NYC Sustainability

The purpose of sustainability is to meet present needs while preserving future generation’s ability to meet their own. Small lifestyle adjustments like using the MTA, cutting back on electricity use, recycling, and composting may make an average New Yorker’s lifestyle more sustainable! In addition, supporting neighborhood companies and farmers' markets can help create a more sustainable food system. Every Saturday, the GrowNYC Greenmarket is open right by Fort Greene Park. There, local vendors and farmers sell fresh produce and pantry staples.

Engaging in sustainable practices could help address the unequal distribution of environmental effects. For example, composting provides a sustainable solution to managing food waste, reducing landfill size and usage, and ultimately mitigating the emission of methane in our atmosphere. Landfills are typically located near low-income communities of color, also known as environmental justice communities, exposing residents to various health hazards, including air and water pollution, toxic chemicals, and pathogens released from decomposing waste. These exposures can lead to respiratory problems, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and other adverse health outcomes, disproportionately affecting the health and well-being of residents in these communities. We can reduce the harm done to the environment and environmental justice communities by practicing sustainable habits!

- Ellie
Green Team Guide