The Growing Climate Crisis in NYC
A year has passed since New York City was cloaked in smoky air, carrying ominous traces of wildfires from distant Canada. The alarming incident resulted in the city’s air quality ranking among the world’s worst. Such a horrific event abruptly made the city’s looming climate crisis distinct and harrowing—an insidious, amber-colored invasion threatening our health.
Impact on New York Communities and Schools
This dire situation certainly was a terrifying episode for the city’s residents, adults, and children alike. The advisable solution of the time was to stay indoors to avoid inhaling the dangerous ash particles capable of damaging our lungs. Ironically, public schools, expected to serve as community safe havens, were compelled to shut down by the city’s leadership amid this chaos. However, even with school closures, the environmental hurdles didn’t end, as record flooding plagued the city’s educational institutions three months later.
Need for Proactive Measures in Schools
One year on, we are heading toward another potentially catastrophic storm season. Meanwhile, Canada’s wildfire smoke is once again reaching the borders of the U.S. Concerningly, our public schools still struggle to provide a safe, healthy environment that promotes learning. Aging school buildings rely largely on polluting fossil fuels. Particularly in disadvantaged communities, these schools remain outdated with poor ventilation, susceptible basement spaces, and uncomfortable classroom conditions hindering student learning.
The city’s infrastructure, with buildings accounting for 70% of NYC’s greenhouse gas emissions, can be a significant target in our fight against the growing climate crisis. Despite schools making up a quarter of city-owned buildings, the city is not keeping up with its climate law, Local Law 97, which aims to decelerate our worsening climate scenario by cleaning up our polluting buildings.
Workers and Students’ Vulnerability
In this slow progress, the groups paying the highest cost are our children, teachers, and school staff members. These groups are subject to precarious conditions, including early school timings, extended hours, and hazardous work environments involving gas stoves and decades-old, oil-burning boilers.
The city’s entirety of 1,400 buildings, ranging from 3K to grade 12, are not merely unprepared for future climate challenges; they’re also unfit for the present. Recognizing this, organizations like ALIGN fight for the right to health, safety, and a clean energy transition for these workers. Meanwhile, Climate Families NYC is bringing together children, parents, and caregivers to work towards a greener future.
The Green, Healthy Schools Solution
The answer to these problems is simple: we need Green, Healthy Schools. By electrifying public school buildings and revising the existing infrastructure, we could save millions of dollars in energy costs. Additionally, creating a greener, cleaner environment for students and staff while providing quality air is essential.
While Mayor Adams has pledged to electrify 100 NYC public schools by 2030, much of this plan lacks financial backing. Advocates have reached out to the mayor, demanding a $600 million upfront payment in this year’s budget to electrify and upgrade 500 schools by 2030.
The Cost of Inaction
It’s critical to factor in the cost of inaction. Costs from climate emergencies like Hurricane Sandy and the smoky skies incident last year have run up bills amounting to billions. If we don’t transition away from fossil fuels, our climate crises and their associated costs are bound to intensify. By thinking ahead, we can safeguard our city, save money in the long run, and foster job opportunities in the future.
Mayor Adams has already committed to cleaning up our polluting buildings. It’s time to ensure this commitment is fulfilled by investing in clean, resilient school environments—our city’s present and future depend on it.