A new plan released by New York Mayor Bill de Blasio establishes bold goals and specific targets for a strong, sustainable, resilient, and equitable city taking 800,000 people out of poverty by 2025, becoming a Zero Waste city, eliminating long-term displacement after future shock events, and much more

NEW YORK, April 22, 2015 — New York Mayor Bill de Blasio has released  “One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City,” a comprehensive plan for a sustainable and resilient city for all New Yorkers that addresses the profound social, economic, and environmental challenges ahead.

“OneNYC builds on prior long-term sustainability plans for New York City, expanding on the critical targets established under previous plans,” said mayor Bill de Blasio.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

Growth, sustainability, and resiliency remain at the core of OneNYC, but with the poverty rate remaining high and income inequality continuing to grow, the de Blasio administration added equity as a guiding principle throughout the plan.

Environmental and Economic Sustainability Must Go Hand in Hand – and OneNYC is the Blueprint – New York Mayor Bill de Blasio

OneNYC sets measurable goals for tackling these challenges in the coming years – including  a poverty reduction target of 800,000 New Yorkers over the next 10 years, zero waste to landfills by 2030, and the elimination of long-term displacement from homes and jobs after shock events by 2050 – with critical action in the short-term to put the city on the path to achieving these goals.

“Environmental and economic sustainability must go hand in hand – and OneNYC is the blueprint to ensure they do,” said Mayor de Blasio.

“Today, we are laying out specific goals to make sure that as we build a stronger, more sustainable, and more resilient city, we are also creating a more equitable one.`said the mayor.

“From our unprecedented goal of lifting 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty, to sweeping environmental initiatives such as Zero Waste, the cleanest air of any large city, and a dramatic reduction in emissions, this is a bold and ambitious plan – and New York City requires nothing less.”

Read More about sustainable cities here

New York City is facing a number of challenges, including a rapidly growing population, rising inequality, aging infrastructure, and climate change. OneNYC lays out a series of specific targets and initiatives to meet those challenges including:

• Making New York City home to 4.9 million jobs by 2040.
• Creating 240,000 new housing units by 2025, and an additional 250,000 to 300,000 by 2040.
• Enabling the average New Yorker to reach 25% more jobs – or 1.8 million jobs – within 45 minutes by public transit.
• Lifting 800,000 New Yorkers out of poverty or near-poverty by 2025.
• Cutting premature mortality by 25 percent by 2040, while reducing racial/ethnic disparities.
• Reducing the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 80 percent by 2050, over 2005 levels.
• Sending zero waste to landfills and reducing waste disposal by 90 percent relative to 2005 levels, by 2030.
• Ensuring New York City has the best air quality among all large U.S. cities by 2030.
• Reducing risks of flooding in most affected communities.
• Eliminating long-term displacement from homes and jobs after future shock events by 2050.
• Reducing the city’s Social Vulnerability Index for neighborhoods across the City;
• Reducing annual economic losses from climate-related events;
• Continued investment as part of an over-$20 billion program that includes a range of physical, social, and economic resiliency measures.

The plan recognizes New York City’s role and responsibilities as a regional hub, and calls on the City’s partners to work together on shared goals for building a strong region.

The plan follows months of engagement with thousands of New Yorkers across the five boroughs – including through an online survey available in seven language, dozens of community meetings, a phone survey, and meetings with hundreds of civic organizations and local and regional elected officials.

The plan – a 332-page document – is divided into four visions for a stronger, more equitable, more sustainable, and more resilient New York City, and includes over 200 new initiatives, with over 80 specific new metrics and targets.

Vision 1: Our Growing, Thriving City

New York City will continue to be the world’s most dynamic urban economy where families, businesses, and neighborhoods thrive:  

• Industry Expansion & Cultivation: New York City will have the space and assets to be a global economic leader and grow quality jobs across a diverse range of sectors.
• Workforce Development: New York City will have a workforce equipped with the skills needed to participate in the 21st century economy.
• Housing: New Yorkers will have access to affordable, high-quality housing coupled with robust infrastructure and neighborhood services.
• Thriving Neighborhoods: New York City’s neighborhoods will continue to thrive and be well-served.
• Culture: All New Yorkers will have easy access to cultural resources and activities.
• Transportation: New York City’s transportation network will be reliable, safe, sustainable, and accessible, meeting the needs of all New Yorkers and supporting the city’s growing economy.
• Infrastructure Planning and Management: New York City’s infrastructure and built environment will exemplify global economic, environmental, and social leadership.
• Broadband: Every resident and business will have access to affordable, reliable, high-speed broadband service everywhere by 2025.

Vision 2: Our Just and Equitable City

OneNYC will have an inclusive, equitable economy that offers well-paying jobs and opportunities for all New Yorkers to live with dignity and security:

• Early Childhood: Every child in New York City will be nurtured, will be protected, and will thrive.
• Integrated Government and Social Services: All New Yorkers will have access to high-quality, conveniently located, community-based City resources that promote civic engagement and enable them to thrive.
• Healthy Neighborhoods, Active Living: New Yorkers of all ages will live, work, learn, and play in neighborhoods that promote an active and healthy lifestyle.
• Healthcare Access: All New Yorkers will have access to the physical and mental healthcare services they need.
• Criminal Justice Reform: Among large U.S. cities, New York will continue to be the safest and will have the lowest incarceration, with a criminal justice system that leads the nation in fairness and efficiency.
• Vision Zero: New Yorkers will continue to embrace Vision Zero and accept no traffic fatalities on New York City Streets.

Vision 3: Our Sustainable City

OneNYC will ensure that New York City is the most sustainable big city in the world and a global leader in the fight against climate change:

• 80×50: New York City’s greenhouse gas emissions will by 80 percent lower by 2050 than in 2005.
• Zero Waste: New York City will send zero waste to landfills by 2030.
• Air Quality: New York City will have the best air quality among all large U.S. cities by 2030.
• Brownfields: New York City will clean up contaminated land to address disproportionately high exposures in low-income communities, and convert land to safe and beneficial use.
• Water Management: New York City will mitigate neighborhood flooding and offer high-quality water services.
• Parks and Natural Resources: All New Yorkers will benefit from useful, accessible, and beautiful open spaces.

Vision 4: Our Resilient City

OneNYC will ensure that our neighborhoods, economy, and public services are ready to withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change and other 21st century threats:

• Neighborhoods:Every city neighborhood will be safer by strengthening community, social, and economic resiliency.
• Buildings:The city’s buildings will be upgraded against climate impacts.
• Infrastructure:Infrastructure systems across the region will adapt to enable continued services.
• Coastal Defense:New York City’s coastal defenses will be strengthened against flood and sea level rise.

“The City Council is committed to making New York a more sustainable City for all New Yorkers,” said Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito.

“The City’s new plan is bold, comprehensive, creative, and most important, achievable,” said Jeffrey D. Sachs, Co-Chair of the OneNYC Advisory Board and Director of the Earth Institute at Columbia University.

Visit nyc.gov/onenyc to read the full plan.

See also this feature article in The Economist