↑ Invent City includes a proposed micro, urban World's Fair, launched with a tall ships event.
CITIES ARE THE DRIVERS OF THE FUTURE
Cities are on the frontlines of the climate crisis.
THE HEAT IS ACCELERATING
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Crossing 450 ppm could lock in irreversible climate feedback loops—raising risks for every city on Earth.
THE HEAT IS ACCELERATING
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Deadly heatwaves, droughts, and disasters are escalating. The climate is shifting faster than cities can adapt.
SEA LEVELS THREATEN CITIES
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Coastal cities face mounting risks. Infrastructure, drinking water, and millions of lives are in the balance.
UN via Politico
(Click the graphics to enlarge)
MISSION:
TRANSFORM FIDI INTO A MARKETING POWERHOUSE FOR URBAN, CLIMATE INNOVATION
OBJECTIVES
> Accelerate deployment urban climate solutions globally
> Drive breakthroughs to go from niche to mainstream
> Increase demand for FiDi’s ~30% vacant offices
> Turn climate action into a powerful economic engine
> Boost city tax revenue amid potential federal cuts
5 POINT
STRATEGY
1/5. Lead with ECONOMICS — the Strongest Driver — Emphasize the high cost of inadequte action, and the significant economic and investment upside of persuing climate solutions. Focus on market forces that are driving the long term market. Convey the economic implications to all stakeholders.
COST V GDP
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Climate inaction could cut global GDP by 37% by 2100. Cities are already paying: $19B from Hurricane Sandy, $40B for Jakarta’s Great Garuda, $4B/year for Miami by 2050, and Cape Town’s $1B Day Zero crisis.
Source: UCL
INDUSTRIES
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy will far exceed NYC’s $2T GDP. Invent City positions NYC to capture this surge and turn climate action into economic growth.
POPULATION
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Urban growth, especially in developing regions, is driving climate pressure—and opportunity. Invent City will partner with the UN to showcase scalable solutions for fast-growing markets.
(click on the maps to enlarge)
2/5. Build an Urban, Carbon Zero INDUSTRIAL CLUSTER — Like Napa for wine, Wall Street for finance, and Boston for biotech, clusters thrive by concentrating businesses, suppliers, and institutions around a shared focus. A climate innovation cluster in FiDi would target key urban systems—transport, buildings, energy, waste, water—focused on both mitigation and adaptation. Supporting sectors like finance, AE, and legal will drive deployment at scale.
3/5. Anchor the Cluster with a TRADE MART, TRADE EVENTS, and a VIRTUAL PRESENCE — The Trade Mart will showcase global carbon-zero solutions and connect businesses, investors, and policymakers in one dynamic hub. Trade events—expos, competitions, roundtables—will bring the Mart to life, driving deal-making and collaboration. A digital nervous system—metaverse, VR, AR, and a dedicated app—will extend access and engagement 24/7.
TRADE MART
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The $12.3T carbon-zero economy will dwarf NYC’s $2T economy. Invent 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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Invent City will feature industry-specific showrooms, organized into zones. These zones can overlap, like transportation near Fulton Center, leveraging its subway and PATH connections.
(click on the maps to enlarge)
4/5. Locate the cluster and trade mart in the FINANCIAL DISTRIC (FiDi) — FiDi with 13 subway lines, 30 bus routes, 18 ferries, the Downtown Shuttle, and 35 CitiBike stations offers unmatched accessibility, is a node on the blue highway, is surrouned by the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliencey project. and a blue highway node, global recognition, and abundant vacant office space of approximately 30%.
ACCESSIBLE
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FiDi is one of North America’s most transit-connected neighborhoods—13 subway lines, 30 bus routes, 18 ferries, a Downtown Shuttle, and 35 CitiBike stations link it to every major NYC hub and airports.
AMPLE SPACE
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FiDi’s high vacancy rate offers ready-to-use office space ideal for Carbon Zero showrooms, exhibits, and events. Source: Cushman & Wakefield, Q3 2024.
KNOWN
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FiDi is a historic icon—home to Wall Street, the NYSE, and key milestones like George Washington’s inauguration and Edison’s first electrified district.
RESILIENCY MODEL
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FiDi is leading urban resiliency with the Lower Manhattan Coastal Resiliency Project—building floodwalls, storm barriers, and climate-proof infrastructure.
OVERFLOW POTENTIAL
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FiDi’s ferry network links to Liberty State Park, Governors Island, and Brooklyn hubs—boosting capacity for major events and high-traffic days.
BLUE HIGHWAY
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As part of NYC’s Blue Highway, FiDi supports low-impact cargo transport via water and small land vehicles—cutting congestion and infrastructure costs. See hubs.
(click on the maps to enlarge)
To strengthen FiDi’s operational backbone, Invent City proposes a network of urban hubs. This network would support selective pedestrianization—unlocking significant economic and investment value for the district.
5/5. Implement a Robust Revenue Strategy — Build long-term brand partnerships through program sponsorships. Offer exhibit and event sponsorships for focused visibility. Provide naming rights for exclusive branding opportunities. Engage community support through contributions from residents, businesses, and advocates. Monetize the app with ads and DOOH integration to drive digital and real-world engagement.
TACTICS.
MAKING IT HAPPEN
1/11. Identify a pilot location — To prove feasibility, surface issues, collect data, build support, and de-risk scaling.
2/11. 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.
3/11. Identify specific areas in FiDi for specific 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.
4/11. 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.
5/11. Build with Strategic Events — Use roundtables and trade shows to spark dialogue, unite stakeholders, and drive climate solutions. See events.
6/11. 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.
7/11. 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.
8/11. 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.
9/11. Develop a pilot Urban Hub — Urban Hubs willmanage micro-cargo, transit, waste, and sanitation, cutting GHG emissions and enhancing functionality. Boosts the cluster’s competitiveness. Learn more.
10/11. Leverage Urban Assets — Use alleyways, vacant retail spaces, plazas, FDR land, parking lots, and facilities like Winter Garden for events. See details.
11/11. 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. 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.
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.
Invent 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. Invent 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.
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.
Roadmap
- 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
- Vacant Office
- Demonstrate Value
- Other Assets (besides offices)
- OOH/DOOH
- Events for Momentum
- Catalyst/Roundtables
MORE INFO
About
Investment
Economic Development
