↑ Carbon Zero City includes a proposed micro, urban world's fair, opened with a tall ships event.
ATMOSPHERIC CO2
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Surpassing 450 ppm could trigger irreversible climate feedback loops. Rising CO₂ drives extreme weather, sea level rise, and habitat loss, threatening infrastructure, health, and ecosystems. Without swift stabilization, adaptation costs—and impacts—will intensify. Each year of inaction narrows our options.
TEMPERATURES ARE RISING
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2024 was the warmest year in recorded history, eclipsing 2023. The year was marked by unprecedented heatwaves, severe droughts, and other extreme weather events worldwide.
Source: NOAA
RISING SEAS ENDANGER MANY CITIES
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In NYC and other global cities like Jakarta, Miami, and Venice, sea level rise threatens infrastructure, safety, and freshwater supplies. According to the UN, rising seas are a 'worldwide catastrophe' impacting millions globally. Urgent action is needed to mitigate these risks.
Source: Politico
(click on the graphic to enlarge)
MISSION:
TRANSFORM FIDI INTO A CARBON ZERO CLUSTER
OBJECTIVES.
Accelerate the deployment of urban-oriented climate responses in cities worldwide; enable critical innovation to cross the chasm; be an investment magnet for more urban climate responses.
Supercharge NYC’s economy by establishing the Financial District (FiDi) as a globally focused carbon-zero industrial cluster; drive demand for FiDi's vacant office space; create a wide array of jobs and generate significant tax revenues for the city.
STRATEGY,
FOCUS ON ECONOMICS
Build the strategy based on the economics of the carbon crisis and cities — this includes both the cost of the crisis to cities, and the investment opportunities derived from combating it.
On the opportunity side, start with a focus on the urban share of the potential $12.3T carbon-zero economy (2030, McKinsey), and more specifically the industries that make up the carbon-zero economy.
MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy will dwarf NYC’s $2T economy. Carbon Zero City will help NYC capture this opportunity, turning the climate crisis into an economic engine.
CARBON ZERO INDUSTRIES
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy includes 11 industries, many highly relevant to cities and NYC. With accelerating growth, NYC has an extraordinary opportunity to lead this market and capture high-profit potential.
INDUSTRY RELATIONSHIPS
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An economic cluster creates synergy across industries, driving innovation and unlocking intra- and inter-industry opportunities.
Highlight the market drivers of the carbon-zero economy — including the existential threat the crisis poses to some cities of the climate crisis, surging urban populations especially in developing regions, and chronic government underperformance.
Establish a carbon-zero economic cluster, a proven economic concept that concentrates interconnected businesses, suppliers, and institutions accelerating innovation and growth.
The cluster builds on a proven urban economic model.
Locate the carbon-zero cluster in NYC's Financial District (FiDi) — the most transit-accessible neighborhood in the US, globally recognized especially for finance, with substantial vacant office space.
ACCESSIBLE
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Arguably the most transit-accessible neighborhood in North America—13 subway lines, 30 bus routes, 18 ferries, the Downtown Shuttle, and 35 CitiBike stations make FiDi seamlessly connected to NYC’s major hubs and airports. It’s a gateway for visitors and commuters alike, offering unmatched accessibility.
AMPLE SPACE
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FiDi’s abundant vacant office spaces are perfect for Carbon Zero showrooms. Office space can transform into vibrant showrooms, dynamic exhibits, and event venues. Vacancy source: Cushman & Wakefield, Q3 2024.
KNOWN LOCATION
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FiDi is a global destination steeped in history—home to Wall Street, the NYSE, and the world’s largest gold reserves. Milestones include George Washington’s inauguration, the signing of the Bill of Rights, and Thomas Edison’s electrified lighting district on Pearl Street.
RESILIENCY MODEL
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FiDi is a model of resilience and future-ready innovation. The Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Project is fortifying the area with advanced floodwalls, storm barriers, and durable infrastructure to protect against rising sea levels and extreme weather—a blueprint for urban adaptation.
OVERFLOW POTENTIAL
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FiDi’s strategic ferry connections enhance its capacity to host major events. Linking seamlessly to Liberty State Park, Governors Island (Climate Exchange), and key Brooklyn hubs like BAT, the ferry network ensures capacity even during high-demand events.
BLUE HIGHWAY
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FiDi is a pivotal part of NYC’s Blue Highway Initiative. Surrounded by water, it enables sustainable cargo deliveries by transitioning from trucks to small watercraft and quad vehicles on land, easing traffic congestion and reducing infrastructure wear (reducing upkeep costs). See hubs.
Anchor the economic cluster with a Trade Mart — a center where buyers and sellers unite to drive solutions against the climate crisis.
Amplify the Trade Mart's efforts with a portfolio of action oriented events, including catalysts (roundtables), competitions, and major events.
Enhance the mart and events with a virtual presence — featuring a dynamic website, neighborhood/event app, and an immersive metaverse platform.
Organize all aspects of the cluster, including trade mart, by industries that are the building blocks of the carbon-zero economy.
TRADE MART
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy will dwarf NYC’s $2T economy. Carbon Zero City will help NYC capture this opportunity, turning the climate crisis into an economic engine.
TRADE EVENTS
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy includes 11 industries, many highly relevant to cities and NYC. With accelerating growth, NYC has an extraordinary opportunity to lead this market and capture high-profit potential.
METAVERSE
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Carbon Zero City will feature industry-specific showrooms, organized into zones. These zones can overlap, like transportation near Fulton Center, leveraging its subway and PATH connections.
Utilize 1M square feet of existing vacant space directly and 1.5M square feet indirectly mostly for Trade Mart showrooms. Showrooms are likely the highest and best economic use of space compared to residential conversions.
Partner with players in NYC’s finance and engineering industries, as well as the UN, to foster the deployment of products and services globally.
Build partnerships with regional cities like Albany, Buffalo, and tri-state areas to strengthen manufacturing, logistics, and inter-city synergies.
Create a robust revenue strategy, including sponsorships (programs, exhibits, naming rights), event admissions, digital platforms, grants, and crowdfunding. Learn more.
NOT A REQUIREMENT. Implement urban land use changes, including a network of urban hubs and selective pedestrianization to further enhance the area’s economic and quality-of-life benefits.
TACTICS.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
1/10. Show and Communicate Stakeholder Value. Continuously demonstrate value to building owners, corporations, residents, and the city. Clear communication builds trust and ensures long-term support.
2/10. Organize by Industry Zones. Build the cluster around 11 industries identified by McKinsey, with $12T in potential revenue by 2030. These industries anchor the trade mart and events. See industries.
3/10. Decouple for Continuity. Run sub-initiatives—events, content, trade mart, virtual, and DOOH—on independent tracks. This keeps progress steady, even if one area faces delays.
4/10. Build with Strategic Events. Use roundtables and trade shows to spark dialogue, unite stakeholders, and drive climate solutions. See events.
5/10. Use Virtual Platforms. Virtual spaces—apps and the metaverse—cut costs, boost visibility, and attract new stakeholders. They promote events, enhance the showroom, and strengthen the cluster. See virtual.
6/10. Repurpose Office Space. Use 1M sq. ft. for showrooms and 1.5M for supporting offices from FiDi’s 12M sq. ft. of vacant space. Create modern trade marts showcasing innovative solutions. Learn more.
7/10. Establish a Test Showroom. Launch an early showroom to demonstrate the cluster’s potential. Showcase solutions, build excitement, and attract key stakeholders. Prove the model and refine operations.
8/10. Develop Urban Hubs. These hubs manage micro-cargo, transit, waste, and sanitation, cutting GHG emissions and enhancing functionality. Boosts the cluster’s competitiveness. Learn more.
9/10. Leverage Urban Assets. Use alleyways, vacant retail spaces, plazas, FDR land, parking lots, and facilities like Winter Garden for events. See details.
10/10. Partner for DOOH Visibility. Combine traditional and digital out-of-home media to promote initiatives. Use QR codes to drive app interaction and engagement. See strategy.
↑ Pedestrianized William Street, between Pine and Liberty Streets.
A Bold Response To An Urgent Crisis
The time for bold action is now.
Global ecosystems are unraveling. The tundra releases greenhouse gases. Arctic fires rage. Sea ice vanishes. The AMOC slows, threatening global weather. The Great Barrier Reef teeters on collapse.
Cities are in crisis. Heat waves kill in Paris. Floods swamp Miami. Hurricanes wreck New Orleans. Rising seas displace millions in Jakarta and Dhaka. Wildfires devastate Sydney and Los Angeles. Air pollution suffocates Delhi. Water shortages paralyze Cape Town.
Global temperatures hit record highs. CO2 levels reach 427 ppm in 2024. The result? Heat. Floods. Food shortages. Mass migration. Inaction is not an option. NYC must lead with decisive, bold action.
Carbon Zero City is more than a climate initiative — it’s an economic revolution. Anchored by a trade mart, powered by events, and driven by collaboration, it will accelerate solutions and turn ideas into action. Humanity is only 10% of the way to combating this crisis. NYC can lead the charge and secure its place as a global climate leader.
Transform NYC’s economy. Carbon Zero City brings businesses, creates jobs, and fuels retail and restaurants. It revitalizes real estate with a 1.5–2.5x economic multiplier. Key impacts: $292.83M annual rent increases, $63M annual property taxes, 33,333 jobs in real estate, 3,800 jobs in tourism.
Elevate NYC’s global leadership. Carbon Zero City aligns with PlaNYC, OneNYC, and City of Yes to address climate and social challenges. From improving NYCHA housing to creating jobs for migrants, this initiative ensures equitable and sustainable growth.
Seize marquee opportunities. The 2026 FIFA World Cup and NYC’s 400th anniversary will amplify Carbon Zero City’s impact. These events will attract global attention, boost tourism, and drive investment, proving sustainability powers economic growth.
Turning FiDi into a carbon-zero cluster isn’t just ambitious — it’s essential for NYC’s future. Bold, integrated action is needed to merge environmental responsibility with economic resilience.
Now is the time to act. For NYC. For the planet.
