Environment

Click here for a printable PDF

Working to Protect the Environment and Promote Sustainable Development of Resources

Throughout his political life, Bill Thompson has been a forceful and dedicated advocate for environmental protection and the wise use of natural resources. He has been a strong proponent of recycling, green construction, and responsible waste management.

As City Comptroller, Bill has worked to promote environmentally sensitive policies on a variety of issues. Among his efforts, he has:

• Worked to stop natural gas drilling within or near the New York City watershed, which could risk exposing our City's drinking supply to toxic chemicals and waste and require the construction of a new $10 billion water filtration plant.

• Joined Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in calling for the preservation of precious wildlife space in the Ridgewood Reservoir along the Brooklyn-Queens border.

• Produced a report documenting the impact of airport congestion at New York City's three major airports on local ozone levels and the rise in airport runoff-in particular the flow from JFK International Airport into the vulnerable salt marshes of Jamaica Bay.

• Revealed that the Department of Environmental Protection did not effectively monitor waste water treatment plants in the Catskill/Delaware watershed areas, and found lapses in enforcement when pollution discharged into surface waters exceeded the allowable limit.

• Released a report highlighting the challenges and costs our City faces due to capacity limitations at landfill disposal sites. The report recommended that the City seek access to upstate landfill sites to increase in-state disposal capacity.

• Determined that the Department of Sanitation constructed compost facilities in the Bronx and Brooklyn before performing mandatory environmental reviews and obtaining necessary permits. Bill called for public hearings in the future so as not to exclude communities from major decisions that affect the quality of their parks.

• Urged the passage of a "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" that could provide our City with as much as $100 million. The proposed bill would expand New York State's current bottle bill by adding non-carbonated beverages to the deposit law-resulting in more recycled bottles and cans, cleaner communities, and more money for New York City.

Pension Investment and Sustainability

As chief investment advisor to the New York City Pension Systems' five funds, Bill Thompson has emphasized the connection between a company's profitability and its adherence to environmentally sound business practices. In this regard, Bill has:

• Called on firms in the City's investment portfolio to issue "sustainability reports" that detail the impact of their businesses on the environment, including the production of greenhouse gases and other harmful emissions.

• Taken steps to invest in emerging environmental technologies such as renewable energy, including a $200 million investment in the Pacific Corporate Group's Clean Energy and Technology Fund.

• Issued a 10-point action plan with other institutional investors calling on U.S. companies, Wall Street firms, and the SEC to increase their efforts to provide investors with full disclosure on the financial risks presented by climate change.

• Succeeded in pressuring the Sprint Nextel and Campbell's companies, among others, to issue sustainability reports disclosing the companies' social and environmental practices.

• Succeeded in pressuring the energy company TXU to explore renewable energy sources, invest in alternative energy technologies and create an independent Sustainable Energy Advisory Board.

• Called on Freeport McMoran, one of the world's largest producers of copper and gold, with extensive mining operations in West Papua, Indonesia, to review its environmental policies after reports emerged that company practices were causing environmental damage to local rivers.