Confronting the Climate Crisis

Overview

The climate crisis poses grave risks to our homes and our infrastructure, to the stability of City’s economy and finances, to the health and, indeed, the very lives of New Yorkers.

Confronting the climate crisis now, with all the tools at our disposal, gives us the opportunity to create tens of thousands of good green jobs, reduce energy costs for millions of New Yorkers, improve air quality and reduce asthma, and ensure that NYC remains a healthy, safe and prosperous place for people to live, work, and visit for generations to come. As New York City’s  Chief Fiscal Officer, Chief Accountability Officer, and pension fund custodian, the New York City Comptroller is tasked with taking the long-term view to manage and address risks facing the city. At this moment, there is no graver long-term risk than the climate crisis.

The Office of the Comptroller brings a unique set of tools to the work of confronting the climate crisis, vastly reducing our economy’s reliance on fossil fuels, and mitigating the effects of rising seas and temperatures on our neighborhoods. Working alongside advocates, city agencies, fellow institutional investors, and New Yorkers, we can and must advance a just transition to a green economy, and a more equitable and resilient city. And we must do it now.

Climate Updates

Testimony of Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung Before the New York City Department of Buildings’ Rules Hearing on...

Thank you to the Department of Buildings for convening this hearing and for providing the opportunity to submit testimony. New York City’s Local Law 97 (LL97), the most ambitious municipal...

October 24, 2023
NYC Pension Funds: Lawsuit Challenging Fossil Fuel Divestment is a “Waste of Time” and Courts Should End this...

New York, NY – Three of New York City’s pension funds filed a motion to dismiss a baseless lawsuit challenging their decision to stop investing in publicly-traded securities of fossil fuel reserve owners....

August 15, 2023
Comptroller Commends NYC Mayor and DEP Commissioner on Inclusion of Public Solar in PlaNYC

New York, NY – Today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander applauds New York City Mayor Eric Adams and Chief Climate Officer Rohit Aggarwala on the inclusion of the Comptroller’s...

April 20, 2023
Comptroller Publishes Pension Emissions Data and Updates Dashboard on Progress Towards Climate Goals

New York, NY – Ahead of Earth Day, the New York City Comptroller’s Office published new data and analysis features on the NYC Climate Dashboard, which tracks the City’s progress toward...

April 19, 2023
New York City Pension Funds Adopt Implementation Plan to Achieve Net Zero Investment Portfolio By 2040

New York, NY – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander, together with trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and the Teachers Retirement System (TRS) announced implementation plans...

April 5, 2023
NYC Comptroller Lander and City Pension Funds Call on Major U.S. and Canadian Banks to Set Absolute GHG...

New York, NY – Today, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and three of the New York City Retirement Systems (the New York City Employees' Retirement System, Teachers' Retirement System, and...

January 24, 2023
Testimony to the City Council Regarding Intro 279 Legislation on Electrifying the City of New York’s Fleet

On behalf of the NYC Comptroller’s Office, thank you to the Committee on Environmental Protection for convening this hearing. We would also like to thank Council Member Powers for introducing...

December 15, 2022
Testimony of Director of Climate Infrastructure Jamie Statter to the Committee on Rules, Privileges, and Elections Regarding Local...

Thank you to the Department of Buildings for convening this hearing and for providing me with the opportunity to testify today. My name is Jamie Statter and I am the...

November 14, 2022
Report from NYC Comptroller Calls for Strengthening Proposed DOB Rules for the Implementation of NYC’s Landmark Green Buildings...

New York, NY — In a new report, Cap the Credits, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander lays out steps to strengthen implementation of Local Law 97, the Climate Mobilization Act,...

November 14, 2022
NYC Comptroller and Urban Ocean Lab Center Community Efforts in New Report about Superstorm Sandy Recovery and Resilience

Brooklyn, NY — Ahead of the ten-year anniversary of Superstorm Sandy making landfall in New York City, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and Urban Ocean Lab partnered to highlight...

October 27, 2022
A Decade After Sandy: Comptroller Finds Coastal Resiliency Projects Past Deadline With 27% of Federal Funds Still Unspent

New York, NY — Ten years after Superstorm Sandy devastated New York City’s shores, an analysis by New York City Comptroller demonstrates the slow pace of recovery and resiliency spending....

October 13, 2022
Comptroller Lander Joins State Treasurers’ Letter Opposing Anti-ESG Legislation

New York, NY – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander signed a letter with 13 state treasurers in response to recent legislation aiming to curb consideration of environmental, social and governance...

September 14, 2022
Comptroller Brad Lander Proposes New Approach to Provide Resident Rights and Protections for NYC Basement Apartments

New York, NY – Ahead of the one-year anniversary of Hurricane Ida, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander released a new report, Bringing Basement Apartments into the Light. The report...

August 30, 2022
East Flatbush Is the Hottest Neighborhood with the Fewest Cooling Centers in NYC, Comptroller Analysis of Heat Risks...

New York, NY – In a newly released report Overheated, Underserved, the New York City Comptroller’s office identified East Flatbush as the neighborhood most underserved by and in need of...

August 4, 2022
NYC Comptroller’s Office Testimony in Support of the Build Public Renewables Act

Thank you to Speaker Heastie and committee chairs Amy Paulin, Michael J. Cusick, and Steve Englebrightfrom the Committees on Corporations, Authorities and Commissions, Energy and Environmental Conservation for holding this...

July 28, 2022
Testimony of Director of Climate Infrastructure Jamie Statter Before the New York City Council Committees on Sanitation and...

Thank you Chair Nurse and to the Committee members for convening this hearing, considering this legislation, and providing me with the opportunity to testify today. My name is Jamie Statter...

June 15, 2022
NYC Comptroller Lander and Trustees Announce Agreements Reached on Key Sustainability and Climate Issues With Leading Energy and...

(New York, NY) — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and trustees of three of New York City’s public pension funds today jointly announced several agreements reached with leading energy and high-tech...

April 28, 2022
Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on Proxy Votes Urging Major Financial Institutions to Stop Financing Fossil Fuels

(New York, NY) — New York City Comptroller Brad Lander announced proxy votes by three of the New York City Retirement Systems in support of shareholder proposals that urge financial institutions to...

April 25, 2022
Testimony of Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung Before the New York City Council Committees on Transportation and Infrastructure...

Thank you to Chairs Brooks-Powers and Kagan for convening this important hearing, and for the opportunity to testify today. My name is Louise Yeung, the first Chief Climate Officer to...

April 19, 2022
Comptroller Lander Unveils NYC Climate Dashboard to Hold City Accountable to Climate Goals

New York, NY— To kick-off Earth Week, New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and the Comptroller’s Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung unveiled the NYC Climate Dashboard to shine a spotlight on the...

April 18, 2022
Testimony of Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung on Local Law 97 Oversight Hearing

Good morning, and thank you to Chairs Gennaro and Sanchez for the opportunity to testify at today’s important hearing on the implementation of Local Law 97, New York City’s ambitious...

April 13, 2022
NYC Comptroller Lander and Trustees Announce $7 Billion Milestone in Climate Solutions Investment

New York, NY – New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and trustees of the New York City Retirement Systems announced that investments in climate solutions have now reached more than...

April 5, 2022
Statement from NYC Comptroller Lander on Proposed SEC Climate Disclosure Rule

New York, NY – Following the announcement by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) of a proposed rule to require companies to disclose climate-related financial risk on Monday, New York...

March 21, 2022
Testimony by Chief Climate Officer Louise Yeung on the Draft Scoping Plan for the Climate Leadership and Community...

My name is Louise Yeung, the first Chief Climate Officer to serve at the NYC Office of the Comptroller, testifying on behalf of Comptroller Brad Lander.   Our office takes a...

March 3, 2022
NYC Comptroller Brad Lander Announces Three New Leadership Team Members

New York, NY – NYC Comptroller Brad Lander announced new appointments to fill the roles of Deputy Comptroller for Audits and Deputy Comptroller for Budget, senior leadership team members who lead core...

February 28, 2022
Comptroller Stringer and Trustees Announce Successful $3 Billion Divestment from Fossil Fuels

(New York, NY) — Today, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and trustees of the New York City Employees’ Retirement System (NYCERS) and the New York City Board of Education Retirement System...

December 22, 2021
Comptroller Stringer Op-Ed: Strong Clean Vehicle Standards Will Help U.S. Automakers Compete Globally

(New York, NY) — Fortune published an op-ed by New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer urging the Biden administration to commit to, and automakers to support, strong clean vehicle...

April 22, 2021
Comptroller Stringer and Elected Leaders Urge FERC to Reject Williams Pipeline Permit Extension

(New York, NY) – New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer and 26 City and State elected leaders sent a letter to Chairperson Richard Glick and Commissioners of the Federal Energy...

April 7, 2021
Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer, and Trustees Announce Pension Funds More than Double Climate Change Solutions Investments to...

(New York, NY) – Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, and other trustees of the City’s pension funds today announced the Funds will more than double investments in climate change solutions to over $6...

March 23, 2021
Mayor de Blasio, Comptroller Stringer, and Trustees Announce Estimated $4 Billion Divestment from Fossil Fuels

(New York, NY) — Mayor Bill de Blasio, Comptroller Scott M. Stringer, along with trustees of two of the City’s pension funds, today announced these funds have voted to divest their...

January 25, 2021
Comptroller Stringer Demands Gowanus Power Plant Be Replaced With Sustainable Alternatives, Not More Fossil Fuel Infrastructure

(New York, NY) – New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer called on the New York State Board on Electric Generation Siting and the Environment to reject the Astoria Generating Company’s...

September 24, 2020
Comptroller Stringer: Stop Astoria Fossil Fuel Powered Peaker Plant

(New York, NY) — Today, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer sent a letter to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Division of Environmental Permits expressing opposition...

September 4, 2020
Comptroller Stringer Calls On TC Energy to Stop Ongoing Construction of Keystone XL Pipeline Amid COVID-19 Pandemic

(New York, NY) – New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer sent a letter to TC Energy President and CEO Russ Girling calling for a stop to construction of the Keystone XL crude...

April 21, 2020
Statement from New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer on EPA Suspending Enforcement of Environmental Regulations

"At a time when thousands of Americans afflicted with COVID-19 are gasping for breath, the Trump Administration wants to rollback crucial environmental regulations that protect our air, our water, and...

March 27, 2020
Comptroller Stringer Calls on National Grid to Halt Expansion of Fossil Fuel Infrastructure and Instead Invest in Sustainable...

(New York, NY) — Yesterday, New York City Comptroller Scott M. Stringer sent a letter to National Grid, denouncing the utility’s plans to expand its network of fossil fuel infrastructure. Comptroller...

March 12, 2020
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