Dear New Yorkers,  

Three weeks ago, orange skies and a toxic haze across New York City highlighted the urgency of preparing our city to mitigate the harm of future climate disasters. We put on masks again, stayed inside, and many of us learned what “AQI” means.

Our skies may be clear again today, but air quality remains a critical health concern for many New Yorkers – and it will only continue so in the future.

That’s why the Office of the Comptroller published new air, water, and land quality maps on its NYC Climate Dashboard today.

These new maps provide a barometer on the quality of our air, water, and land here in the five boroughs. Take some time to find your neighborhood and scroll around!

Importantly, these maps also show that the hazards of polluted air, water, and land are not equally distributed. Low-income communities of color already experience greater health and safety impacts of environmental injustice. We must be clear-eyed about ongoing environmental harms to build a more just and resilient New York City in the face of more widespread wildfires and storms.

I hope that the NYC Climate Dashboard is a valuable tool for every day New Yorkers to hold the City accountable to its climate goals to mitigate the threats of climate crisis, advance a just transition to renewable energy and a green economy, and build a city that is prepared to withstand rising seas and temperatures.

Thanks,

Brad