The New York Embodied Carbon Action Plan serves as a collaboratively developed suite of policy recommendations put forward by the architectural, engineering, and construction industry for the State of New York’s consideration. This Action Plan is the result of an industry-led initiative by the New York Embodied Carbon Working Group: a coalition of practitioners and subject matter experts with a deep technical understanding of the built environment and the current gaps in decarbonization policy.
Developed over the course of a year, these recommendations are designed to provide decision-makers with a practical roadmap to reduce embodied carbon across the built environment. The Working Group’s subject matter experts have volunteered their time to ensure these strategies are high-impact and grounded in the practicalities of design, procurement, and construction. By leveraging the collective expertise of those responsible for building and maintaining assets across New York, this plan offers a technical foundation to achieve the State’s ambitious climate goals, foster innovation, and build healthier, more resilient communities. The Working Group sincerely acknowledges the contributions of the many individuals involved. Their participation reflects their personal and professional expertise, along with a shared commitment to industry leadership; it does not necessarily represent the official positions of their respective organizations or the State of New York.
Authors
Bria Donohue – American Institute of Architects New York Chapter (AIANY)
Lauren Alger – American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Committee on Sustainability; STV
Mikhail Haramati – Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC)
Peter Bacas – Eastern Research Group (ERG)
Christina X. Brown – KPF, AIANY COTE Policy Subcommittee
Aurora Jensen – Carbon Leadership Forum (CLF)
JJ Beasley – Walter P Moore, CLF NYC Hub
Luna Oiwa – RECLAIM NYC
Contributors
Shawn Wood – U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
Felix Heisel – Circular Construction Lab, Cornell University
Dan Piselli – FXCollaborative
Dharma Santos-Santiago – NRDC
Ariel Brenner – New Building Institute
Matthew P. Adams – New Jersey Institute of Technology
Meghan Timmons – STV, CLF NYC Hub
Jeremy Shiman – WRNS Studio, CLF NYC Hub
Hailey Goodale
Melissa Targett
Vishakha Ruhela – WXY
Rimjhim Singh – Walter P. Moore, Circular Construction Lab, Cornell University
Valerie Vines – ERG
Scott Farbman
Kate Aglitsky – MTA
Carlos Cerezo Davila – KPF
Meghan Lewis – CLF
Brad Guy – Material Reuse
Christina Theodoridi – NRDC
Tristan Grant – New Building Institute
Kelly Tigera – Orbit
Gretchen Worth – Susan Christopherson Center for Community Planning
Alison Kinn Bennett
Ankita Nalavade
Miriam Voss
Rob Daurio – WXY
Taylor Linnell – BuiltCold
Lara Kaufman – Studio Gang, CLF NY
Christopher Sidwa – Urban Mining Industries
Technical Feedback
We are grateful for the technical feedback provided by individuals at these entities:
KPF
New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC)
Office of New York State Senator Brian Kavanagh
WXY
Carbon Leadership Forum
New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA)
KPFF