New York's congestion pricing delay highlights American transportation challenges

New York's congestion pricing delay highlights American transportation challenges

New York City's plan to implement congestion pricing, a strategy to reduce traffic and fund public transit, remains stalled years after approval.

Sarah Laskow reports for The Atlantic.


In short:

  • New York City approved congestion pricing five years ago to curb traffic and lower emissions in Manhattan.
  • The plan aimed to charge vehicles entering Manhattan's central business district to discourage unnecessary driving.
  • Despite potential environmental and traffic benefits, the plan has faced significant delays and has not yet been implemented.

Why this matters:

Congestion pricing could significantly reduce traffic and pollution in densely populated areas, offering a model for other cities. Each year of delay means more cars on the road, more emissions, and missed opportunities to make significant strides toward a greener, more efficient transportation system.

people protesting during daytime

Governments and corporations are intensifying pressure on environmental defenders

Environmental activists around the world face escalating threats, legal retaliation, and violence, with a new report calling for stronger protections as the climate crisis deepens.

Keerti Gopal and Mathilde Augustin report for Inside Climate News.

Keep reading...Show less
Senator Whitehouse & climate change

Senator Whitehouse puts climate change on budget committee’s agenda

For more than a decade, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse gave daily warnings about the mounting threat of climate change. Now he has a powerful new perch.
person holding white smartphone sitting on stair
Photo by Chad Madden on Unsplash

Focusing on disinformation is stalling climate action

The climate movement’s fixation on disinformation overlooks practical challenges communities face in adopting green energy, missing opportunities to drive real change on the ground.

Holly Buck writes for Jacobin.

Keep reading...Show less
snow making machinr

Ski resorts face closures and costly adaptations as snow seasons shorten

As warmer winters impact snowfall, some European ski resorts are closing while others invest in artificial snow and year-round tourism to survive.

Kevin Rushby reports for The Guardian.

Keep reading...Show less
flooded neighborhood of homes

Flood-prone areas are losing residents as climate risks rise

More than 3.2 million Americans have already relocated due to flooding, with more expected to leave as climate change makes many areas increasingly uninhabitable.

Andrea Riquier reports for USA TODAY.

Keep reading...Show less
hydrogen tank with wind turbines

Europe's blue hydrogen projects could cause emissions equivalent to Denmark's output

Planned blue hydrogen projects in Europe may produce emissions on the scale of Denmark's annual output, raising concerns over their environmental impact as EU officials debate whether to subsidize this technology as a low-carbon solution.

Aline Nippert reports for DeSmog.

Keep reading...Show less
hospital beds
Credit: Pixabay

Hospitals adapt to extreme weather and climate-related challenges

Hospitals worldwide are increasingly facing operational disruptions from extreme weather linked to climate change, leading them to innovate to remain functional.

Rachel Nduati reports for Deutsche Welle.

Keep reading...Show less
boat and a building damaged from a storm

Small Business Administration runs out of disaster loan funds after back-to-back hurricanes

The Small Business Administration has exhausted its disaster loan program funds following Hurricanes Helene and Milton, halting new loans until Congress allocates more money.

Jacob Bogage reports for The Washington Post.

Keep reading...Show less
From our Newsroom
clean energy transition

Op-ed: Labor and environmental groups can both win in the clean energy transition. Here’s how.

Groups are choosing to repair broken lines of communication and visualize the transition for its true potential to mitigate climate change – the common enemy.

environmental defenders

‘Living under this constant threat’: Environmental defenders face a mounting mental health crisis

Environmental activists are struggling with paranoia, panic attacks, and depression. Now, a growing network of mental health shelters in South America hopes to fill a void in care.

fracking opposition

Opposing fracking cost one Colombian activist her mental health. She’s fighting to win it back.

"At some point, they will kill you and kill all of us," environmental leader Yuvelis Natalia Morales Blanco was told.

Houston area has more than 100 unauthorized air pollution events already this year

Houston area has more than 100 unauthorized air pollution events already this year

An EHN analysis finds nearly half were related to flaring.

environmental justice

LISTEN: Mokshda Kaul on making the clean energy transition work for all

“Coalitions become this interesting way to create buy-in.”

climate week NYC

Op-ed: Is plastic the biggest climate threat?

A plastics treaty for the climate and health must address overproduction of plastics and head off the petrochemical and plastic industry’s planned expansion.

Stay informed: sign up for The Daily Climate newsletter
Top news on climate impacts, solutions, politics, drivers. Delivered to your inbox week days.