Did you know that 40% of NYC’s land cover is green? Trees, parks and wetlands make our city more resilient: they sequester carbon, lessen the urban heat island effect, provide wildlife habitat, and help New Yorkers connect with nature.
Did you know that 40% of NYC’s land cover is green? Trees, parks and wetlands make our city more resilient: they sequester carbon, lessen the urban heat island effect, provide wildlife habitat, and help New Yorkers connect with nature.
A greener New York City holds many environmental benefits. Trees and plants provide carbon sequestration, or the process of capturing and storing atmospheric carbon dioxide, playing a critical role in meeting the city’s ambitious greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. Community gardens and urban farms reduce the carbon footprint of our food supply and waste stream by providing healthy local food and composting. Green infrastructure contributes to the resiliency of the city by mitigating stormwater runoff and reducing the heat island effect, caused by buildings and infrastructure absorbing and re-emitting the sun’s heat more than a natural landscape. And importantly, green space has measurable effects on human well-being - reducing stress levels and providing much-needed community space.
We can make NYC even greener by adding green roofs to homes, offices, and civic buildings; supporting urban farming and community gardening; Request street trees; advocating for parks and green streets through participatory budgeting and calling representatives; and preserving and restoring critical natural areas, like wetlands to help mitigate storm surges and protect habitats of diverse species.