Aerial

INVENT CITY.

An economic initiative to accelerate the marketing and deployment of scalable, city-ready climate solutions.

WORSENING CONDITIONS
Atmospheric CO2
Rising Temperatures
Rising Seas

OBJECTIVES:

Counter the escalating urban impacts of the climate crisis by facilitating the marketing and deployment of critical solutions, asap.

Expand NYC’s economy by driving investment, filling office vacancies, and creating good jobs that boost long-term tax revenue and local prosperity.

The ultimate driver for climate action — Cities face surging costs across all sectors. The crisis is also creating extraordinary economic/invesgtment opportunities. The urban climate solutions market is massive—and growing fast — It’s a global market, driven by urgency (for some cities, existential), all compounded by a growing and shifting urban populations including the rise of megacities across the Global South.

RISING AND SHIFTING URBAN POPULATIONS
Population
Growth
Cities
2018
Cities
2100
COSTS, REVENUES, GDP COMPARISIONS
all economics

Clusters unite startups, corporates, researchers, and governments to ignite R&D, pilot breakthrough solutions, and fast-track innovations to market — They slash time to scale, spark synergies, fuel job growth, and thrive on concentrated talent, capital, and ideas. Clusters accelerate deployment and are proven engines of innovation and economic growth in cities around the world.

URBAN CLUSTERS WORLDWIDE

3. CONSTRUCT THE CLUSTER WITH THE INDUSTRIAL BUILDING BLOCKS OF A FUTURE CITY

FOCUS ON ECONOMICS CREATE A CLUSTER POPULATE INDUSTRIES OF FUTURE LOCATE IT IN FIDI ANCHOR WITH TRADE MART COMPLEMENT MART

These blocks span the spectrum of industry — Transportation innovations reduce emissions and congestion. Buildings become clean, efficient, and climate-adaptive. Power systems shift toward renewables and smart grids. Energy solutions expand beyond electricity to include clean fuels and heat networks. Water infrastructure must be resilient and efficient in the face of climate extremes. Consumer markets shift toward climate-aligned goods and circular systems. Waste becomes a resource through circular economy strategies. And AI connects and optimizes all of these systems—accelerating scale, equity, and efficiency.

Urban Transportation: $5–6 trillion — By 2050, zero-carbon systems that move people and goods—EVs, transit, freight—could generate trillions in revenue, driven by electrification, shared mobility, and sustainable infrastructure. Cities are shifting from private cars to electric buses, high-speed rail, bike lanes, and walkable streets—making transport faster, cleaner, and more connected for all.

Transportation Industry Segments
Electric & Hydrogen Vehicles — Replacing internal combustion with zero-emission vehicles. (~$2.5–3.5T/year)
Electrification of Public Transit — Greener buses, trains, and ferries for urban travel. (~$0.8–1.2T/year)
Biking & Pedestrian Infrastructure — Active mobility reduces car use and emissions. (~$0.3–0.6T/year)
Water-Based Transit — Electric ferries and hydrogen boats for clean waterways. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Smart Traffic Management — AI-driven systems reduce congestion and pollution. (~$0.2–0.4T/year)
Mobility Hubs & Shared Vehicles — Integration of EVs, transit, and micromobility. (~$0.5–0.8T/year)
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure — Storm-ready roads and transit protect access. (~$0.3–0.5T/year)
Greener Shipping & Last-Mile Delivery — Electrified logistics reduce delivery emissions. (~$0.4–0.7T/year)
Policy & Public Engagement — Incentives and regulation shift urban mobility behavior. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)

Urban Buildings: $4–5 trillion — By 2050, carbon-zero buildings could drive a multi-trillion-dollar market as cities embrace retrofits, electrification, smart design, and sustainable materials. Future buildings will be taller, smarter, and more efficient—using sensors, green roofs, recycled materials, and even robotic construction to cut emissions and improve quality of life.

Building Industry Segments
Deep Retrofits & Electrification — Modernizing existing buildings to cut emissions. (~$1.0–1.5T/year)
High-Efficiency New Construction — Sustainable building codes, materials, and methods. (~$0.7–1.0T/year)
Smart Building Systems — Sensors and software to optimize energy and comfort. (~$0.4–0.6T/year)
Green Roofs & Vertical Gardens — Nature-based cooling and air purification. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Advanced Materials & Prefab — Lower-carbon materials and faster construction. (~$0.5–0.7T/year)
Energy-Positive & Passive Buildings — Structures that generate or conserve energy. (~$0.3–0.5T/year)
Decarbonized Heating & Cooling — Heat pumps, district systems, and thermal storage. (~$0.4–0.6T/year)
Digital Twins & Predictive Maintenance — Real-time building management tools. (~$0.2–0.4T/year)

Urban Power Industry: $6–9 trillion — By 2050, the global urban power sector could generate trillions annually as cities transition to clean, distributed, and resilient systems. This includes solar, wind, microgrids, smart grids, and battery storage—making cities cleaner, more efficient, and better protected from outages and climate shocks.

Power Industry Segments
Renewable Generation (Urban Solar & Wind) — Local clean electricity from rooftops and turbines. (~$1.5–2.0T/year)
Microgrids & Energy Storage — Local grids and batteries that boost resilience. (~$1.2–1.6T/year)
Smart Grid Modernization — Data-driven, flexible electricity networks. (~$0.8–1.2T/year)
Grid Resilience & Hardening — Climate-proofing poles, wires, and substations. (~$0.5–0.9T/year)
Hydrogen & Alternative Fuels — Low-carbon fuel systems to power industry and backup. (~$0.6–1.0T/year)
Peer-to-Peer & Decentralized Trading — Enabling neighbors to share or sell electricity. (~$0.4–0.7T/year)

Urban Energy: $6–9 trillion — Cities are on the front lines of the clean energy transition. By 2050, zero-carbon energy for buildings, transport, and infrastructure could be a multi-trillion-dollar market. Cities will drive demand for distributed generation, battery storage, and clean grids as they electrify systems and phase out fossil fuels.

Energy Industry Segments
Solar & Wind Generation — Rooftop solar, urban wind, and utility-scale renewables. (~$2.5–3.5T/year)
Battery Storage & Microgrids — Local resilience and 24/7 clean energy. (~$1.0–1.5T/year)
Urban Geothermal & Heat Pumps — Clean heating and cooling for dense districts. (~$0.8–1.1T/year)
Energy Efficiency & Smart Buildings — Reducing demand through automation and retrofit. (~$0.7–1.0T/year)
Clean Grid Modernization — Grid upgrades, AI control, and decarbonized utilities. (~$0.5–0.8T/year)
Hydrogen & Advanced Fuels — Clean power for high-energy urban use cases. (~$0.4–0.6T/year)

Urban Water: $1.5–2.5 trillion — Clean, efficient, and resilient urban water systems will be critical as populations grow and climate stress increases. Opportunities include smart metering, leak detection, decentralized treatment, and nature-based infrastructure that absorbs and recycles stormwater. Cities will need new systems for both abundance and scarcity.

Water Industry Segments
Water Infrastructure Resilience — Pipes, pumps, plants built for climate extremes. (~$0.4–0.6T/year)
Leak Detection & Smart Monitoring — Preventing loss with real-time data. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Water Reuse & Recycling — Treating and reusing greywater. (~$0.3–0.4T/year)
Stormwater Management — Green infrastructure and flood control. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Decentralized Treatment Systems — Compact, distributed, and off-grid solutions. (~$0.2–0.4T/year)
Water Efficiency & Conservation — Technologies and behaviors that reduce use. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Advanced Purification & Desalination — Expanding urban water supply. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)

Urban Consumer Products: $1.0–1.3 trillion — By 2050, sustainable goods and packaging designed for carbon-conscious markets—like clothing, electronics, and appliances—could generate over a trillion dollars annually. Circularity, transparency, and shared-use models will redefine how cities buy, use, and reuse everyday products.

Consumer Product Segments
Low-Carbon Appliances — Energy-efficient products that use fewer resources. (~$0.3–0.4T/year)
Eco-Friendly Fashion & Textiles — Sustainable clothing and manufacturing. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Recyclable & Compostable Packaging — Replacing plastics with sustainable materials. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Refillable & Reusable Product Models — Cutting waste with refill stations and durable goods. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Transparency Platforms & Labels — Letting buyers trace a product's carbon and origin. (~$0.05–0.1T/year)
Urban Maker & Repair Economies — Supporting local reuse, repair, and upcycling. (~$0.05–0.1T/year)

Sewage & Wastewater: $1.0–1.3 trillion — By 2050, urban sewage and wastewater systems could become a $1.3 trillion annual market, driven by climate stress, population growth, and water scarcity. Future systems will recover resources, reuse water, and protect public health while making cities more resilient and sustainable.

Sewage & Wastewater Segments
Wastewater Treatment Innovation — Advanced technologies for cleaner discharge. (~$0.3–0.5T/year)
Water Reuse & Recycling — Treating wastewater for reuse in agriculture, industry, or non-potable urban use. (~$0.2–0.4T/year)
Sludge-to-Energy Conversion — Capturing biogas and nutrients. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Climate-Resilient Infrastructure — Systems that withstand floods and storms. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Decentralized Treatment Systems — Localized and modular solutions. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Pollution Monitoring & Control — Real-time tracking and compliance tools. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)

Urban Waste Industry (Garbage): $1.2–1.5 trillion — By 2050, waste systems could generate up to $1.5 trillion annually, driven by zero-waste policies, resource recovery, and energy conversion. Cities are turning trash into value through circular materials, landfill diversion, and clean energy from waste.

Waste Industry Segments
Advanced Sorting & Collection — Smart bins and automated facilities. (~$0.3–0.5T/year)
Waste-to-Energy Technologies — Converting waste into electricity or fuel. (~$0.2–0.4T/year)
Material Recovery & Circular Inputs — Extracting valuable resources for reuse. (~$0.3–0.4T/year)
Landfill Diversion Programs — Composting and anaerobic digestion. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Extended Producer Responsibility — Regulations on product lifecycle and return. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Public Education & Zero-Waste Campaigns — Changing urban consumption behaviors. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)

Urban Agriculture: $0.8–1.1 trillion — By 2050, urban food systems could generate over $1 trillion annually, driven by demand for local, low-carbon food. Cities will grow produce on rooftops, in vertical farms, and retrofitted buildings—using hydroponics and smart systems to boost access, cut emissions, and build resilience.

Agriculture Industry Segments
Vertical & Indoor Farming — High-yield food grown in compact spaces. (~$0.3–0.4T/year)
Hydroponics & Aquaponics — Soil-less systems with high efficiency. (~$0.2–0.3T/year)
Rooftop & Community Gardens — Local food with social benefits. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Food Waste Repurposing — Converting waste to fertilizer or feed. (~$0.05–0.1T/year)
Smart Farming & Monitoring — Data-driven urban crop systems. (~$0.1–0.2T/year)
Edible Infrastructure — Walls, fences, and buildings with integrated crops. (~$0.05–0.1T/year)
INDUSTRIES IN MART

industry chart

Industry Low High
Transportation — Electric and Hydrogen Vehicles, Electrification of Public Transit, Biking and Pedestrian Infrastructure, Water-Based Transit, Smart Traffic Management, Mobility Hubs/Shared Vehicles, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Greener Shipping/Last Mile Delivery 5t 6t
Buildings — Energy Efficient Design, Smart Building Tech, Renewables Integration, Low Carbon Materials, Climate Resilient Architecture, Vertical Green Spaces, Water Management Systems, Retrofitting, High Efficiency Equipment, Sustainable Design 4t 5t
Power (Generation & Grid) — Renewable Power, Grid Modernization and Smart Grids, Energy Storage, Decentralized Systems, Electrification, Resilience and Upgrades, Carbon Capture/Green Hydrogen, Decommissioning and Transition 6t 9t
Energy (End-Use Systems) — Building-Scale Solar and Renewables, Energy Management Platform, Efficiency Retrofits, Appliances and Electrified Devices, District Heating and Cooling, Smart Meters and Sensors, Energy-as-a-Service, Urban Industrial Energy Use Optimization 4t 6t
Water — Water Recycling, Storm and Rainwater Management, Desalination, Smart Water Systems, Decentralized Systems, Climate Resilient Infrastructure, Advanced Water Treatments, Leak Detection 1.2t 1.5t
Sewage & Wastewater — Municipal Wastewater Treatment, Decentralized Sanitation Systems, Greywater Recycling, Water-to-Energy, Nutrient and Resource Recovery, Climate Resilient Sewer Infrastructure, Smart Monitoring/Leak Detection, Industrial Wastewater Management, Fecal Sludge Management 1t 1.3t
Waste / Garbage — Zero-Waste Initiatives, Advanced Recycling, Organic Waste Management, Waste-to-Energy, Circular Economy + Material Recovery, Smart Waste Collection, Landfill Reduction, Plastic Waste Reduction, Sustainable Materials Management, Methane Capture, E-Waste Management, Material Reuse + Industrial Processing 1.2t 1.5t
Consumer Products — Sustainable Materials, Eco-Friendly + Zero-Waste Packaging, Circular + Reusable Products, Low-Carbon Manufacturing, Ethical Sourcing and Transparency, Plant-Based Biotech Products, Smart Home Technology, Consumer Education + Behavior, Sustainable Fashion 1t 1.3t
Urban Agriculture — Vertical + Rooftop Farming, Climate Resiliency + Efficiency, Local Food Hubs + Distribution, Innovative Growing Techniques, Rooftop and Indoor Garden, Policy and Land Access 0.8t 1.1t
Urban Digital Infrastructure — Area Connectivity, Edge Computing + Cloud Integration, Cybersecurity and Resilience, Platform Integration and Interoperability, Digital Equity Infrastructure, Secure Digital Identity + Access, ESG and Climate Monitoring Tech 2t 3t
Urban Digital Intelligence & Services — AI + Predictive Systems, Urban Data Platforms/Dashboards, Digital Twins, E-Government and Public Services, Digital Education + Workforce Tools, Public Engagement Platforms, Immersive Tech (AR/VR), Blockchaining and Urban Transactions 2t 3t
ENTIRE SECTOR 28.4t 39.7t

4. ESTABLISH THAT INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER IN NYC'S FINANCIAL DISTRICT (FIDI)

FOCUS ON ECONOMICS CREATE A CLUSTER POPULATE INDUSTRIES OF FUTURE LOCATE IT IN FIDI ANCHOR WITH TRADE MART COMPLEMENT MART
INFLUENTIAL CITIES
FiDi's Key Features
Transit
Accessible
Ample
Space
Known
Location
Model of
Resilience
Ferry
Overflow
Blue
Highway
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► More on venue

5. ANCHOR CLUSTER WITH A TRADE MART BASED ON THE URBAN BUILDING BLOCKS

FOCUS ON ECONOMICS CREATE A CLUSTER POPULATE INDUSTRIES OF FUTURE LOCATE IT IN FIDI ANCHOR WITH TRADE MART COMPLEMENT MART

Create a permanent marketplace — A trade mart is a centralized venue where businesses showcase products to buyers, investors, and distributors—driving B2B and B2G commerce, along with B2C opportunities, product launches, and industry visibility. Invent City is based on signficiant precedent.

FiDi's Key Features
Meet
Sell
Deploy
Start-ups
Incubators
Large Companies
Crossing
the Chasm
TRADE MARTS WORLDWIDE

Complement the Trade Mart with Trade Events, Podcasts and a Digital Platform — to enable deeper relationships, ongoing, and a global reach 24/7 reach.

COMPLEMENTING THE TRADE MART
(click on diagrams to enlarge)
landscape

7 BENEFITS FROM IMPLEMENTING THIS INITIATIVE

Drive environmental impact, attract global investment, grow the local economy, boost tourism, and raise real estate value through focused, climate-driven development.

Environmental & Economic Benefits — Invent City positions NYC as a global marketing powerhouse and dynamic accelerator for climate innovation. By showcasing practical, scalable solutions in a densely urbanized hub, Invent City enables faster adoption, enhances urban resilience, boosts economic growth, and promotes global replication. Cities worldwide, from fast-growing metros like Lagos and Dar es Salaam to established hubs, gain inspiration and pathways to sustainable, high-performance urban futures.

Accelerate deployment of urban climate tech
Create a model city
Drive growth of critical innovation
Share more urban climate solutions
Engage the public through real-world demos
Innovative approaches to urban waste

Benefits to Companies — Invent City will be a gateway to growth, providing high-visibility access to global buyers, investors, and policymakers. It will showcase smart infrastructure and climate solutions directly to decision-makers. Companies raised in global incubators gain instant traction—fast-tracking sales through live pilots, real-world demos, and direct exposure to eager buyers. Secure funding for growth, validate ideas, and accelerate market entry. Established companies will enhance brand leadership in growth areas of the global economy. Deepen customer engagement, driven revenue growth.

Direct access to buyers
Fast-track partnerships
Tap into breakthrough tech
Global brand exposure
Engage high-value customers
Unlock new markets
Position as a thought leader

General Economic Benefits for NYC — Invent City will convert millions of square feet of vacant office space into high-impact showrooms and event venues for climate and urban solutions—drawing startups, global divisions, and innovators from around the world, including those from top incubators (sample global incubators). Many will lease adjacent space, following models like Chelsea Harbour. This activity will transform FiDi into a thriving economic cluster, projected to support over 15,000 jobs across tech, design, marketing, finance, legal, and consulting. It will drive business back to Wall Street, attract high-value visitors, and revitalize sectors like hospitality, dining, culture, and transit. As momentum builds, so will returns: boosted occupancy, growing sales and hotel taxes, and surging demand could generate hundreds of millions in new annual tax revenue. It’s not just climate action—it’s an economic engine for resilience, inclusion, and global relevance.

Create jobs across sectors
Boost sales and tax revenue
Activate underused spaces
Drive high-value tourism
Attract startups and investors
Accelerate clean infrastructure
value chain

Tourism & Business Travel Impact — NYC welcomed 62.2M visitors in 2023, generating $48B+ in spending and supporting 254K+ jobs. Business travel alone hit 8.9M trips—highlighting NYC’s global draw for commerce. IC will amplify this, turning showrooms into destinations. By hosting global firms and flagship events, it will drive business travel, fill hotels, and fuel spending across food, retail, and transit.

Increase hotel occupancy
Attract business travel
Boost retail and dining
Activate culture and transit
Draw global delegations
Enhance NYC’s global brand

Real Estate Benefits for NYC — FiDi holds millions of square feet of underused office space—once a liability, now a launchpad. Invent City will transform these vacancies into high-impact showrooms, labs, and event venues, driving foot traffic, revenue, and relevance back to Lower Manhattan. This adaptive reuse strategy stabilizes commercial real estate values, lifts occupancy, and generates new income for landlords while increasing tax revenue for the city. More than a fix, it’s a future-proof model—proving how NYC can turn vacancy into vitality and reposition FiDi as a 24/7 innovation district at the forefront of global urban reinvention.

Fill vacant offices with mission-driven tenants
Increase lease demand and rents
Boost tax rolls via rising values
Draw capital to revitalize FiDi
Support vibrant street-level life
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