BROOKLYN, NY – Last week, Brooklyn Borough Hall filled with local, national, and global leaders in business, climate, and government for a Sustainable Cities Summit in honor of 2024 Climate Week NYC. The day-long affair featured presentations and panels on everything from freight solutions and congestion pricing to net-zero schools and low-carbon construction. Panelists included elected officials Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso, State Senator Liz Krueger, and Council Member Alexa Avilés, as well as representatives from the White House Climate Policy Office, Seattle Department of Transportation, and New York City Department of Transportation. Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso co-hosted the event alongside Sidara brands TYLin, Introba, Perkins&Will, and Currie & Brown; and Climate Group.
“Becoming a sustainable city isn’t a choice nor should it be a luxury – it’s both an imperative and a responsibility,” said Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso. “Every year, we see the dangers of the climate crisis up close in New York City. Whether it’s flooded streets and homes or skies orange with smoke, we cannot wait to safeguard our neighborhoods against the harms of an unhealthy, damaged environment. I’m so grateful to Sidara, TYLin, Introba, Perkins&Will, and Currie & Brown for putting together this urgent and important summit. A big thank you to our panelists as well, who brought wide-ranging expertise to Borough Hall to help our city on the way to a greener future.”
“As a group of companies, we have a long history of climate action here in New York. The city has been at the forefront of change generations so it’s fitting that we should be discussing solutions to the greatest challenge our world has ever faced here in the heart of the city,” said Michael Shamma, New York Metro Executive, TYLin. “With only 9,000 days left until our world needs to achieve net zero, we don’t have the luxury of time. So, finding the solutions that are actionable, scalable and have the greatest impact for the city and all who live and visit here will be the sole focus of our discussions.”
“I was excited to join our fellow Sidara brands at the Sustainable Cities Summit to discuss one of the most pressing issues of our time—how to transform climate goals into concrete actions, and how to make true progress,” said Pia Engel-Moss, Principal, Sustainability, Introba. “Whether at the government, corporate, or NGO level, the pathway to decarbonization is full of opportunities to make a lasting impact, and I look forward to exploring how we can turn ambition into real progress.”
“We are thrilled to have co-hosted the Sustainable Cities Summit with our Sidara collaborative, building and strengthening the partnerships that will create real and lasting change,” said Mark Wartenberg, Sustainability Advisor, Currie & Brown. “Data centers are increasingly critical to our digital infrastructure, yet the sustainability questions surrounding their future remain largely unanswered. We understand how important it is to have these conversations center stage at key events like NYC Climate Week, challenging the industry to consider the significant yet practical shifts required to build a truly sustainable future.”
“The climate impact of the built environment—whether it’s an office tower, a school building, a civic center, a multi-family residential development, or a transit hub—cannot be understated. It’s massive,” said Jason F. McLennan, Chief Sustainability Officer for global architecture and design firm Perkins&Will. “Beyond mere ‘sustainability,’ the time is now to be taking bolder action toward ‘regeneration’: We must be thinking, planning, designing, and building our cities in ways that actually heal our natural ecosystems. This isn’t hyperbole; the urgency is 100% real, and the outcome is 100% achievable. That’s why conversations at events like NYC Climate Week are so important—to inform, inspire, and scale up our efforts, together.”
Panels and presentations featured at the Sustainable Cities Summit included:
Panel: Delivering Change: Accelerating Sustainable Freight Solutions in Urban Environment
Moderator: Catherine Ittner, Senior Program Manager, Zero-Emissions Freight Program, C40 Cities
Panelists:
- Himanshu Raj, Global Head of Climate and Mobility, IKEA
- Alycia Gilde, Senior Director for Transportation, Climate Policy Office, The White House
- Alexa Avilés, Council Member, District 38, New York City Council
- Catherine Ponte, Senior Freight Planner, NYC Department of Transportation
Panel: Navigating the Road Ahead: The Future of Congestion Pricing in New York City
Moderator: Mike Flynn, New York General Manager, City Solutions, TYLin
Panelists:
- Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso
- New York State Senator Liz Krueger
- Kate Slevin, Executive Vice President, Regional Plan Association
- Betsy Plum, Executive Director, Riders Alliance
Panel: The Road to Net Zero: Tackling Emissions from Citywide Planning to Building Design
Moderator: Michael A. Shamma, New York Metro Executive, Senior Vice President, TYLin
Panelists:
- Ben Rosenblatt, Principal Planner, Climate Advisor, Seattle Department of Transportation
- Kate Sargent, National Practice Leader-Sustainability, City Solutions, TYLin
- Jeremy Field, Associate, Sustainability, Introba
- Spencer Williams, AICP, Assoc. AIA, Director of Land Use and Topography, Office of the Brooklyn Borough President
Presentation: From Commitments to Action: Sustainability Solutions for Large Building Stocks
Presented by Introba
Presentation: Reducing the Whole Life Carbon of Data Centers by Adapting the Use of Existing Buildings
Presented by Currie & Brown and Introba
Presentation Net Zero Energy Schools: Designing K-12 Schools That Address Our Climate Challenges Presented by Perkins&Will
Presentation: Going with the Grain: Forestry, Mass Timber and the Future of Low-Carbon Construction
Presented by TYLin
