New York Buildings GHG Emissions Accounted for 10% of US Total Emissions in 2017
Buildings are some of the world’s biggest polluters. It’s no surprise then that New York state, home to New York City’s sprawling mega metropolis, accounts for 10% of the United States total building carbon emissions, according to a recent study from the Rocky Mountain Institute. That’s why New York is taking drastic efforts targeting buildings in its fight against climate change. Last year the city passed the Climate Mobilization Act, part of which put carbon emissions caps on buildings over 25,000 square feet. The new regulations apply to approximately 50,000 buildings in New York City, nearly 60% of the city’s total square footage. The local efforts are being backed by the state, which mandated serious decarbonization measures over the next 30 years to reach 85% emissions reductions by 2050, on a path to carbon neutrality.
The construction and operation of buildings accounts for 36% of global energy use and 39% of energy-related carbon dioxide emissions annually, according to the United Nations Environment Program. Powering, heating, lighting, and cooling a building consumes an immense amount of energy. Manufacturing buildings materials, transporting them to a site and construction account for about 25% of a building’s total lifetime carbon emissions. All that leads to buildings accounting for about 11% of worldwide emissions.
That’s why it’s critical for New York to hold the property sector accountable for its environmental impact. With the scale of global impact, expect more states to follow New York’s lead.
Read the full report: https://rmi.org/fossil-gas-has-no-future-in-low-carbon-buildings
