Discover New York : The green city

New York is one of a number of major American cities that have decided, whatever the cost, to contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, with the aim of cutting them by 80% by 2050 compared to 2005 levels. It has to be said that the city's geographical location makes it vulnerable to climate disruption. In 2012, Hurricane Sandy killed 44 people and caused $19 billion in damage. The city is prone to increasingly frequent flooding - among the most recent, the 2021 flood killed 13 people in New York - and has had to invest in the construction of a wall and a movable dam, in Manhattan, to protect itself from rising waters. However, thanks to its extensive public transport system, the carbon footprint per New Yorker is lower than that of other major U.S. cities. But population density and urbanization pose a real challenge to meeting these green targets.

The megalopolis in the test of the climate

New York is committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, as is the state of the same name. This involves a massive plan to reduce the energy consumption of buildings, the supply of green electricity and the use of less polluting vehicles by the municipality. But as with most Western metropolises, New York is struggling to cope with its infernal car traffic. In some parts of Manhattan, the average speed of cars is 7.5 km/h. After being repeatedly postponed, the congestion charging system for motorists heading into Manhattan was introduced in January 2025 to relieve the area's congestion. Motorists must now pay US$9 to enter lower Manhattan during the day. According to analyses published in June 2025, this measure has led to a significant reduction in traffic (up to 70,000 fewer vehicles per day) and up to 20% faster movement of city buses. The profits generated are to be used to improve New York's subway system, which has a punctuality rate of only 65% on weekdays. To be continued...

The number of journeys made by bicycle has tripled since the early 2000s. There are currently 2,000 kilometers of bike lanes in New York, 772 km of which are physically separated from cars. The public bike-sharing network, Citi Bike, is expanding rapidly, with the aim of reaching a fleet of 40,000 vehicles installed in all five boroughs in the next few years. However, after a series of fatal accidents involving cyclists in 2019, the mayor's office had to announce a new safety plan, and new facilities are gradually being built throughout the city.

A rich urban wildlife

There are 121 square kilometers of green space in New York City, representing 14% of the city's total area, spread over 1,942 parks and gardens. There are over 3,000 species of plants in the city. The Brooklyn Botanical Garden is one of the most diverse plant areas in the city. This 21-acre park is home to beautiful Japanese cherry trees and rose gardens. The largest park, Central Park, of 337 hectares, offers beautiful lawns, but also rare species, such as the last large stand of American elm. The park is also popular with birdwatchers for its peregrine falcons(Falco peregrinus), which nest in the buildings along the park. Guided tours of the flora and fauna are organized regularly. Visit the Central Park website to learn more. The population of certain animals such as deer is closely monitored. It is recommended not to feed them. The same goes for the coyotes that can sometimes be seen in the Bronx.

New park projects

Despite this rich biodiversity, pollution is not without its effects. The city has lost around 24 orchid species since 1990, due to soil degradation. The creation of new islands of greenery is therefore more than welcome. The now-inescapable High Line Park, built on former railroad tracks, the disused southern section of the West Side Line in the Manhattan district, is a fine example of conversion. These hanging gardens, inspired by the coulée verte in Paris, are an ideal place to stroll or relax. Also in Meatpacking, the Little Island and Gansevoort Peninsula public parks, inaugurated in 2021 and 2023 respectively, bring a little greenery and freshness to this previously industrial district. Another interesting conversion project: the huge former Fresh Kills landfill, which was once home to the debris of 9/11, is being transformed into a park. The site, parts of which are already accessible, will eventually be three times the size of Central Park.

The Manhattan Waterfront Greenway is a 51-kilometer bicycle and pedestrian path around the island of Manhattan. More or less developed in places, the Greenway comprises three main sections: the Hudson River Greenway, the most pleasant section, the East River Greenway, some sections of which are currently being developed, and the Harlem Greenway, which is also due to undergo some work.

Responsible eating

As in other major U.S. cities, residents are increasingly sensitive to environmental issues. This is reflected in the number of farmer's markets where you can buy local produce. Today, there are around fifty of them, the best-known of which isUnion Square. The second-largest farmer's market is held every Sunday in Grand Army Plaza. It's also possible to buy produce directly from the farm, at Eagle Street Rooftop Farm, a farm located on a building in Brooklyn. The most widespread organic supermarket chain is Whole Foods. There are many vegetarian restaurants, of all kinds (Asian, fast-food, Italian...) and in most restaurants there is usually at least one vegetarian option.

Zero Waste" objective

Former mayor Bill de Blasio's "Zero Waste" plan to reduce landfill waste by 90% is far from being achieved by the end of his term, although his successor Eric Adams has set a target of 2030. Experimentation with organic waste collection, in particular, is faltering. The use of the brown garbage cans provided in some buildings is struggling to become a habit. At the same time, as part of the "NYC Compost Project", composters have been installed in various parks, along with awareness-raising workshops on the subject. These include the Brooklyn Botanic Garden, the New York Botanic Garden in the Bronx, the Queens Botanic Garden and the Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanic Garden on Staten Island. The city encourages people to buy second-hand and to reduce the use of plastic, especially packaging.