Rohit Aggarwala, Chief Climate Officer of New York City, discusses climate change, transportation, city infrastructure, and real estate’s role in building a sustainable future.

With the built environment being responsible for 40% of global climate emissions, Leading Voices is now in our fourth year of dedicating both August episodes to the real estate industry’s role in helping build a more sustainable future. While many of the episodes in this climate series have focused on how owners and operators can best approach this challenge and clean up their carbon footprint, this episode is place-based.

Rohit “Rit,” highlights the tension between feeling the ticking clock and rushing toward a solution and the importance of choosing the “right” solution. In addition to being the Chief Climate Officer, Rit is also the  Commissioner of the NYC Department of Environmental Protection and a long-term leader and expert in the field. In the conversation, we cover the broad range of climate and sustainability-related concurrent topics that have to be addressed in our country’s largest city. From building codes and NY local law 97, to stormwater management and sea level rise, Rit offers a fascinating look at what it means to be in this fight on the ground level in New York as well as approaches being taken in the largest cities across the globe.

This topic is so critical to our future as an industry, and the world as a whole. I hope you are inspired by Rit’s commitment and vision for bringing sustainable solutions to life.

Resources:

• Rohit Aggarwala | LinkedIn

Related Episodes:

• Caroline Johns | Director of Sustainability, Pembroke
• Brad Dockser | CEO & CoFounder of GreenGen

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