Flooded NYSE

CODE RED

↑ Carbon Zero City includes a proposed micro, urban world's fair, opened with a tall ships event.

The climate crisis is code red

Heat waves strain grids and cause deaths, like the 15,000 in Paris; floods threaten Miami, while hurricanes cripple cities like New Orleans; rising seas displace millions from Jakarta and Dhaka; air pollution spikes respiratory illness in Delhi and Beijing; water shortages hit Cape Town and threaten Phoenix; extreme weather disrupts supply chains in Houston and Shenzhen; urban heat islands worsen emissions in Tokyo and New York; wildfires destroy homes near Sydney and Los Angeles.

Much is baked in.

No single solution exists — what is needed, and what Carbon Zero City will be, is the mother of all marketing engines to address the urban climate crisis.

ATMOSPHERIC CO2
In 2024 Surpassed 427 ppm, and the rate of increase is accelerating (Mauna Loa, NASA)

TEMPERATURE
2023 was the planet’s warmest year on record (source: NOAA.) Temperatures continue to rise to the 1.5°C threshold.

RISING SEAS
Damage infrastructure, disrupt transport, and threaten drinking water through saltwater intrusion (NASA, NOAA).

click on the graphic to enlarge

MISSION:
TRANSFORM fidi INTO A CARBON ZERO CAPITAL

 

OBJECTIVES

Build a powerful marketing engine to accelerate the deployment of urban-oriented climate responses worldwide; enable critical innovation to cross the chasm; create an invesment magnet for more climate responses.

Supercharge NYC, and FiDi's, economy by creating a carbon zero economic cluster. Drive demand for FiDi's vacant office space; create a wide array of jobs and generate significant tax revenue.

TACTICS:
Making It Happen

Identify vacant office space in FiDi for showrooms and offices. Carbon Zero City targets 2 million square feet, driving demand for an additional 3 to 5 million square feet. More...

HIGH VACANCY
Chronic office vacancies pose a problem, but also offer space for unique events. (Source: Cushman Wakefield Q1 2024)

SUBSTANTIAL SUPPLY
NYC's vacancies are a challenge, but provide room for innovative events. (Source: Cushman Wakefield Q1 2024)

Create a compreheinsive pitch to property owners, corporations and others the financial value of this inititiateve. Showrooms are an ideal alternative for vacant spaces that can't attract conventional tenants. Increased occupancy leads to higher rent and capitalization rates.

Building Owners
Hidden gems like 6 Dutch Street.
Corporations
Prime spots along Fulton and Nassau Streets, 22% vacancy (Broadsheet).
Residents
Historic plazas like Golden Hill.
The City
Future park and flood protection projects under LMCR.
Vacant Land and Parking Lots
Gotham Parking and others for public exhibits.

Identify additional neighborhood assets. Assets include showrooms, exhibits, and common areas, with local businesses providing food. More...

Alleyways and Narrow Streets
Hidden gems like 6 Dutch Street.
Vacant Retail
Prime spots along Fulton and Nassau Streets, 22% vacancy (Broadsheet).
Public Spaces
Historic plazas like Golden Hill.
Under the FDR
Future park and flood protection projects under LMCR.
Vacant Land and Parking Lots
Gotham Parking and others for public exhibits.
Large Facilities
Winter Garden and Pier 17 for temporary events.
Educational Facilities
Summer projects at spaces like Pace University.
Privately Owned Public Spaces (POPS)
Accessible spaces like 59 Maiden Lane.
Street Parking Sheds
Inspired by NYC’s Open Restaurant Program.

Build a Carbon Zero event portfolio. Includes smaller gatherings, summits, and trade shows to connect buyers and sellers, accelerating solution deployment. More...

events
101 Greenwich

↑ 101 Greenwich (west side of Broadway) being used as a temporary art exposition.

Partial SUMMARY OF BENEFITS from A CARBON ZERO CITY

Climate Crisis
Benefits

Carbon Zero City will accelerate a multifront response to the climate crisis. A powerful marketing engine, combined with a Trade Mart, virtual platforms, and events, will help deploy solutions to cities worldwide.

Expand product deployment
Scale up the adoption of carbon-zero products.
Help companies cross the chasm
Guide companies to commercial success.
Bring together experts
Foster collaboration among thought leaders.
Generate bold solutions
Drive transformative climate strategies.
Partner with AE firms
Collaborate for rapid deployment.
Create investment magnet
Attract significant investment into carbon-zero projects.
Leverage NYC’s creative class
Engage talent to build excitement and awareness.

NYC Economic
Benefits

Carbon Zero City will fuel NYC’s economic growth. It will attract carbon-zero businesses, create jobs, and generate tax revenues while boosting support industries like restaurants and retail.

Drive economic benefits
Attract businesses, create jobs, and spur innovation.
Foster collaboration
Enable cooperation between companies, suppliers, and institutions.
Influx of investment
Increase demand for office space and boost tax revenues.
Ripple effect on local businesses
Support restaurants, retail, and services.
Enhance NYC’s global sustainability brand
Strengthen NYC as a leader in sustainability.
Complement existing initiatives
Align with PlaNYC, OneNYC, and City of Yes.
Address critical issues
Tackle NYCHA housing, migrant employment, and green jobs.
Integrate climate and economic solutions
Make climate resilience an economic engine for NYC.

Carbon Zero City will drive demand for vacant office space. Trade mart demand will create a 1.5 to 2.5x multiplier effect, benefiting local businesses.

Annual Increased Rent
for Property Owners
$292,830,000
NPV over 10 years @ 7%
(Property Owners)
$2,350,322,237
Employee Spending
from Increased Real Estate Demand
$1,666,666,666
Indirect Employee Spending
from Increased Real Estate Demand
$1,959,496,666
Total Employee Spending
from Increased Real Estate Demand
$3,626,163,332
Property Taxes
from Increased Valuations
$63,000,000
NPV over 10 years @ 7%
(Property Taxes)
$503,565,729
Direct Job Creation
from Increased Real Estate Demand
33,333 jobs
Indirect + Direct Job Creation
from Increased Real Estate Demand
66,666 jobs

Carbon Zero City will boost tourism, including business visitors. Aligning with events like the 2026 FIFA World Cup and NYC’s 400th anniversary will amplify tourism and global engagement.

Job Creation
from Annual Tourism
3,800 jobs
Job Creation
from a World's Fair
38,000 jobs
Operational Job Creation
from a World's Fair
N/A
Tourist Economic Impact
(Annual)
$7,400,000
Tourist Economic Impact
(World's Fair)
$74,000,000
NYC Sales Tax from Admissions
(Annual)
$50,000,000
NYC Sales Tax from Admissions
(World's Fair)
$2,100,000,000

Carbon Zero City will serve as a regional economic engine. While its core focus is in FiDi, the carbon-zero value chain can spread across the five boroughs, upstate, and the tri-state, driving broader regional growth.

value chain
william street

↑ Pedestrianized William Street, between Pine and Liberty Streets.

A Bold Response To An Urgent Crisis

Let's be bold.

Global temperature records are shattering. This spring (2024), CO2 levels hit 428 ppm, accelerating climate impacts: rising heat, sea levels, instability, mass migrations, and food shortages.

This proposal offers an urgent framework for large-scale climate solutions — not just an environmental necessity but a massive economic opportunity. It will create jobs, grow the economy, and position NYC as a leader in climate action.

Transforming FiDi into a carbon-zero cluster isn’t just ambitious — it’s essential for NYC’s economy and the global climate battle.

Now is the time for decisive action. For NYC. For the planet.

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Roadmap

Problem

Mission

Objectives

  • Accelerate climate responses
  • Boost NYC's economy

Strategy

  • Focus on economic solutions
  • Establish a carbon-zero cluster
  • Connect buyers and sellers
  • Create incubators
  • Organize trade shows
  • Drive deployment of solutions
  • Generate new revenue streams

Tactics

  • Find and use vacant spaces
  • Highlight financial benefits
  • Identify additional locations
  • Launch events to promote initiatives

Benefits

  • Response to crisis
  • Bolster local economy
  • Bolster regional economy

Summary