Yonkers lays out plan toward net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 

City officials say they want a cleaner community with reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They spent a year researching ways to make that happen.

Jade Nash and Bob Doda

Jun 13, 2023, 10:00 PM

Updated 481 days ago

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Yonkers released its first Climate Action Plan – a 158-page document detailing how the city will act to secure a path toward zero carbon emissions by 2050.
City officials say they want a cleaner community with reduced energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. They spent a year researching ways to make that happen.
"We assembled a coalition of community members living in these high-risk areas and they contributed all their input to make sure that equity was a part of this plan and that we focus on addressing these issues in our most vulnerable communities first and foremost," said Brigitte Griswold, the executive director of Groundwork Hudson Valley.
With this plan in mind, officials say they hope to improve the community's quality of life and foster a more natural environment.
It's a fight that Mayor Mike Spano wants all to join in on, adding that the city has already started to do its part.
"We've already reduced our municipal energy use by 26%,” he said. “We've reduced all consumption here by 15%, and in April, we announced the expansion of electric vehicles charging stations with 90 new stations."
The Climate Action Plan includes over 30 recommendations on how to achieve net-zero emissions.