City Hall, NY – Today, as climate change-driven wildfires and heat waves define New York City’s early summer, councilmembers and climate activists rallied at City Hall, demanding Mayor Adams stop dragging his feet on the landmark “green new deal” law, Local Law 97. The Administration is delaying release of key final rules to implement the law in advance of 2024, when the law’s first requirements will go into effect; speakers demanded Mayor Adams issue the final key rules to implement and enforce Local Law 97 without loopholes and without delay.

Passed in 2019, Local Law 97 will reduce the emissions driving extreme weather events by phasing out most fossil fuels in large buildings. To reach New York’s climate goals, and dramatically reduce air pollution, the state needs to electrify most buildings by 2050. The law is also on track to create tens of thousands of jobs, and is projected to lower energy bills.

“This month alone we’ve seen the deadly consequences of our decades of environmental inaction and centuries of environmental harm — flooding in upstate New York, wildfire smoke polluting our air, and high temperatures across the globe,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Local Law 97 is a big step toward turning things around, a step we urgently need. It will protect our planet, reduce energy costs for New Yorkers, and create jobs. I urge Mayor Adams to sign on to Local Law 97 without modifications and protect New Yorkers’ and our planet’s future.”

As the Administration delays, a well-financed real estate industry campaign has advocated for loopholes to undermine the landmark law. Delays and mixed messaging has left some landlords in the belief that the law will not be enforced, causing them to avoid upgrading their buildings to high energy efficiency, which has cost the city investment, jobs, pollution reductions and lower utility bills. In reality, the majority of buildings will be in compliance to 2030 and can plan for energy efficiency and upgrades that will lower operating costs and avoid penalties into the future. If fully implemented, Local Law 97 will create tens of thousands of jobs across the city, lower energy bills, and save lives by cleaning up the city’s most polluting sector — buildings. 

“The devastating effects of climate change are becoming increasingly present, emphasizing the need for an overhaul of our climate and environmental resiliency plans. We are capable of meeting our climate goals and leading climate justice fights with proper enforcement of Local Law 97. We must limit the purchase of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs), enforce pollution limits and penalties, and augment existing programs to pay for NYCHA and working-class owners to upgrade to high energy efficiency,” said Council Member Carmen De La Rosa. “Lenient policies do not foster radical change. Buy-outs do not foster radical change. There’s a real opportunity to create tens of thousands of green jobs and improve the quality of life of our environmental justice communities. If any place can do it, NYC can.”

“As a co-op owner, I’m happy that my building has started to plan for improvements that will meet the requirements under LL97. It’s the city’s most important climate law and our actions are helping to create jobs, will save money on utilities, and will stop adding to the climate pollution that is causing these disasters. Mayor Adams must not cave to the real estate lobby and should release strong rules that will help other coops have the clarity they need to start investing in their buildings and avoid future penalties,” said Jose Gonzalez, homeowner in Flatbush, Brooklyn. 

Over the past month, as the world registered its hottest day ever on record, scientists are sounding the alarm that the planet may breach irreversible climate tipping points. New Yorkers are already experiencing what could become a worsening scenario — orange skies from distant wildfires that make the air unbreathable and subtropical humidity that pushes the limit of the body’s capacity to cool. Communities of color have suffered the most from poor air quality and heat islands, and are at highest risk of hospitalization and death. Local Law 97 will cut climate pollution from our large buildings, the top source of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions, reducing local and global climate pollution, so New Yorkers can breathe easier.

“The smoke from the Canadian wildfires last month made clear that when it comes to climate – it is truly a global problem. Buildings contribute more pollution than any other sector in New York City and it is imperative that Mayor Adams issue strong rules to implement Local Law 97 to draw down our contribution to this global problem. Local Law 97 also has the potential to create tens of thousands of jobs across New York City. New York City has been a leader on climate and must continue to set the bar high for other cities to follow,” said Council Member Gail Brewer.

“For more than four years, Local Law 97 has sat on the shelf collecting dust. As New Yorkers choke on smoke and suffer through extreme heat, it’s high time Mayor Adams got to work ensuring this critical law’s landmark climate provisions become a reality,” said Food & Water Watch Volunteer Leader Ken Schles. “Mayor Adams must stop dragging his feet and implement Local Law 97 now.”

“Last summer, the deadly flash floods hit us here in the city. Just this week, deadly flash flooding and storms hit all over the state. In neighborhoods like mine in Sunset Park, when we experience strong storms, half our streets are flooded. Local Law 97 will create clean energy jobs for my neighbors, while cleaning air quality and addressing the worsening climate crisis. Mayor Adams must fully implement it without delays or loopholes,” said Damien Andrade, NYPIRG Board of Directors Chairperson and Brooklyn College student.

“From extreme heat to heavy storms and wildfire smoke, New York is facing the impacts of the climate crisis now. We are calling on the Adams administration to do their part and release the draft rules so the landmark Local Law 97 can be implemented immediately. We cannot afford to wait any longer for these rules to come out. We must act now to address the climate crisis,” said Council Member Shekar Krishnan.

“Local Law 97 is the cornerstone of our City’s fight against climate change. It would be irresponsible during one of the world’s hottest summers on record to delay the implementation of one the strongest environmental laws ever passed by the City Council,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “Local Law 97 was passed to ensure our City was tackling greenhouse emissions from some of our worst offenders: NYC’s largest buildings. Sweltering heat waves and dangerous air quality alerts this summer have made it painfully clear that we cannot afford to delay action on climate change any longer. It’s time to fully implement Local Law 97 before it’s too late.” 

“New York City has endured the horrific devastation inflicted by Superstorm Sandy in 2012 and recently grappled with the hazardous air quality caused by an unprecedented wildfire season in Canada. Extreme weather events caused by climate change are here, and hundreds of thousands of New Yorkers are on the frontlines of the climate crisis,” said Council Member Carlina Rivera. “Last session New York City Council passed Local Law 97 to ensure we are taking the appropriate steps to mitigate our impact on the climate and to better protect all New Yorkers. The urgency of the climate crisis compels us to keep the implementation of Local Law 97 on track, and the administration must move forward with issuing the final major rules without delay.”

“New York City can only achieve its climate goals and mandates with a strong implementation of Local Law 97. We need to put limits on compliance loopholes, protect tenants, incentivize building retrofits, and prioritize workforce development opportunities for green energy jobs,” said Council Member Sandy Nurse.

Council Member Eric Bottcher said, “In the future they’ll say either: We stepped up to the plate to take action to save planet earth. Or they’ll say we took half measures or rolled back laws we did pass – and we failed and are responsible for mass destruction. I’m not going to let that happen!”

Video available here.