Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice Will Consolidate and Incorporate Four City Agencies
New York City Mayor Eric Adams today announced the appointments of his climate leadership team that will focus on environmental protection and environmental justice across New York City. Mayor Adams appointed Rohit T. Aggarwala as chief climate officer and commissioner of the New York City Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Vincent Sapienza as chief operations officer of DEP, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the new Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice (MOCEJ) — which consolidates multiple city agencies into one. Mayor Adams highlighted these accomplished environmentalists’ proven track record of promoting cleaner air, advancing climate resiliency, and protecting New Yorkers.
“It is evident to anyone who opens their eyes that we are in the midst of a climate crisis in this city and around the world, so it’s time to think outside the box and determine how we can handle the crisis before it's too late,” said Mayor Adams. “This past year alone, we have experienced extreme weather anomalies and rising sea levels, which have endangered New Yorkers’ lives, their homes, and their livelihoods. The remnants of these different calamities are still being repaired to this day, but my administration is committed to transforming the city’s quality of life and fighting for environmental justice for all New Yorkers, and this team is exactly who will get the job done for New Yorkers.”
Today’s appointments signal the Adams administration’s commitment to rolling out a comprehensive system that will allow this city to offset the effects of climate change and unnecessary carbon emissions. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice will fulfill Mayor Adams’ key commitments to climate sustainability, environmental justice, and resiliency including:
- Installing 100 megawatts of solar on schools, libraries, community centers, and other public buildings;
- Expanding citywide resiliency projects and infrastructure;
- Breaking ground on a massive clean energy complex at Wards Island Water Resource Recovery Facility; and
- Completing New York City’s first comprehensive study of environmental justice.
The Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice also delivers on Mayor Adams’ promise of reducing waste and creating more efficiencies in government. The new office will consolidate the Mayor’s Office of Climate Resiliency and the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Sustainability, as well as incorporate the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Coordination and the Mayor’s Office of Environmental Remediation. This new, streamlined office will provide an integrated approach to climate leadership by uniting four offices that had independently addressed remediation, resiliency, sustainability and environmental justice, and environmental review.
“Today’s team combines renowned expertise with deep, personal, lifelong commitment to protecting every New Yorker from the devastating effects of our climate crisis,” said Deputy Mayor Meera Joshi. “Bringing the full force of their skills and foresight to solidify today’s infrastructure and prepare for tomorrow’s underscores the Adams administration’s deep commitment to making New York City a more livable place today and for generations to come.”
“Making progress on climate requires not only good policies but also driving resilience, decarbonization, and environmental justice into daily city operations,” said Rohit T. Aggarwala, commissioner, DEP, and chief climate officer for the City of New York. “I’m excited to shape the city’s climate work on behalf of Mayor Adams and Deputy Mayor Joshi and am honored to lead the 6,000 men and women at DEP who ensure that New York’s drinking water, harbor, and air are safe and clean, and who are our front lines on managing stormwater. I'm especially grateful to Vinny Sapienza for agreeing to stay on at DEP, so I can rely on his deep operational expertise in managing this mission-critical agency.”
About Rohit T. Aggarwala – DEP Commissioner and Chief Climate Officer
Rohit T. “Rit” Aggarwala is a widely recognized expert on urban sustainability, technology, and mobility. He led the creation of the Mayor’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability under Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg, founded the environmental grantmaking program at Bloomberg Philanthropies, and served as president of the Board of Directors of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group. He was part of the founding team at Sidewalk Labs — Google’s urban technology startup — and more recently was a senior urban tech fellow at the Jacobs Cornell-Technion Institute. He has provided advice and assistance to a number of foundations and impact investment funds and chaired the Regional Plan Association’s Fourth Regional Plan for the New York region. Aggarwala holds a PhD, MBA, and BA from Columbia University and an MA from Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.
Aggarwala will report to Deputy Mayor for Operations Meera Joshi.
“Increasingly intense storms, warmer temperatures, and rising sea levels threaten the ability to provide ample amounts of high-quality drinking water and keep city streets from repeatedly flooding,” said Vincent Sapienza, chief operations officer, DEP. “I’ve had the great privilege of working shoulder-to-shoulder with an incredibly talented team at DEP, and I’m eager to continue working with them alongside Rit and Kizzy to coordinate and accelerate our environmental initiatives and combat these issues.”
About Vincent Sapienza – DEP Chief Operations Officer
Vincent Sapienza has dedicated his career to protecting and improving New York City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Sapienza served in three senior positions within DEP, leading the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment from 2009 through 2014, then heading the Bureau of Engineering, Design and Construction through 2016, and then as commissioner for the past five years. Sapienza is a New York State licensed professional engineer and holds a BS from Columbia and an MBA from Hofstra.
Sapienza will report to Aggarwala in his role as DEP Commissioner.
“I am thrilled and honored to continue to serve my city, doing urgent and critical work in the face of a climate crisis,” said Kizzy Charles-Guzman, executive director, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. “My team will focus on helping New Yorkers access the benefits of our climate actions and investments today, while also improving our environment, adapting our neighborhoods, and preparing for the challenges of tomorrow.”
About Kizzy Charles-Guzman – Executive Director, Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice
Kizzy Charles-Guzman has spent over 15 years of her New York City service developing and delivering work at the intersection of sustainability, climate policy, public health, resiliency, and racial equity. She led the development of Cool Neighborhoods NYC, the city’s first strategy to address the impacts of rising temperatures and heatwaves, and several adaptation initiatives to ensure that New York City residents are ready to withstand and emerge stronger from the impacts of climate change. Charles-Guzman served as a deputy director at the Mayor’s Offices of Sustainability and Climate Resiliency, as director of the Climate Change and Health Program at the New York City Department of Health, and as policy advisor on air quality during the Bloomberg administration. She received the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Environmental Quality Award and a Champion of Change Award from the White House in recognition of her work. She is a graduate of Carleton College and the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.
Charles-Guzman will report to Aggarwala in his role as chief climate officer.
“Consolidation of agencies with a common purpose brings efficiency to state operations. It makes the most sense when bureaucracy is set aside to efficiently address the needs of our communities,” said New York State Senator Luis Sepúlveda. “The announcement by Mayor Adams not only provides this perspective, but also does so with a work plan. As proposed, it would commit to installing 100 megawatts of solar on public buildings, expand resilience projects, and study effects of climate change and unnecessary carbon emissions. The use of renewable energy, as well as resiliency and infrastructure projects are needed throughout our state. I welcome the team appointed by the mayor and hope that their experience in environmental issues will be of benefit to their work and to all New Yorkers”.
“New York City can and will be a leader in the fight against climate change,” said New York City Public Advocate Jumaane D. Williams. “This new leadership team is an important step in prioritizing environmental justice in addition to environmental protection, and creating our city’s first comprehensive environmental justice study, which is essential for a just transition away from fossil fuels. There is a great deal more to do, and my office looks forward to continuing the work with our governing partners to confront the climate crisis, and ensuring that impacted communities are at the center of that work.”
“With the rise in extreme weather and the damage we have seen from recent storms, it is clear that New York City must make tackling climate change a priority,” said Bronx Borough President Vanessa L. Gibson. “Mayor Adams has assembled a team of hardworking, skilled individuals that are committed to efficiently acting to ensure our city leads the way in building towards a sustainable city to live in now and for the future generation of New Yorkers. I look forward to working with them in the fight for climate justice for all.”
“This is an exceptionally strong team to lead Mayor Adams’ climate and water initiatives,” said Carter Strickland, mid-Atlantic region and New York State director, Trust for Public Land, and a former DEP Commissioner. “Rit, Kizzy, and Vinny will bring deep experience on a broad range of environmental issues as well as a data-driven, analytical approach for efficient investments. Best of all, they understand that it is critical to work closely with communities, and that programs like eliminating dirty heating oil, adding in green infrastructure and other natural climate solutions, and adopting holistic resilience measures will succeed if they provide equitable public health and other benefits today, while laying the foundation for a more sustainable future tomorrow.”
“The appointment of Rit and Kizzy could not come at a more influential point for decarbonization, environmental justice, and resiliency,” said John Mandyck, CEO, Urban Green Council. “Their caliber and dedication will drive the city’s agenda when we need it most. They’re the right leaders for the work ahead. and Urban Green looks forward to helping them advance world-leading climate policy.”
“Kudos to Mayor Adams for appointing Rit Aggarwala as commissioner of Environmental Protection and chief climate officer, and Kizzy Charles-Guzman as executive director of the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice,” said Julie Tighe, president, New York League of Conservation Voters. “It is clear the city must continue to meet the complex environmental and climate challenges facing our city, and a commitment to science-based strategies is paramount to achieve the ambitious goals we have set. Commissioner Aggarwala and Executive Director Charles-Guzman are proven leaders in sustainability, environmental, and urban issues, and will serve critical roles helping build New York smarter and safer and we look forward to working with them.”
“Rit Aggarwala is an outstanding choice to help lead our city's fight against the greatest challenge of our time. If we're going to tackle climate change, we need an all-hands-on-deck approach, and Rit understands how important it is that we all do our part to prevent environmental degradation,” said Kyle Bragg, president, 32BJ SEIU. “Just as our members have been on the frontlines of the pandemic, they're on the frontlines of the climate fight, as critical foot soldiers in the spreading green revolution. This is our moment, and I'm excited and honored to partner with Rit on behalf of our workers, our city, and our future."
