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INVENT CITY.
MISSION: Expand and accelerate the global adoption of city-ready climate solutions.
OBJECTIVES:
Drive forward the deployment of scalable, urban responses to the climate crisis in cities worldwide.
Boost NYC’s economy through investment and adaptive reuse—generating economic growth, tax revenue, and high-growth jobs.
STRATEGY
Temperature
The urgency is rising—putting millions at risk. CO2 passed 430ppm in the spring of 2025. Global climate efforts like Kyoto and Paris have fallen short. The U.S. walked out.
1.1. THE COSTS — Rising CO2, heat, and sea levels are hitting cities hard. Flooding wrecks infrastructure. Heat stress strains transit and grids. Air pollution and heatwaves overwhelm healthcare. Diseases spread. Property damage, displacement, business loss, and insurance pullout all rise. Energy, water, and waste systems are stretched thin.
1.2. THE OPPORTUNITY — The crisis is also a massive opportunity. Demand is booming for clean transportation, renewables, and efficient buildings. Fast-growing markets include smart infrastructure, green materials, and climate-friendly food. Carbon markets and resilience finance are scaling fast. Early movers—governments, firms, investors—can lead and win the carbon-zero future.
Temperature
May 2025 was the 2nd-warmest May on record, averaging 1.4 °C above pre-industrial levels. At least 21 of the past 22 months topped the 1.5 °C mark, signaling deepening climate risks. Source.
Sea Level
NYC sea levels have risen 12 inches since 1900 and could rise another 14–19 inches by 2050, reaching up to 50 inches by 2100. This threatens major flooding without resilient coastal defenses. Source.
URBAN POPULATION — Cities are rapidly becoming the planet’s dominant habitat. In 1950, just 30% of the world lived in urban areas. Today, it’s over 55%. By 2100, that number is projected to surpass 80–90%, driven by migration, economic opportunity, and population growth—especially in Africa and Asia. This shift makes cities the front line for climate, equity, and innovation.
CITIES IN 2018
In 2018, the world’s largest cities were dominated by long-established urban giants. Tokyo, Delhi and Shanghai, along with New York and Mumbai, defined the global urban order—centers of population, power, and economy.
CITIES IN 2100
By 2100, the world’s largest cities will look radically different. Rapid urbanization in the Global South is expected to reshape the map. Lagos, Kinshasa and Dar es Salaam will replace legacy megacities. The center of gravity is shifting to Africa and parts of Asia—where population growth, urban migration, and infrastructure gaps define the next century.
3.3. STARTING WITH NYC , FIDI IS THE IDEAL LOCATION FOR AN URBAN, INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER — Massive Market, Global Economic Power, Gateway for Innovation, Density and Diversity, Buyer Concentration, Diverse Population, Institutional Depth, Public & Private Support, and Available Real Estate make NYC the ultimate launchpad for urban climate solutions.
3.4. USE WHAT EXISTS — FiDi holds massive untapped potential. Vacant offices—over 12M sf, especially east of Broadway—can become showrooms and hubs, sparking the economy with minimal carbon. Vacant retail—with 24% of storefronts empty—can host pop-ups and sustainability shops to revive street life. Vacant land like Fulton or Maiden Lane can stage exhibits and climate events. Public spaces—from plazas to mini-parks—can become vibrant event venues. POPS offer ideal exhibit zones with built-in foot traffic. Other opportunities include space under the FDR, tax lots, mixed-use centers, leftover COVID sheds, and college campuses—all ready to be reactivated for climate innovation.
| SUPPLY | Inventory | Vacant |
|---|---|---|
| Finance West | 6,211,658 sf | 2,103,351 sf |
| Insurance | 12,587,451 sf | 4,678,003 sf |
| World Trade | 24,144,411 sf | 4,814,215 sf |
| Finance East | 29,924,952 sf | 7,966,073 sf |
| Totals | 72,868,472 sf | 19,561,642 sf |
| DEMAND | Area Needed |
|---|---|
| Carbon Zero Direct | 1,000,000 sf |
| Carbon Zero Indirect | 2,000,000 sf |
| Totals | 3,000,000 sf |
3.5. ESTABLISH OPERATIONAL BACKBONE — Invent City achieves its greatest impact through urban hubs and selective pedestrianization. These hubs optimize logistics, transit, waste, and sanitation, boosting sustainability and infrastructure. NYC’s Department of Transportation is rolling out cargo hubs, setting the stage for robust networks to support events like a micro urban world’s fair.
5.2. TRADE MARTS WORLDWIDE — Invent.City reimagines the global trade mart—turning NYC into a live, year-round launchpad for urban climate solutions. Companies gain nonstop exposure, global buyers, and real-world pilots. Governments tap a powerful platform to boost exports, attract investment, and lead the net-zero economy.
Complementary content and channels can extend the Trade Mart’s impact well beyond its walls. Expand worldwide. Operate 24/7. Deepen relationships with prospects.
(click on diagrams to enlarge)
7. Benefits from Invent City
Drive climate impact, attract capital, grow NYC’s economy, boost tourism, and lift real estate through targeted, green innovation.
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.
| Key City Benefits |
|---|
| Accelerate climate tech deployment |
| Elevate NYC’s climate leadership |
| Fuel growth through innovation |
| Strengthen resilience with nature-based design |
| Engage the public with real-world demos |
| Advance low-carbon urban models |
| Specific Benefits |
|---|
| Drive sales with direct buyer access |
| Form strategic partnerships quickly |
| Access cutting-edge innovation |
| Achieve global brand exposure |
| Engage targeted, high-value customers |
| Unlock new market opportunities |
| Establish thought leadership |
CROSSING THE CHASM
Many climate solutions stall because they can’t cross the chasm. Great ideas in clean tech and urban systems often lack capital, visibility, or trust. A major intention of Invent.City is to establish platforms to demonstrate these innovations can turn early promise into mainstream impact.
| Specific Benefits |
|---|
| Create jobs across diverse industries |
| Reignite property, sales, and tourism taxes |
| Activate vacant office spaces |
| Boost high-value business tourism |
| Attract capital, startups, and investors |
| Drive clean energy and infrastructure growth |
| Tourism-Specific Benefits |
|---|
| Boost hotel occupancy rates |
| Drive business travel and events |
| Increase restaurant and retail spending |
| Revitalize cultural and transit activity |
| Attract international visitors and delegations |
| Strengthen NYC’s global brand as a business hub |
| Specific Benefits |
|---|
| Fill vacant offices with purpose-driven tenants |
| Increase lease demand and strengthen rents |
| Boost tax revenue through rising valuations |
| Attract investment into a revitalized district |
| Support street-level retail and public life |
TRADE MARTS AND NYC'S REAL ESTATE— Two clear advantages, first is that the trademart has much of the same impact as retail, but with fewer visitors. Second, showroom space will likely drive demand for additional office space for support offices. Chelsea Harbour in London uses about 1.5sf additional office demand for every 1sf of showroom demand.
