Flooded NYSE

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

THE CLIMATE CRISIS IS CODE RED

Global ecosystems are in crisis. The carbon-trapping tundra, once a sink, has become a greenhouse gas emitter, Arctic fires rage hotter and longer, and plummeting sea ice levels drive record-high surface air temperatures. The Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), a critical ocean current, is slowing, threatening global weather patterns. Meanwhile, the Great Barrier Reef faces existential threats from warming and acidification, imperiling its biodiversity.

Cities are feeling the impacts: heat waves strain grids and claim lives in Paris, floods inundate Miami, hurricanes cripple New Orleans, and rising seas displace millions in Jakarta and Dhaka. Delhi and Beijing grapple with toxic air, Cape Town and Phoenix confront water shortages, and extreme weather disrupts supply chains from Houston to Shenzhen. Urban heat islands intensify emissions in Tokyo, while wildfires devastate communities near Sydney and Los Angeles.

Much is already being baked in.

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

(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.
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.
Clusters worldwide

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.
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.
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.
Flooded NYSE

TACTICS.
MAKING IT HAPPEN

economy cluster city
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.
101 Greenwich

↑ 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.

william street
Roadmap

Problem

Mission

Objectives

Strategy

  • FiDi as Center
  • Quantify Costs + Benefits
  • Target $12.3 Trillion Economy
  • Cities
  • Carbon Zero Cluster
  • Trade Mart
  • Events
  • Incubators
  • Deployment
  • Regional
  • App / Virtual
  • PPP
  • Revenue Strategy
  • Urban Hubs
  • Pedestrianized Streets

Tactics

  • Vacant Office
  • Demonstrate Value
  • Other Assets (besides offices)
  • OOH/DOOH
  • Events for Momentum
  • Catalyst/Roundtables

Closing