Envisioning a Center for Climate Solutions
Dedicated to preparing New York City and cities around the world for climate change, the Center for Climate Solutions will create a singular physical hub committed to researching and demonstrating urban climate solutions, and advancing education, training, and workforce development opportunities for New Yorkers in climate and environmental fields.
On Governors Island, the project will support the research, development and demonstration of equitable climate solutions for New York City — that can be scaled and applied globally — by:
- Expanding opportunities for the research and development of solutions for resilient and healthy urban neighborhoods to ready New York City, and cities around the world, for climate change.
- Attracting and growing high quality green jobs for New Yorkers with a diverse range of backgrounds through a range of educational and training opportunities.
- Creating space for New Yorkers to learn from, engage with, and play a central role in climate advocacy and action.
The Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island was announced as a key part of Mayor Eric Adams’ “Rebuild, Renew, Reinvent: A Blueprint for NYC’s Economic Recovery,” and includes the following components:
A new platform for research, partnerships, and programs to amplify climate action, announced in June 2023. Initiatives announced include an annual climate solutions challenge open to nonprofit organizations, entrepreneurs, and start-ups; the launch of climate field trip programs; and an interim community convening space on the Island. Click here to learn more.
Led by Stony Brook University, the New York Climate Exchange consortium will function as a hub for education and training to grow green jobs for New Yorkers and includes 15 members representing leading universities from around the world, as well as business and nonprofit organizations dedicated to developing and deploying solutions to the global climate crisis. Click here to learn more.
Climate Center Advisory Committee
This group of experts from climate science, policy, environmental justice, philanthropy, and business will advise on the city’s efforts to create a Center for Climate Solutions on Governors Island and will provide input on prospective academic and research partners’ proposals to a selection committee made up of City and Trust officials. Members include:
- Eddie Bautista, Executive Director, NYC-EJA
- Dana Bourland, Senior Vice President, Environment and Strategic Initiatives, The JPB Foundation
- Christian Braneon, Climate Scientist, NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies
- Marco Carrión, Executive Director, El Puente
- Mark Chambers, Senior Director for Building Emissions and Community Resilience, White House Council on Environmental Quality, Executive Office of President Joseph R. Biden, Former Director of Sustainability, City of New York
- Dr. Luz Claudio, Professor of Environmental Medicine and Chief of the Division of International Health, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai
- Cheryl Cohen Effron, Senior Advisor, Tishman Speyer
- Adam Freed, Principal, Sustainability, Bloomberg Associates
- Arturo Garcia Costas, Program Officer, The New York Community Trust
- Chante Harris, Director, Climate Investment and Partnerships, Venture for ClimateTech, Second Muse
- Kyle Kimball, Vice President, Government Relations, ConEdison
- Michael Northrop, Program Director, Sustainable Development, Rockefeller Brothers Fund
- Michael Oppenheimer, Albert G. Milbank Professor of Geosciences and International Affairs, Princeton University
- Henk Ovink, Special Envoy for International Water Affairs, Kingdom of the Netherlands
- Julie Tighe, President, New York League of Conservation Voters