as AB 32. AB 32 was passed in 2006 and its goal is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in California. The process outlined by AB 32 resulted in the creation of a cap-and-trade system in California. Companies must purchase extra credits when they exceed their allotted amount for the cap and trade. Each year, the money generated from companies purchasing extra credits is expected to generate about $1 billion of state revenue. SB 535 requires that 25% of the fund is spent on projects that benefit disadvantaged communities, while at least 10% of the 25% is spent on projects located in disadvantaged communities. Cal Enviroscreen is a screening methodology that identifies disadvantaged communities that the funds will be directed into. The money will be spent on projects that have been approved by the Legislature.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Climate change policy of California</span> Overview of the climate change policy of the U.S. state of California

As the most populous state in the United States, California's climate policies influence both global climate change and federal climate policy. In line with the views of climate scientists, the state of California has progressively passed emission-reduction legislation.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Environment of New York City</span>

The environment of New York City consists of many interwoven ecosystems as part of the New York–New Jersey Harbor Estuary. The climate of New York City shapes the environment with its cool, wet winters and hot, humid summers with plentiful rainfall all year round. As of 2020, New York City held 44,509 acres of urban tree canopy with 24% of its land covered in trees. As of 2020, the population of New York City numbered 8.8 million human beings.

References

  1. 1 2 Jervey, Ben (2006). The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City . Globe Pequot Press. ISBN   978-0-7627-3835-9.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 New York City Office of Long-term Planning and Sustainability (April 2007). "Inventory of New York City Greenhouse Gas Emissions" (PDF). Retrieved April 11, 2007.
  3. ↑ "Mayor Adams, Trust For Governors Island Unveil Finalist Proposals For Climate Solutions Center". City of New York. October 26, 2022. Retrieved October 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ Owen, David (October 18, 2004). "Green Manhattan". The New Yorker.
  5. ↑ "Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases". PlaNYC / The City of New York. December 6, 2006. Archived from the original on December 25, 2010. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  6. ↑ Coburn, Jason; Jeffrey Osleeb; Michael Porter (June 2006). "Urban Asthma and the Neighbourhood Environment New York City". Health & Place. 12 (2): 167–179. doi:10.1016/j.healthplace.2004.11.002. PMID   16338632.
  7. ↑ DePalma, Anthony (December 11, 2005). "It Never Sleeps, but It's Learned to Douse the Lights". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  8. ↑ "A Century of Buses in New York City". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Archived from the original on May 25, 2006. Retrieved November 17, 2006.
  9. 1 2 Pogrebin, Robin (April 16, 2006). "7 World Trade Center and Hearst Building: New York's Test Cases for Environmentally Aware Office Towers". The New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  10. ↑ Depalma, Anthony (December 11, 2005). "It Never Sleeps, but It's Learned to Douse the Lights". New York Times. Retrieved July 19, 2006.
  11. ↑
  12. ↑ "Countries With A Bigger GDP Than New York". WorldAtlas. February 14, 2020. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  13. ↑ "The Top 25 Economies in the World". Investopedia. Retrieved October 11, 2022.
  14. ↑ Hu, Winnie; Schweber, Nate (July 15, 2020). "New York City Has 2,300 Parks. But Poor Neighborhoods Lose Out". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  15. ↑ "Asthma | Columbia Public Health". www.publichealth.columbia.edu. January 29, 2020. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  16. ↑ Neuman, William (August 16, 2018). "New York's Push to End Inequality Extends to Garbage". The New York Times. ISSN   0362-4331 . Retrieved October 30, 2022.
  17. ↑ New York City Mayor's Office of Sustainability (2007). "New York City's Climate Change Challenges through 2030" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 12, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
  18. 1 2 3 Jervey, Ben, "The Big Green Apple: Your Guide to Eco-Friendly Living in New York City" Archived June 26, 2006, at the Wayback Machine , Metro New York.
  19. ↑ Owen, David, "Green Manhattan", The New Yorker, October 18, 2004
  20. ↑ "Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases". PlaNYC. December 6, 2006. Archived from the original on January 9, 2007. Retrieved December 13, 2006.
  21. ↑ "It Never Sleeps, but It's Learned to Douse the Lights", The New York Times, December 11, 2005.
  22. ↑ "Wind Power In NYC", Gotham Gazette, March 8, 2006.
  23. 1 2 "Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation". Archived from the original on October 2, 2006. Retrieved August 27, 2006.
  24. ↑ The Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Network; and David Owens.
  25. ↑ "Necessity or Choice? Why People Drive in Manhattan." Archived September 8, 2006, at the Wayback Machine Transportation Alternatives Feb 2006.
  26. ↑ "A Better Way to Go: Meeting America's 21st Century Transportation Challenges with Modern Public Transit" (PDF). U.S. Public Interest Research Group. March 2008. Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2008. Retrieved April 23, 2008.
  27. ↑ "Green Buildings." Gotham Gazette 5 January 2004
  28. ↑ Johnson, Kirk (September 29, 2002). "You Should Have Seen the Air in '53; After Sept. 11, Considering History's Lessons on Pollution". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 27, 2015.
  29. ↑ "National-Scale Air Toxics Assessment 2002 County-Level Modeled Ambient Concentrations, Exposures, and Risks". Washington, D.C.: US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). 2002. Archived from the original on January 11, 2012. Retrieved August 27, 2011. The risk estimates are limited to consideration of inhalation exposure. People receive substantial additional exposures to air pollutants such as mercury and PCBs that bioaccumulate in food. In addition, this assessment does not include emissions from indoor sources of air toxics. Studies have shown that many people receive substantial additional inhalation exposure to common indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde and perchloroethylene.
  30. ↑ "2002 NATA US Cancer Risks County". EPA. August 10, 2016.
  31. ↑ Berman, Jesse D.; Burkhardt, Jesse; Bayham, Jude; Carter, Ellison; Wilson, Ander (November 2019). "Acute Air Pollution Exposure and the Risk of Violent Behavior in the United States". Epidemiology. 30 (6): 799–806. doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000001085. ISSN   1044-3983. PMID   31430264. S2CID   201117288.
  32. ↑ Berman, Jesse D.; Burkhardt, Jesse; Bayham, Jude; Carter, Ellison; Wilson, Ander (November 2019). "Acute Air Pollution Exposure and the Risk of Violent Behavior in the United States". Epidemiology. Wolters Kluwer. 30 (6): 799–806. doi:10.1097/EDE.0000000000001085. ISSN   1531-5487. PMID   31430264. S2CID   201117288.
  33. ↑ Wesselbaum, Dennis (October 2022). "Violent crimes and homicide in New York City: The role of weather and pollution". Journal of Forensic and Legal Medicine. 91: 102430. doi:10.1016/j.jflm.2022.102430. PMID   36099858. S2CID   252155559.
  34. ↑ "New York Air Quality Index (AQI) and USA Air Pollution | IQAir". www.iqair.com. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  35. ↑ Bahl, Dan (July 26, 2022). "2022's Ten Most Dangerous Cities in New York, Ranked by the FBI". 104.5 The Team ESPN Radio. Retrieved November 21, 2022.
  36. ↑ "Eco-rig a Sanitation Sensation". The New York Post. April 3, 2006.
  37. ↑ "Ford's US Hybrid Sales Up 73% for First 9 Months of 2009; Total US Hybrid Sales Down 14% for Same Period". Green Car Congress. Mill Valley, CA: BioAge Group, LLC. October 14, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  38. ↑ Fred Gober. "Hybrid taxis slowly catching on in the west". Infotaxi. Archived from the original on June 23, 2009. Retrieved October 17, 2009.
  39. ↑ "NYC Neighborhood Air Quality and School Bus Depots". Clean School Bus Coalition. Retrieved June 26, 2022.
  40. 1 2 Rueb, Emily S. (March 24, 2016). "How New York Gets Its Water". The New York Times.
  41. ↑ New York City Groundwater System for 2007 - Treatment
  42. ↑ "History of New York City's Drinking Water". New York City Department of Environmental Protection (NYCDEP). Retrieved November 19, 2019.
  43. ↑ DePalma, Anthony (July 20, 2006). "New York's Water Supply May Need Filtering". The New York Times.
  44. ↑ "United States And State Of New York Announce Start Up Of Croton Water Filtration Plant In Compliance With Mandates Of Federal Consent Decree". U.S. Attorney's Office, Eastern District of New York. May 8, 2015. Press release.
  45. ↑ "More Masses Huddling, but They Use Less Water", New York Times, October 3, 2006.
  46. ↑ "The Ooze". New York Magazine. June 2007. Retrieved April 19, 2015.
  47. ↑ Jonathan Auerbach (October 3, 2014). "Does New York City really have as many rats as people?". Significance. 11 (4): 22–27. doi:10.1111/j.1740-9713.2014.00764.x.
  48. 1 2 3
  49. ↑ Carlen, Elizabeth; Munshi‐South, Jason (April 23, 2020). "Widespread genetic connectivity of feral pigeons across the Northeastern megacity". Evolutionary Applications . Blackwell. 14 (1): 150–162. doi:10.1111/eva.12972. ISSN   1752-4571. PMC   7819573 . PMID   33519962. S2CID   216519627.
  50. ↑ Pilkington, Ed (October 21, 2010). "How bedbugs invaded New York". The Guardian. Retrieved November 15, 2022.

Further reading

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.