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| CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities | |
|---|---|
| Name | CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities |
| Formation | 2007 |
| Type | Research institute |
| Headquarters | City College of New York |
| Location | New York City |
| Parent organization | City University of New York |
CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities The CUNY Institute for Sustainable Cities is a research and policy center based at the City College of New York within the City University of New York system that focuses on urban resilience, climate adaptation, and sustainability planning. The Institute engages with municipal agencies, community organizations, and academic partners to advance applied research on infrastructure, public health, energy, and transportation in the New York City metropolitan region. Its work intersects with policy arenas such as urban planning during events like Hurricane Sandy and broader initiatives including the New York City Panel on Climate Change, the United Nations Habitat dialogues, and the Rockefeller Foundation-supported resilience networks.
The Institute was founded in 2007 at City College of New York amid increasing attention from entities such as the New York City Department of Environmental Protection, the New York City Mayor's Office of Sustainability, and the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority to address urban sustainability challenges. Early collaborations included projects with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. Following Hurricane Katrina and later Hurricane Sandy, the Institute expanded partnerships with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Urban Land Institute to develop resilience planning, reflecting trends in programs led by organizations like the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives and scholars from institutions such as Columbia University, Princeton University, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
The Institute's mission aligns with priorities of entities including the United Nations Environment Programme, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine to produce actionable research that informs urban policy. Goals emphasize collaboration with the New York City Housing Authority, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, and neighborhood nonprofits like South Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation to advance equitable climate adaptation. The Institute seeks to integrate science from centers like the Earth Institute, policy recommendations similar to those of the Brookings Institution, and technical guidance consistent with the American Planning Association to reduce vulnerability in flood-prone districts and transit corridors.
Research programs span urban climatology, energy systems, stormwater management, and built-environment retrofits, drawing on methodologies used at the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory, the Lambert Center for Sustainable Energy, and the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Projects examine interactions among infrastructure stakeholders such as the New York Power Authority, the Consolidated Edison Company of New York, and the New York City Department of Transportation, while leveraging data sources from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the United States Geological Survey, and the National Weather Service. Programs include applied pilots modeled after initiatives by the Rockefeller Foundation's 100 Resilient Cities, comparative assessments like those at the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, and policy analyses in the vein of the Natural Resources Defense Council.
The Institute supports graduate and professional training in partnership with academic units at City College of New York, offering coursework and practicums resonant with curricula at Yale School of the Environment, Harvard Kennedy School, and the University of California, Berkeley. Training modules address tools used by practitioners at the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, and the International Association for Public Participation, and prepare students for roles in agencies such as the New York City Economic Development Corporation and firms like AECOM and Arup.
Key partnerships include collaborations with municipal entities such as the New York City Department of Buildings, regional consortia like the Northeast Regional Climate Center, philanthropic partners including the Ford Foundation and the JPMorgan Chase Foundation, and academic collaborators such as Hunter College, Brooklyn College, and research units at CUNY Graduate Center. The Institute has worked with advocacy groups like Natural Resources Defense Council, community organizations like Greenbelt Conservancy, and international networks including ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability and the United Nations Development Programme.
Notable projects have addressed coastal protection in areas impacted by Superstorm Sandy, stormwater infrastructure in neighborhoods adjacent to the Gowanus Canal, and energy resilience for public housing overseen by the New York City Housing Authority. Outputs include planning tools used by the New York City Office of Emergency Management, vulnerability assessments aligned with the National Climate Assessment, and design guidance informing capital programs by the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. The Institute's work has been cited by policy reports from the Brookings Institution, invoked in testimony to the New York State Assembly, and integrated into regional strategies coordinated by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Governance is through an advisory and executive structure tied to City College of New York and the City University of New York central administration, with oversight input from stakeholders such as the New York City Economic Development Corporation and funders like the National Science Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency, and private donors including the Bloomberg Philanthropies. Funding sources have included competitive grants from agencies like the Department of Energy, contracts with the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, and philanthropic awards from foundations such as the Rockefeller Foundation and the Kresge Foundation.
Category:Research institutes in New York City