PlaNYC set out an ambitious goal to reduce citywide greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions 30 percent by 2030. To lead by example, New York City government pledged to cut GHG emissions from municipal sources at an accelerated pace, with a target to reduce emissions by 30 percent  below FY 2006 levels by 2017 (30x17).

Engaging Leaders in the Private and Institutional Sectors
The Mayor's Carbon Challenge invites leaders in the private and institutional sectors to match the 30X17 goal and voluntarily reduce their GHG emissions intensity per square foot or per person, by 30 percent over 10 years. 17 of the leading universities, the 11 largest hospital systems, and ten global corporations with significant office space in New York City have accepted the Mayor's Carbon Challenge. Together, these participants account for nearly 4 percent of citywide emissions, meaning that their efforts will translate to a 1.3 percent reduction in citywide emissions, assuming no change in baseline square feet. In addition, 40 Broadway theatres, as well as other off-Broadway and regional venues, have engaged in projects through the Broadway Green Alliance.

To learn more about the Mayor's Carbon Challenge, click on the section titles below:

The New York City Mayor's Carbon Challenge Progress Report
Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Universities
Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Hospitals
Progress of the Universities and Hospitals
Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Commercial Offices
Mayor's Carbon Challenge Partnership with Broadway Theatres
Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Residential Co-Ops and Condos 

The New York City Mayor's Carbon Challenge Progress Report

The Mayor's Carbon Challenge Progress Report details the progress of the universities and hospitals participating in the Mayor's Carbon Challenge. Universities have cut their emissions by 13 percent in five years, while hospitals have cut emissions by 6 percent in three years. In addition, five participants have already met the Challenge goal. The progress of the universities and hospitals demonstrate that motivating voluntary action can be a powerful way to achieve broader public policy goals. Building on their success, the City will now enhance existing partnerships and expand the Mayor's Carbon Challenge to new sectors.

Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Universities
Since its launch in 2007, 17 of New York City's leading universities have accepted the Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Universities, focusing on a variety of measures to reduce their energy use and convert to cleaner energy sources. Current participants include:

• Barnard College
• Berkeley College
• City University of New York
• Columbia University in the City of New York
• The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• Fordham University
• The New School
• New York School of Interior Design
• New York University
• Pace University
• Polytechnic Institute of New York University
• Pratt Institute
• The Rockefeller University
• School of Visual Arts
• St. John's University
• Weill Cornell Medical College

Mayor Bloomberg and University Officials Announce Commitment by Universities to Exceed PlaNYC Emissions Reductions Goal and Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions 30% by 2017
Mayor Bloomberg and University Officials Announce Four New Universities Joining PlaNYC Challenge to Reach Ambitious Goal of Reducing Carbon Dioxide Emissions 30 Percent in 10 Years

Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Hospitals
New York City's 11 largest hospital systems accepted the Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Hopsitals in 2009. Together, they make up more than 50 individual hospitals and dozens of clinics and outpatient centers. Current participants include:

• Continuum Health Partners
• Health and Hospitals Corporation
• Lutheran Medical Center
• Maimonides Medical Center
• Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center
• Montefiore Medical Center
• The Mount Sinai Medical Center
• New York Hospital Queens
• NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital
• North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System
• NYU Langone Medical Center

Deputy Mayor Linda Gibbs, HHC President Aviles and Sustainability Director Aggarwala Join Hospital Officials to Announce Acceptance of Mayoral Challenge to Reduce Carbon Dioxide Emissions 30 Percent in 10 Years

Progress of the Universities and Hospitals
Participating universities and hospitals have made significant progress toward their emissions reduction goals. Universities have cut their emissions per square foot by a total of 13 percent in five years. Hospitals have cut emissions per square foot by 6 percent in three years. In addition, ten of these participants have achieved reduction of 15 percent or more, and five have already met the Mayor's Carbon Challenge goal: Barnard College, the Fashion Institute of Technology, New York University, The Rockefeller University, and New York Hospital Queens.

Learn how these five early achievers reached the Mayor's Carbon Challenge goal:

• Barnard College
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• New York University
• The Rockefeller University
• New York Hospital Queens

For more information about the progress of universities and hospitals, read the Mayor's Carbon Challenge Progress Report

Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Commercial Offices
Building on the success of the universities and hospitals, in April of 2013 Mayor Bloomberg announced that ten global corporations with significant office space in New York City will join universities and hospitals in the Mayor's Carbon Challenge. Commercial buildings account for 21 percent of New York City's emissions, and energy use in interior offices and leased spaces account for between 40 and 60 percent of end use in a typical commercial office building. These ten corporations will focus on energy efficiency in their interior office spaces and leased spaces through innovative strategies such as IT efficiency, plug load reductions, space layout optimization, and lighting upgrades. Current participants include:

• American International Group
• BlackRock
• Bloomberg LP
• Credit Suisse
• Deutsche Bank
• Google
• Goldman Sachs
• JetBlue
• JP Morgan Chase
• PVH Corp.

Mayor's Carbon Challenge Partnership with Broadway Theatres
Mayor Bloomberg announced the launch of the Broadway Green Alliance (BGA), initially called Broadway Goes Green, in 2008. With the leadership of six committees, the BGA is working to educate and inspire environmental action among theatre professionals and audiences. Using data collected from facility directors, stage managers and BGA "Green Captains," BGA has been establishing benchmarks for greener theatrical practices in theater productions. Now, the City is working with the Broadway Green Alliance to begin measuring energy use in 40 individual Broadway theatres and create an appropriate emissions reduction goal for theatres.

Mayor's Carbon Challenge to Residential Co-ops and Condos
The City also plans to launch the Mayor's Carbon Challenge to residential cooperatives and condominiums, expanding the program to include some of the city's largest residential buildings and their property management firms. The residential sector accounts for 37 percent of New York City's emissions. Co-ops and condos in the city represent just 1 percent of these buildings, but because they are so large, they make up more than 17 percent of the residential square footage. A fragmented decision-making process has been a barrier to energy efficiency in co-ops and condos in the past, but the ownership structure of these buildings also means that reducing energy use will generate cost-savings that result in direct paybacks to unit owners, making these buildings ripe for energy and financial savings through energy efficiency.