New York City Council Passes Legislation to Reduce Emissions from Buildings

The Constantinids bill is a little less ambitious. It would require all buildings of 25,000 square feet or more to meet the new standards. It's about the size of an independent grocery store or a small, large-scale retail store.

The law would apply to more than 50,000 of the city's 1,000 buildings, which account for about 30 percent of the city's greenhouse gas emissions. Globally, buildings emit about two-thirds of the pollution that warms the planet, caused by the Big Apple.

This would allow some buildings – those that do not meet the new standards but work better than other structures – to come into compliance later in the 10-year window. It also relaxes the requirements for stabilized rent buildings to avoid financial hardship for low-wage New Yorkers.

The bill enjoys broad political support in New York. Thirty-eight of the city's 51 council members sponsored the bill, which was finally passed by 45 votes to 2. Mayor Bill de Blasio said he will sign the bill.

"As the Trump administration intensifies its attacks on the protection of the environment, our cities and states take a leadership role. New York City takes critical action against climate change by adopting bold legislation, "said Donna De Costanzo, director of Natural Resources Defense Program on Climate and Clean Energy in the Eastern Region of the Council.