New
York, one of the largest cities in the world, has had both environmental
successes and failures due to its high population density. The dense population
and infrastructure limits the usage of automobiles and, as a result, increase
the usage of public transportation. In fact, the city’s inhabitants facilitate
the highest mass transit use in the United States. The city houses 2.7% of the
nation’s population but only accounts for 1% of the greenhouse gas pollution. It
is also one of the most energy-efficient cities in the United States, despite
its massive population. For a city with more than 8 million people, New York
has a relatively small footprint.
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| Smog in New York City |
Unfortunately,
even though New York’s environmental footprint is small compared to its
population, the city still has a massive impact on the environment. The heavy
air pollution caused by traffic has made Manhattan a county with third highest
cancer risk in America. In addition, ozone and particle pollution is heavy from
the smog. Finally, the enormous population has led to garbage disposal
problems. However, the city government is fully aware of these problems and
they have acted quickly in order to curb any further environmental damage. For
example, New York now operates the largest hybrid-fueled bus fleet in the
nation and plans for a biodiesel plant in Brooklyn has been announced. I hope
to see the city government continue to work tirelessly to solve the
environmental issues of the city.
