CATALYZING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE on PRIVATE PROPERTY: Recommendations for a Green, Equitable, and Sustainable New York City
CATALYZING GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE ON PRIVATE PROPERTY: Recommendations for a Green, Equitable, and Sustainable New York City Center for Sustainable Business AUGUST 2017 | Alisa Valderrama, NRDC | John Lochner, NRDC | Marianna Koval, NYU Stern CSB August 7, 2017 Vincent Sapienza, Acting Commissioner New York City Department of Environmental Protection 59-17 Junction Blvd. Flushing, New York 11373 Dear Acting Commissioner Sapienza: We are pleased to provide the attached report, “Catalyzing Green Infrastructure on Private Property: Recommendations for a Green, Equitable, and Sustainable New York City,” developed by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and the New York University Stern School of Business’ Center for Sustainable Business (NYU Stern CSB). The undersigned organizations, comprising community-based organizations, environmental advocates, and community development corporations, join NRDC and NYU Stern CSB in urging you to carefully consider these recommendations. We believe that green infrastructure, including green roofs, rain gardens, rainwater harvesting, trees, infiltration planters, and porous paving, can not only manage stormwater runoff from the City’s vast impermeable surfaces and reduce combined sewer overflows, but also transform New York City. Green infrastructure can benefit community livability by improving water quality, improving air quality, reducing the urban heat island effect, reducing energy use, and creating green jobs. It can also be an essential tool for achieving OneNYC’s goals of a stronger, sustainable, resilient, and equitable city. As you know, the City of New York has recognized green infrastructure’s value and the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has committed to spend at least $1.5 billion on green infrastructure, in combination with necessary “gray” infrastructure investments, to reduce combined sewer overflows and improve water quality through 2030.
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