New York City has issued a mandate that is unprecedented in the United States. All buildings are required to lower their greenhouse gas emissions. The details are in the mayor’s press release.

What the NYC mandate demonstrates is first, the largest emitter of greenhouse gases in any urban area is the buildings, with their mechanicals hidden away on the roof or vented out back walls from the basement. These are long term, consistent, and constant producers of carbon pollution, which few people are mentioning or discussing.

Changing building codes is an essential element of addressing climate change and they work. The pushback has been fierce though because every upgrade costs money. The Jewish response is to call out the greed for what it is, an obstacle. Building codes are quick and effective tools to reduce carbon pollution; this is a doable ask. Thank you, NYC.