Environment in New York – Wikipedia

Given the economic power, area and population of the city of New York, ecological questions are at the heart of the municipal policies of the American metropolis. Like the other big cities in the world, the Environment in New York is marked by problems of pollution, waste management and water. Through its weight and influence, it plays an important role in the country’s environmental policies and the planet.

New York hosts a fauna and a flora which, over the decades, have gradually adapted to this artificial environment and first attracted highly adaptable species, especially those introduced by humans – such as sparrows, starlings or Pigeons -, often from Europe. Without direct competition, they have multiplied there, sometimes creating new problems for man himself.

Biodiversity is present in the heart of the city: thus, the Van Cortlandt Park is home to a more important number of butterflies than all of Great Britain ^{[ first ]} . New York has more than 350 species of birds, 170 of fish, 30 mammals, 32 reptiles and amphibians ^{[ 2 ]} . Snow geese and various species of ducks spend winter in the New York region ^{[ 3 ]} . Rare species can also be observed such as the Maubèche crush and the whistling rain ^{[ 3 ]} . L’Étourneau Sansonnet, the overmulot, the dogwood, the biset pigeon and the pilgrim falcon ^{[ 3 ]} (which regulates the populations of pigeons, starlings and sparrows) are among the species present in New York.

3,000 plant species have been listed in New York by Brooklyn botanical garden teams ^{[ 4 ]} . The most common trees are oak, virginia tulip tree and elm ^{[ 4 ]} .

The Hudson river and wetlands [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

Located at the Husson’s alive water meeting point and savory in New York Bay, the port, although it has become one of the most active in the world, remains populated by many species. Local aquatic fauna rubs shoulders with seasonal marine fauna; Some migratory fish (bars, sturgeons) will spawn further upstream on the Hudson. Paradoxically, many species are common here: pollution has preserved them from any capture for mass consumption. Crabs, lobsters and shrimps live on the bottom, while the pilgrim falcon is one of the many species of birds present in the bay. The uninhabited islands of the port of New York are the refuge of egrets, herons and ibis ^{[ 5 ]} .

The Atricille seagull, the four-eyed papillon fish, the blue crab, the American eel, the striped bar, the alose of America, the seagulls and gulls are among the species present in New York.

In Central Park [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

The main green space in Manhattan: Central Park

With its 341 hectares of greenery ^{[ 6 ]} , Central Park represents the largest green space in Manhattan. Its natural aspect is the result of an important landscaping: the park contains several artificial lakes (the most important of which, The Reservoir extends over 0.43 km ² ), pedestrian paths, two ice skating tracks, a wildlife protection area and lawns to practice sports and outdoor games.

Central Park has one of the last American elm plantations in the northeast of the United States. There are 1,700, protected by their isolation of graphiosis disease, caused by a parasitic fungus which has ravaged most American elms since 1928. The park has been hosting a total of 250,000 trees and bushes and bushes ^{[ 6 ]} .

Central Park is the starting point for the invasion of starlings, which have spread throughout North America. It is estimated that one in four individuals in the United States have its origin at Central Park. In 2002, a new species of centuries of central-miles were discovered in the park. This animal, an arthropod, measures a little more than a centimeter long, which makes it one of the smallest in its category. We called him ” Nannarrup hoofmani (In honor of his discoverer), he lives in decomposing foliage and feeds on the organic debris which accumulate under the trees.
The urban park welcomes 270 species of birds and 14 species of mammals (rabbits, marmots, squirrels, rats washer …). It is located on the Atlantic road of migratory birds that stop there. In the morning, in Turtle Pond, you can see silver herons and around 80,000 fish evolve in the Harlem Meer ^{[ 7 ]} .

Environmental problems [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

New York sewer networks are regularly overwhelmed by heavy rains.

Summer heat waves are so extreme that in 2019, the public electricity service cut the current to more than 50,000 customers ^{[ 8 ]} .

The risk of submersion and tidal wave is very high and will increase due to climate change. The city is not immune to large winter storms, even cyclones: in 2012, Hurricane Sandy, killed at least 44 New Yorkers and damaged or destroyed nearly 70,000 houses ^{[ 8 ]} . The metro tunnels were filled with the rise of waters which paralyzed the transport network of the Big Apple. Whole sectors such as Rockaways, CONEY ISLAND and the districts of Staten Island could be overwhelmed in the future ^{[ 8 ]} .

Sustainable development actors [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

In recent years, the municipality has initiated an environmental policy, the main actor of which is the Department of Environmental Protection . The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority is an actor in sustainable development policies. Non -profit organizations have been created in recent years: the Urban Green Council (2002) or the Urban Land Institute act for energy efficiency.

THE Environmental associations Also put pressure on improving the quality of the urban environment. Several pressure groups have their seat in New York: the Natural Resources Defense Council or the Environment Defense Fund for example.

Like other major American cities such as Portland or San Francisco, some residents Average classes are sensitive to environmental issues. These frequent farmers’ markets which have developed since the 1970s when the municipality undertook to develop the markets selling local products. Today there are some 45 of these markets in New York. More than one hundred New York restaurants get their supplies in these markets. The best known is that of Union Square.

Sustainable development policies [ modifier | Modifier and code ]

The municipality has signed the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement (“Agreement of the United States may on climate protection”), aimed at achieving or exceeding GHG reduction objectives set by the Kyoto protocol. The law requires the development of bicycle parks in the city parking lots. New York also supports the law Massachusetts v. Environmental Protection Agency which requires EPA to regulate the emission of GHGs.
In the spring of 2007, Mayor Michael Bloomberg promised a 30% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 2030 in his city. He decided to implement an energy renovation policy for skyscrapers, planting a million trees and establishing a toll for vehicles penetrating in Manhattan ^{[ 9 ]} .

In 2019, the municipality of New York adopted ambitious climate legislation: the Climate Mobilization Act of New York provides 40% of energy consumption reduction by 2030 ^{[ 8 ]} . This regulation provides in particular to impose a ceiling for emissions from the large buildings of the metropolis ^{[ 8 ]} . The Empire State Building was renovated in 2010 to strengthen the energy efficiency of the New York skyscraper. The renovation cost $ 31.1 million but made it later to save $ 4 million a year on the electricity bill. Electricity consumption of the State Building Empire has dropped by more than 40%.

Hybrid taxis in a street in New York.

Air pollution is responsible for the development of respiratory diseases among New Yorkers ^{[ ten ]} . Atmospheric pollution depends on the districts: thus, the inhabitants of Manhattan are the most exposed to the risk of developing cancer due to poor air quality ^{[ 11 ]} . Acid rains are a problem that we find throughout the northeast of the country ^{[ twelfth ]} .

Strong population densities in New York represent both an asset and a danger. They promote the massive use of public transport. Combined with the low concentration of heavy industries, this explains that a New Yorker produces an average of 7.1 tonnes of greenhouse gases per year, a number very below the national average (24.5 tonnes per year and per inhabitant) ^{[ 13 ]} . New York represents 1% of GHG emissions from the United States while she is home to 2.7% of the American population ^{[ 13 ]} .

While the majority of Americans take their car to go to their workplace, New Yorkers mainly use public transport ^{[ 14 ]} . According to the 2000 census, New York is the only American city where more than half of the inhabitants do not have an automobile ^{[ 14 ]} .

The elections of the municipality focused on clean public transport equipment ^{[ 15 ]} .
More than 2000 hybrid taxis circulated in New York in 2009, more than in any other city in North America ^{[ 16 ] , [ 17 ]}

Average residential average electricity consumption by city (2000-2005), measured in kilowatts-hour per capita ^{[ 18 ]} .

On average, a New Yorker consumes half less electricity than an resident of Chicago ^{[ 19 ]} .

The city of New York has replaced tens of thousands of signaling fires and lamps for public lighting deemed to be less energy -consuming. Regarding the HLM managed by the New York City Housing Authority, the efforts relate in particular to the installation of refrigerators who consume less energy. A law forced the municipality to acquire vehicles and office equipment complying with environmental standards ^{[ 20 ]} .
The electric current used by around twenty public buildings, including the statue of Liberty and Ellis Island, is produced by wind turbines ^{[ 21 ]} .

7 World Trade Center, a skyscraper that meets the eco-construction standards.

From 2000, New York State established a tax exemption policy for eco -constructions. The municipality devotes an increasingly high part of its budget to energy efficiency. It is a question of developing renovation or construction plans of buildings to Leed standards: in New York the local Law 86/2005 implements this policy. Private groups also participate in the reduction of GHGs: the Hearst Tower completed in 2006, is an example of green building ^{[ 22 ]} . The 7 World Trade Center Graat Center recycles rainwater and uses it for the toilet. Heating and lighting are computer controlled. THE United States Green Building Council that 3000 new hatched apartments have been built since 2001 in New York.

The building of Newtown Creek Wastewater Treatment Plant for water treatment, in the New York City Department of Environmental Protection . October 2017.

New York needs large amounts of water each day: 1.4 billion gallons or 5.3 billion liters ^{[ 23 ]} . The drinking water consumed by New Yorkers depends on the Catskill mountains watershed ^{[ 24 ]} . This water is pure sufficiently so that it requires no treatment in treatment plants ^{[ 25 ] , [ 26 ]} . However, New York groundwater should be treated with chlorine, fluoride, phosphoric acid and sometimes with sodium hydroxide.

The New York water supply system is based on 19 tanks located in the mountains inside ^{[ 23 ]} . Some are some 200 km of the metropolis. This water is transported by the aqueducts of Croton and the Catskill system . Despite New York’s demographic growth, the city consumes 28% less water in the mid -2000s compared to 1979, thanks to the repair of leaks on the distribution network.

The waters of the Hudson and New York Bay are undergoing significant urban pollution. Newtown Creek was polluted for decades by oil releases. The Greenpoint district is still in depollution and the Exxonmobil firm is prosecuted. Mercury and PCBs present in water have consequences on human health and health ^{[ 23 ]} .

In 2001, the mayor Rudolph Giuliani closed the Fresh Kills discharge in the district of Staten Island. Most New York waste was then transported by trucks in neighboring states. In 2006, Mayor Michael Bloomberg brought a new policy for the routing of garbage by Barges or by trains. But New York reserves many other surprises on this subject, you can visit the “Faunes” section.