The Office of Sustainability is excited to be participating in Spring Welcome 2025! Swing by one of our events to meet our office and other students interested in environmental issues. You’ll also learn about NYU’s climate goals and how you can get involved in sustainability on campus. We can’t wait to see you soon! 

EVENTS

• Climate Action Mixer with Plant Meditation and Plant Giveaway: Participate in a 30-minute meditation offering gratitude to the natural world. Afterwards, enjoy plant-based snacks while getting to know your peers.
• • Wed, 1/22 from 1:00pm-2:00pm. Registration is required.
  • Bobst Library, Room 745
• Climate Action Mixer with Games:  Meet other students who are interested in environmental issues and learn about how you can help combat climate change, starting now. Plant-based snacks will be provided.
  • Thurs, 1/23 from 12:00pm-2:00pm
  • Kimmel Center, Room 405/406

The Congestion Relief Zone Toll, commonly known as congestion pricing, is now in effect in New York City.

What is NYC’s congestion pricing charge?

Vehicles are charged a fee to enter New York City’s Central Business District (CBD), which is categorized as Manhattan neighborhoods south of 60th Street. The toll amount depends on the type of vehicle and time of day among other factors with most passenger vehicles seeing a $9 once-a-day fee.

Why does New York need congestion pricing?

• Congestion is getting worse. New York City has dealt with street congestion for decades, with over 700,000 vehicles entering the CBD daily. Drivers feel these effects with traffic moving at an average speed of 6.9 mph in 2024, a 20% decrease from speeds ten years ago. 
• Gridlock is bad for businesses, residents, and visitors. New Yorkers lose 117 hours a year on average sitting in traffic, translating to lost wages and productivity. Emergency response times for health emergencies, fires, and crimes have increased significantly over the past decade. And idling cars contribute to overall pollution and a decrease in air quality. 
• Revenue from congestion pricing will benefit public transportation. The collected tolls are projected to generate around $15 billion for the MTA, which will bring critical improvements to subways, buses, and commuter railroads. Projects include the modernization of signal systems, the Second Avenue Subway line expansion, an increase of the electric bus fleet, and improvement to elevators for seniors and those with disabilities, all of which will ensure riders have faster and more reliable commutes.

Benefits

• Quality of life will improve. Congestion pricing will reduce vehicular traffic. With fewer vehicles on the road, streets are safer for pedestrians and cyclists, public bus trips will be faster, and neighborhoods will be quieter. 
• Emissions will be reduced, leading to a healthier, more sustainable NYC. Congestion pricing is projected to reduce traffic-related pollution by up to 10%, significantly improving public health. This follows a similar pattern to the first year of London’s congestion pricing program: NO2 emissions decreased by 13.5%, particulate matter decreased by 15.5%, and the positive impact on air quality added 1,888 years to the lives of Londoners. The benefits were even more dramatic in Stockholm, where congestion pricing cut hospital visits due to childhood asthma nearly in half. 

“Congestion pricing is fundamentally about meeting three critical objectives: Ensuring our commuters can rely on safe subways and commuter trains now and into the future, ensuring we can decongest our clogged streets, improving the quality of life for residents, the safety of pedestrians and access for emergency vehicles, and ensuring we reduce vehicle emissions to enhance our air quality.” – Governor Kathy Hochul 

No-waste November is a month-long global initiative encouraging individuals and institutions to reduce excess waste. This No-waste November we’re embracing our Zodiac signs to see which zero-waste habits we are most compatible with. Scroll down to find your No-waste November horoscope! 

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Aries 

(March 21-April 19)

• Considering Aries is the sign with the most fiery passion, this No-waste November, you’re most likely not to waste any excess carbon during your commute! Racing to catch the subway or speed walking past other commuters instead of driving is a perfect way to pair your competitive spirit without wasting carbon emissions! 

Taurus 

(April 20-May 20)

• Taurus’ are loyal, meaning you are loyal to the planet. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to use only reusable cutlery to cut down on excess waste. Plastic utensils can take up to 1,000 years to decompose, contributing to growing landfill waste and plastic pollution in many water sources.

Gemini

(May 21-June21)

• Geminis are incredibly curious and have an undeniable thirst for knowledge. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to research the recycling rules of NYC and your primary residential building. Familiarizing yourself with which items are recyclable and how to recycle them properly limits unnecessary landfill waste and CO2 emissions. 

Cancer 

(June 22-July 22)

• Cancers are known to be incredibly compassionate and great gift-givers. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to gift a loved one a memorable experience rather than a tangible object. Memorable experiences are not only low-waste options, but they also offer an opportunity to bond with your loved ones and enjoy the moment together! 

Leo 

(July 23-August 22) 

• As one of the most confident signs, you will rock this No-waste November by only using reusable bags. Eliminating plastic or paper bags from the garbage/recycling stream will not only help the planet but make you feel empowered! 

Virgo 

(August 23-September 22) 

• Virgos are particular and meticulous about their actions, making them good at making rational decisions. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to take a second and think before making any unnecessary purchases. If you probably won’t eat it, don’t need it, or can’t see yourself using it more than once, you probably won’t buy it to avoid producing unnecessary waste. 

Libra 

(September 23-October 23)

• Libras are often creative thinkers with a strong sense of style and taste. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to upcycle an article of clothing you have fallen out of love with. Upcycling garments is a great way to create new and unique pieces for your wardrobe without contributing to excess textile waste. 

Scorpio 

(October 24-November 21)

• Scorpios are adventurous and drawn to an investigation. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to hunt for the nearest composting drop-off site and familiarize yourself with what can and cannot be composted. Composting food scraps can help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while creating nutrient-rich plant fertilizer.   

Sagittarius 

(November 22-December 21)

• Sagittarius are known for their spontaneity and willingness to try new things. This No-waste November, you’ll most likely make one sustainable swap in your morning routine. Whether swapping from a plastic toothbrush to a bamboo toothbrush or a body wash to a bar of soap, it’s always fun to switch things up! 

Capricorn

(December 22-January 19)

• Capricorns are goal-oriented and highly responsible, making you great at cutting down on food waste. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to make a grocery list before heading to the store to limit unnecessary food waste, one of the biggest contributors of greenhouse gasses. 

Aquarius 

(January 20-Feb 18)

• Aquarius’ are innovative and creative, making you great at experimentation. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to try and whip up a new dish using only the leftover food and scraps in your fridge. Using leftover food and scraps allows you to experiment with new food combinations you may have never considered while keeping organics out of the landfill. 

Pisces 

(Feb 19-March 20) 

• As a water sign, and the sign of the fish, you’re all about saving the oceans. This No-waste November, you’re most likely to drink only from reusable containers (even bringing a reusable cup to coffee shops) and avoid using plastic straws.