From devastating basement floods to escalating energy bills and health emergencies caused by extreme heat, cold, and wildfire smoke, the true cost of global warming is undeniable. This is the stark reality for Louise Yeung, New York City’s newly appointed climate chief, who firmly believes that environmental and economic challenges are deeply intertwined.
“The climate crisis is inextricably linked to the affordability crisis,” Ms. Yeung stated, underscoring the connection. Mayor Zohran Mamdani appointed her to this crucial role in January, a position increasingly common in major cities worldwide. She emphasized, “When you have people who can’t afford to turn on their air-conditioners during sweltering heat waves, that is an affordability issue.”
Ms. Yeung, a dedicated policy expert with a surprising passion for romantic comedies and science fiction, brings a unique perspective. Hailing from Chicago, she holds a master’s degree in urban planning from the prestigious Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Her new responsibilities involve addressing the immediate climate-related challenges New Yorkers currently endure. However, Ms. Yeung also possesses a keen understanding of long-term strategic planning. Her first role in New York, starting in 2016, was overseeing a multibillion-dollar initiative designed to safeguard Lower Manhattan from devastating coastal floods. This monumental project, spanning three mayoral administrations, is still many years from its final completion.
“The work in climate change is always a balancing act between immediate urgency and a vast time scale,” she reflected.
At 40, Ms. Yeung shares her home in Kensington, Brooklyn, with a 16-year-old cat (who remains nameless) and her two pet snails, affectionately named Lady Godiva and Richard.
In a recent interview with The New York Times, Ms. Yeung, who also heads the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice, discussed her ambitious vision for the city. The conversation below has been edited for clarity and conciseness.
You live in Brooklyn. As an urban planner focused on climate risks, what observations have you made about the borough?
“When I moved here, I specifically sought out apartments located on higher ground,” she explained. “I considered a ground-floor unit, but after consulting the city’s official flood maps and knowing about New York’s flood risk disclosure law for renters, I inquired about the historical flood risk. Discovering that the ground-floor apartment had experienced repeated flooding, I made the decision not to rent it.”
She strongly advises that “every renter should be aware of their right to inquire about flood risk or any past flooding incidents in their potential unit.”
As the former policy director for the Mamdani campaign, how do you link Mayor Mamdani’s three key objectives – free buses, free child care, and a rent freeze – to climate change initiatives?
“Regarding bus corridors, a significant challenge lies in how we integrate new locations for child care centers and home-based providers, ensuring they are resilient to flood and heat risks,” she noted.
She emphasized the need to consider a bus rider’s experience during extreme heat, stating, “We must consider the experience of a bus rider waiting in 98-degree weather.” Her office is collaborating with the Department of Transportation on a ‘cool corridors’ project, focusing on heat-resilient streetscape designs through strategic tree planting, other shade solutions, and increased cooling centers.
“As the climate crisis intensifies, affordability extends beyond just the rent check,” Ms. Yeung explained. She highlighted that a rent-stabilized home loses its affordability if it’s unsafe or located in a floodplain. Currently, over 55,000 rent-regulated apartments face this risk, with thousands more vulnerable to flash flooding in low-lying areas.
What strategies are being considered to manage and reduce utility bills for residents?
“Utility rate cases, where companies seek state regulator approval to adjust customer charges, are notoriously complex and unclear,” she observed. Most people are unaware of the public’s right to participate in these proceedings. To address this, the Mamdani administration is committed to funding “interveners”— groups dedicated to representing the interests and needs of everyday New Yorkers during these rate case discussions.
Will these ‘interveners’ act as translators for the technical jargon often found on state regulator websites?
“Our goal is for these interveners to fully grasp the technical intricacies and then translate them into clear terms, explaining the impact on a typical monthly utility bill, thereby effectively advocating for consumers,” she affirmed.
Considering New York City a century from now, it’s challenging not to foresee a necessary retreat from coastal areas like the beaches, the Rockaways, and Coney Island. How can residents in these vulnerable areas be supported in the short term?
“My experience in community planning has shown that asking 100 people about their future vision will likely yield 100 different answers,” she noted. “Therefore, we are establishing processes to foster broader conversations about our collective future, aiming to cultivate a shared vision.”
She added that the newly established Office of Mass Engagement will organize neighborhood planning workshops, facilitating discussions with communities on climate risk and preparedness.
Do you maintain personal habits that contribute positively to the environment?
“I’m genuinely enthusiastic about composting,” she shared.
Are you involved in community composting, or do you utilize the city’s curbside program?
“I used to take my compost to a community garden,” she recounted, “but since the curbside program began, I’m thrilled by the convenience of simply putting it out on my sidewalk.”
As a top-floor renter in a detached single-family home, she initially didn’t see a brown food scraps bin upon moving in. “I politely inquired about it, saying, ‘Hi, I would love to compost,’” she recalled. She then provided her landlord with information about the Department of Sanitation’s service, and they promptly ordered a bin.
Would you advocate for continued funding for community composting initiatives?
“Absolutely,” she confirmed.
Beyond composting, what other environmental practices do you follow?
“I strive to be conscious of my personal pollution and emissions,” she shared. “This includes minimizing packaging when I buy things. I don’t own a car; I rely on public transit and my bike. Interestingly, nearly everything I’m wearing, except my tights, is thrifted. I found this wonderful green blazer at a thrift store on the Upper West Side, and I’ve owned this skirt for two decades!”
She also strongly believes in holding corporations accountable for their role in climate change. “That’s truly where the focus needs to be,” she asserted. “As a city, our efforts should concentrate on corporate responsibility, rather than burdening individuals with guilt over every purchase they make.”
What do you turn to for a mental break from the pressing issue of climate change?
“I absolutely love romantic comedies!” she exclaimed. “My best friend and I even developed a creative concept called ‘romantic urbanism,’ which explores how cities can be designed to nurture love, care, and connection. We envisioned a playful bureaucracy, the ‘Department of Tenderness,’ to illustrate how a city government could actually implement such initiatives.”
She shared an example from last summer: “We set up a booth with a map in Brooklyn, inviting people to pinpoint where they fell in love with the city. We’ve also hosted rom-com screenings. It’s a delightful way to consider how urban planning could evolve if we prioritized love, alongside critical issues like climate change, affordable housing, and employment opportunities.”
Which romantic comedy holds the top spot for you?
“‘When Harry Met Sally’ is my absolute favorite,” she answered. “It’s incredibly multimodal – they meet on a plane, then years later on a sidewalk outside a bookstore. It beautifully showcases how effective urban design can inherently foster connections between people over time.”