To what extent does New York City need to adapt to climate change?

AP Seminar

March 2022

Word Count: 2081

cultural, economic, and political hub of both the United States of America and even the world

(United States Census Bureau). However, the metropolis falls under the threat of an unlikely

enemy, climate change. Climate change is a detrimental phenomenon that poses significant

challenges to New York City and the world. With its coastal location, large population, and

valuable infrastructure, New York City is particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate

change, such as sea-level rise, extreme weather events, severe flooding, and heat waves which

pose significant risks to the city's infrastructure, economy, and residents. Climate change

affecting New York City has already been seen through Hurricane Sandy. The hurricane, one of

the most economically destructive storms in American history costing the city an estimated $19

billion, had devastating effects on New York City’s buildings, infrastructure, and residents.

According to the Climate Program Office, the research department of the National Oceanic and

Atmospheric Administration, researchers “confirmed the widespread notion that the flood

impacts of Hurricane Sandy were worse because of anthropogenic-induced sea level rise” (CPO).

Hurricane Sandy highlights the importance of investing in new climate change measures. As a

result, the city must come together to invest heavily in adaptation measures to mitigate the

effects of climate change and ensure the safety and well-being of its residents. Without

significant action, the effects of climate change will only become more severe, making it a

crucial issue for the city's future. Fortunately, New York City has established itself as a

prominent leader in global urban sustainability (NYC.gov). The metropolis has sunk billions into

measures set on adapting to the climate crisis. However, investing in climate change adaptations

for the city has significant drawbacks. Adapting to climate change in New York City has been

incredibly expensive, uncertain, and may have equity and resource allocation concerns. It
remains important to address these potential drawbacks while investing in climate adaptation

measures. This brings us to the question, to what extent should New York City continue adapting

to climate change?

When viewing the situation at hand through the futuristic lens, the effects of global

warming on New York City will have intricate and wide-ranging consequences across multiple

sectors and groups of individuals, posing threats to public health, economic stability, and social

equity in the decades to come. One of the most pressing impacts of climate change is the risk of

coastal flooding and storm surges. New York City's extensive coastline and low-lying areas put it

at high risk of these hazards. According to the National Research Council, rising sea levels,

driven by warming oceans and melting ice sheets, are projected to increase the frequency and

intensity of these events, causing damage to homes, businesses, and critical infrastructure such as

transportation hubs and water treatment plants (NRC). Another major impact of climate change

is the increased frequency and severity of extreme heat events. According to the New York State

Department of Environmental Conservation, these events are projected to become more frequent

and intense, leading to public health risks such as heat exhaustion, heatstroke, and respiratory

illness (NYSDEC). In addition to public health risks, extreme heat events can also lead to power

outages, transportation disruptions, and economic losses. According to the National Resources

Defense Council, climate change is also projected to increase precipitation and the frequency of

flooding (NRDC). This poses a threat to public health by increasing the risk of waterborne

diseases and can also damage critical infrastructure such as roads, bridges, and power lines.

According to the New York City Panel on Climate Change, low-income communities, which are

often located in areas with poor drainage and inadequate stormwater management, are

particularly vulnerable to these impacts (Strauss et al). To address these and other impacts of
climate change, New York City must continue to invest heavily in adaptation measures to create

a more resilient and sustainable urban environment that is better equipped to handle the impacts

of climate change. Additionally, the city must focus on social equity when developing adaptation

strategies. Vulnerable communities, such as low-income residents and communities of color, are

often the most impacted by the effects of climate change. Addressing these impacts requires not

only investing in infrastructure and public health initiatives but also engaging with these

communities to ensure that their needs and perspectives are represented in adaptation planning.

By adapting and investing in both hard and soft infrastructure and prioritizing social equity the

city must build a more resilient and sustainable future for all its residents.

Looking through an economic lens, investing to adapt to climate change in the near future

yields positive financial benefits to the city and its residents but is also incredibly pricey in the

short-run. Projects and initiatives range from the hundreds of thousands all the way up to the

billions according to the NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (Mayor’s

Office of Climate & Environmental Justice). Investing in climate change adaptation measures

can be costly, and some argue that the funds would be better spent on other pressing issues.

However, it is important to consider the long-term economic advantages of investing in climate

change adaptation. Government and private firm investment in adaptation measures will create a

significant number of new jobs and greatly stimulate regional economic growth. According to a

report by the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, a government-recognized

non-profit organization, investments in green infrastructure and transportation will create more

than 40,000 new jobs and bring $4 billion in economic benefits by 2030 (Kellerman).

Furthermore, investing in adaptation measures could lead to savings in the long term, as the costs

of climate-related disasters can be much higher than the cost of prevention measures. Investing
to a great extent into climate change could drastically encourage economic growth in the city.

However, a common argument against climate change adaptation is that investing in adaptation

measures may only serve to protect the interests of the wealthy while leaving marginalized

communities vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. This argument is supported by

research by environmental professors Paul Mohai, David Pellow, and J. Timmons Roberts who

show in their report that low-income and minority communities are more likely to be exposed to

environmental hazards and have less access to resources for adaptation (Mohai et al). However,

this is not a reason to avoid investing in adaptation measures altogether. Instead, it highlights the

need to prioritize the needs of marginalized communities in planning and implementing

adaptation measures. While the short-term costs of climate change adaptation may seem

daunting, the long-term economic and environmental benefits are significant. Investing in

adaptation measures can create jobs, stimulate economic growth, and potentially save money in

the long run. However, it is also important to consider the potential impact on marginalized

communities and ensure that they are not left behind in the planning and implementation process.

When looking at the issue through the social lens, we can see that climate change has

significant effects on the less fortunate in the city. As previously mentioned, low-income and

minority communities fall disproportionately under the effects of climate change within the city.

With public health risks increasing rapidly as New York City’s climate becomes warmer, heat

cramps, strokes, and exhaustion become a looming threat. According to Kenny Bock and Sonal

Jessel, environmental and social justice activists at the Columbia Climate School, extreme heat is

the number one weather-related killer in the United States and New York City with an average of

130 New Yorkers dying from heat-related causes each year (Bock & Jessel). Due to the urban

heat island effect, wherein metropolitan surroundings experience greater surface and air
temperatures than rural and suburban regions, inhabitants in places like New York City are

particularly at high risk of experiencing negative health effects during extreme heat events.

Low-income communities and communities of color, which often lack access to green spaces

and air conditioning, are particularly vulnerable to these effects. Black New Yorkers, who make

up just 25% of the population yet account for 50% of heat-related deaths in NYC between 2000

and 2012, are disproportionately affected by the city's extreme heat (Bock & Jessel). The

disproportionate impact of heat-related deaths on Black New Yorkers highlights the urgent need

for investment in climate change infrastructure in New York City. It shows that climate change is

not just an abstract concept, but a pressing issue that has real and devastating consequences for

vulnerable communities. Investing in climate change infrastructure, such as expanding green

spaces, improving public transportation, and increasing access to cooling centers, can help

mitigate the impacts of extreme heat on vulnerable communities like Black New Yorkers. The

staggering number of heat-related deaths in New York City, coupled with the disproportionate

impact on low-income communities and communities of color, highlights the urgent need for

investment in climate change measures. New York City has a responsibility to protect its

residents, especially those who are most vulnerable, and investing in climate change measures is

an essential step toward achieving this goal.

New York City should continue to invest heavily to continue to adapt to climate change.

The future of the planet continues to be heading into a downward spiral and New York City must

be prepared to face the consequences of mankind in the form of adapting to the onslaught of

climate change. The city will face sea-level rise, extreme weather events, and heat waves in the

coming decades. Though it is an economic risk to some extent, it is one that the city should

continue to make as it not only equips the city for climate change but provides economic benefit
in the long run in the form of jobs. The growing threat of climate change also significantly

impacts low-income communities and regions of the city. With certain prevention investments,

these low-income individuals will no longer have to suffer from the consequences of climate

change as they do now. New York City is at the forefront of the fight against climate change, and

it must take bold action to prepare for its impacts. To be ready, the city should make significant

investments in several key areas. First, it must invest in its infrastructure, including its transit

systems, buildings, and green spaces, to make them more resilient to extreme weather events,

such as flooding and heat waves. This could include the installation of green roofs, the

development of green streetscapes, and the creation of more parks and green spaces, which

would help to absorb excess rainfall and reduce the urban heat island effect. Second, the city

should invest in renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power, to reduce its carbon

footprint and increase its energy independence. This could involve the construction of new solar

and wind farms, the installation of solar panels on public buildings and homes, and the

development of community solar projects. Third, the city should invest in its coastal protection

measures, including the construction of seawalls, the restoration of wetlands, and the creation of

artificial reefs, to protect against rising sea levels and storm surges. Finally, the city should invest

in public education and outreach campaigns to raise awareness of the dangers of climate change

and encourage individuals and businesses to take action to reduce their carbon footprint. These

investments would help to make New York City more resilient to the impacts of climate change,

reduce its carbon emissions, and create new green jobs, while also improving the quality of life

for its residents. New York is a leader in adapting to climate change and should also share its

techniques with the rest of the world. An excerpt from the article “Urban evolution: How species

adapt to survive in cities” by Eric Bender reads, “Cities are kind of the key for understanding
responses to global climate change,” says Sarah Diamond, an evolutionary ecologist at Case

Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, “You can step through time. You can say, ‘This

city is giving you the global climate warming that we would expect by 2050 or 2070 or 2100.’

(Bender)” The excerpt illustrates how the findings and techniques that New York City will use to

adapt to climate change can positively impact both the metropolis and the world. The very

survival of New York City hangs in the balance as the threat of climate change looms larger than

ever, demanding urgent and substantial investment in adaptation measures.

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