↑ 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).
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CO₂ Levels
CO₂ Levels
Reach Record Highs
CO2 heats the atmosphere by trapping heat. When sunlight reaches Earth, the planet absorbs it and emits infrared radiation (heat). CO2 absorbs this heat and re-radiates it back, preventing it from escaping into space. This "greenhouse effect" warms the atmosphere, contributing to global warming.
Source: NOAA, Mauna Loa
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Rising Temperatures
Rising Temperatures
Break Records
Global temperatures keep rising, driving extreme weather, melting ice caps, and rising seas. The consequences threaten food security, economies, and public health, with urgent action needed to avoid further damage.
Source: Columbia University
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Sea Levels
Sea Levels
Are Rising Fast
Global sea levels have risen 9 inches since 1980, threatening coastal cities with floods and storm surges. With millions at risk, urgent adaptation and resilience plans are crucial for urban areas.
NOAA, NASA
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.
STRATEGY:
Focus on economics
Focus on the costs of, and the potential economic opportunity from responding to the crisis. The carbon-zero economy has the potential to surpass $12.3 trillion in annual sales by 2030.
LARGER THAN GDPS
The carbon-zero economy dwarfs many national and state GDPs (source: various).
DIVERSE
The carbon-zero economy spans the industrial spectrum (source McKinsey).
GDP V COST
The cost of inaction drives the value proposition (source: Potsdam Institute).
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Massive Opportunity
The carbon zero economy is rapidly outpacing many national GDPs, driven by massive investments in renewable energy, electric vehicles, and green infrastructure. In 2022 alone, global spending on clean energy topped US$1.4 trillion—almost as much as the GDP of Australia. As nations prioritize sustainability, the carbon zero economy is becoming a dominant force, not just environmentally, but economically, offering growth opportunities that rival and surpass entire countries.
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Industry Spectrum
The carbon zero movement spans a wide range of industries, from energy and transportation to construction, manufacturing, and technology. Renewable energy, electric vehicles, green buildings, and sustainable agriculture are all driving the shift. Every major sector is evolving to meet carbon-neutral goals, making carbon zero the defining growth area for industries looking to innovate, reduce costs, and capture new markets.
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Cost of Inaction
The cost of the climate crisis is skyrocketing, now surpassing the GDPs of many nations. In 2023 alone, global economic losses from climate-related disasters exceeded $300 billion, more than the entire GDP of Finland. With rising sea levels, extreme weather, and escalating environmental damage, the financial toll is climbing rapidly, making inaction far more expensive than investing in sustainable solutions. According to Swiss Re's Sigma Report, these losses have reached record highs.
Establish a carbon-zero economic cluster, a network of businesses, suppliers, and institutions driving carbon-zero solutions. A cluster is based on the carbon zero economy. More...
The Carbon Zero Cluster is Based on a Widely Proven Urban Economic Concept.
Create many ways for sellers to connect with buyers. Showcases, exhibits, and events for businesses, government, academia, and the public worldwide.
Be the marketing front end for climate-oriented incubators worldwide. Hundreds of incubators are worldwide but at present lack the marketing engine.
Part of the Carbon Zero market will be incubators from around the world.
Establish an urban, carbon zero trade mart where businesses, suppliers, and innovators can showcase products and solutions, and where buyers, investors, and government entities can explore them. Complementing the mart will be trade shows. More...
Focus on deployment. This means enabling critical products and services to cross the chasm, partnering with top AE firms, the UN, and NGOs.
Crossing the Chasm
Create robust and diverse revenue streams to cover up front and operational costs. Examples include program, exhibit and naming right sponsors, OOH/DOOH, as well as virtual sources (app, metaverse). More on revenues...
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)
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High Vacancy Means Options for Showrooms
Vacant office spaces offer significant flexibility for use as showrooms, allowing companies to showcase their products in dynamic, adaptable environments. This approach not only optimizes unused real estate but also drives demand for related office space, creating a synergy between exhibitions and business operations. Similar to London's Design Centre Chelsea Harbour, these showrooms will become a hub for innovation, attracting industry leaders and generating economic growth.
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Carbon Zero Projects Demand for 2 Million Square Feet
With such an oversupply of uncompetitive vacant space, Carbon Zero expects to have extensive flexibity with establishing showrooms and other uses.
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...
↑ 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.
↑ 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.
