Climate Week has officially begun in New York City, with the 2024 theme emphasizing the pressing need for change. Last year, the world surpassed the critical threshold of a 1.5°C rise in annual average temperature. This alarming milestone was accompanied by an increase in natural disasters, including heat waves, rising sea temperatures, floods, and wildfires. As these changes accelerate, the urgency for drastic action and a positive environmental impact has never been more critical.

As global climate leaders convene to discuss strategies for progress, we at HIGHMARK continue to push forward in our mission to reduce carbon emissions in the greater NYC area—a commitment we’ve upheld since 2013. In 2022, New York City recorded 53.65 million tons of CO2e emissions, with 66.30% (35.57 million tons) originating from stationary energy. Although stationary energy emissions have decreased by 22.0% (from 45.63M tons CO2e) since 2005, only 47% of all benchmarked buildings currently achieve an Energy Star Score of A or B.