On Tuesday, the Port Authority of New Jersey and New York released its plan to reach net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050.
The plan, released in conjunction with Climate Week NYC, includes more than 40 actions designed to achieve near-term and long-term emission reduction goals. The plan paves the way for the agency to achieve its goal of net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, by working with tenants and contracts, and formalizes the commitments made by the Port Authority in 2021.
“New York isn’t just joining the climate change fight – we’re leading the charge on a global scale,” New York Gov. Kathy Hochul said. “I commend the Port Authority’s important commitment and visionary roadmap to reach net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. Together, we can be the catalyst inspiring cities, states, and nations to think bigger, act bolder, and spark monumental change to protect our people and the planet.”
Already, the agency has said it is on track to meet its interim goal of a 35 percent reduction in direct emissions by 2025, and a 50 percent overall reduction by 2030. To meet that goal, the agency has streamlined processes for using renewable energy and maximizing solar installation, including the installation of the largest solar rooftop installation at any U.S. airport; incorporating electric vehicles into its light duty non-emergency vehicle fleet; and making its buildings fossil fuel-free by 2050 by retrofitting Newark Liberty International Airport’s Building One to be fully decarbonized.
“The Port Authority’s bold net-zero goal represents one crucial element of New Jersey’s all-of-government approach to comprehensive climate action,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said. “Through its sustainability strategy and alignment with New Jersey’s vision for a clean energy future, the Port Authority will continue to help advance the Garden State’s pursuit of a 100 percent clean-energy economy by 2035. This determined pursuit is especially urgent to safeguard our environmental justice communities from the intensifying impacts of the climate crisis.”
The net-zero roadmap includes dozens of initiatives including designing and upgrading bus terminals to fully support zero-emission operations and electric bus fleets; expanding and improving transit, bicycle and pedestrian access to facilities; expanding solar energy installations and clean energy purchases; and requiring low-carbon concrete mixes in all future construction projects, among other things.