Power Players in Climate, Energy and Sustainability

Kate recently joined NRDC as a senior attorney working on a range of environmental and health issues, including working to get toxic chemicals out of consumer products and solve our solid waste and plastics crisis. Previously, she served as the deputy director of Environmental Advocates NY, a leading non-profit fighting for a safe climate, clean water and healthier communities. Kate has a B.A. from Skidmore College, MPA from Columbia University, and J.D. from Pace University.

What does sustainability mean to you?
For me the term sustainability has become so generic that it doesn’t serve the purpose of moving us far enough, nor fast enough, to confront the environmental challenges of today. In my opinion,  the overuse of the term has led to a tremendous amount of greenwashing and incremental thinking. We are at a moment in time where racial shifts in behavior and process thinking are required for the health of our planet and future generations.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
Addressing climate change is a north star for NRDC, but tackling it is so very complex and multifaceted. The environmental community’s focus, rightfully so, has been on addressing carbon emissions from major sources, like electricity generation and transportation. While these efforts are of critical importance, the plastic industry is lurking in the background undercutting our progress in  addressing irreversible climate damage with the proliferation and incineration of plastics, and we must prioritize fighting that threat.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
It might seem like a trite saying, but I believe “think globally, act locally” is an important mantra to help protect the planet. I know people can become overwhelmed with the enormity of the environmental issues we are facing and can feel discouraged. But we can’t stop believing that our individual behavior (how we spend our money), what we teach our children, and how we show up for what is right and just matters deeply.

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
While only being at NRDC for a short period, I know we are using our global organizational power to fight the most pressing environmental issues and support communities. I’m proud to align myself with non-profit organizations that support disadvantaged and environmental justice communities and embrace the commitment that a sustainable future and climate justice does not happen without an intersectional approach to environmentalism.

Justin E. Driscoll is the acting president and chief executive officer of the New York Power Authority (NYPA), the nation’s largest state-owned electric utility. He is responsible for developing and implementing the statewide utility’s strategic vision and mission, and for overseeing its operations. He is also responsible for the operation of the New York State Canal System.

What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability is a goal. It is the desired result from all our efforts in reducing carbon emissions and promoting a clean energy economy—it is making sure future generations of New Yorkers have the same access to clean air, water and soil as we do.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
New York is working to achieve a zero-emission electricity sector by 2040, including 70% renewable energy generation by 2030. NYPA operates one-third of New York’s major transmission lines and supplies about 25% of New York’s electricity—80% of which is clean, renewable hydropower. By preserving the value of NYPA’s hydropower, expanding its transmission footprint and assisting its government customers in their decarbonization efforts, New York will be better positioned to meet its ambitious clean energy goals.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
The transportation sector contributes a significant amount of carbon emissions. Decarbonizing our travel by taking public transportation more frequently or making the switch to electric vehicles will help create a cleaner, greener future.

As chief expense officer, Ms. Drummond leads Northwell‘s purchasing organization, centralized pharmacy and biomedical services as well as the health system’s central sterile facility. She collaborates with Northwell’s leadership to identify opportunities to become more efficient, leveraging her expertise in expense management and analytics to reduce waste, variation and excess cost. As chief sustainability officer, Ms. Drummond works to promote responsible environmental business practices and programs to help reduce consumption, emissions and waste generation.

What does sustainability mean to you?
Ms. Drummond is working closely with leaders and teams across our organization to identify opportunities to accelerate our progress in sustainability. These include becoming more efficient, further reducing our carbon footprint, enhancing the sustainability of our supply chain, adopting additional “green” energy solutions at our facilities, advancing our recycling programs, streamlining vehicle transportation and minimizing our use of natural resources. 

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
Northwell Health has an emergency command room where staff monitor the news across televisions. Two of the screens are always turned to the weather. Ms. Drummond said extreme weather is also a consideration when Northwell constructs a new facility or hospital. “Climate change is here, it’s happening, it’s impacting us,” Drummond said. “We need to be resilient. Our facilities need to be able to withstand storms and that we’re prepared for these events.”

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
For organizations, it’s to be part of the solution. Northwell joined the Healthcare Climate Council, and separately signed on to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ pledge to reduce organizational emissions in 2022. Northwell’s goal to decarbonize health care and make medical facilities more resilient to the effects of climate change is in line with the Biden administration’s goal to reduce emissions 50 percent by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050.

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
Ms. Drummond partners closely with human resources to ensure these efforts are aligned and integrated with the organization’s Corporate Social Responsibility framework.

Stephan Edel worked as a union and community organizer and with Working Families for nearly a decade on climate and environmental policy, campaign research, and coalition building across issues in several states. He has been involved in NY Renews since its inception and is honored to serve the coalition. He holds a JD from the CUNY School of Law. He also holds a master’s degree from Birkbeck College of the University of London.

What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability means that our systems are stable long-term, healthy, and beneficial for all people, communities, and the natural world we’re part of. No system that prioritizes profits over the health of people and places can truly be sustainable. At the same time, a system that does not create opportunities for thriving communities and meaningful work at a good wage is equally unsustainable.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
We’re focused on ensuring the state fully funds and implements New York’s landmark Climate Act. We continue to demand funding, regulation, and legislation to ensure that we meet or exceed the legal climate and equity mandates. With this budget, New York can lead by creating a Climate and Community Protection Fund that dedicates revenue raised from polluting corporations and other sources that could model equitable investments in clean energy and community-based climate solutions.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Work together to organize your community for transformative change. While individual actions are important, building connections to neighbors and organizations in your community builds strength and resilience as you work together to improve policy. The climate crisis can be daunting and overwhelming, but one great thing about organizing together is that it makes a healthier, more just future possible, while it also prepares us for what comes next. 

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
NY Renews is comprised of over 340 organizations working within their communities and across the state to build grassroots power, expertise, community engagement, and local action that will continue to drive transformative change in New York State. New York is a leader for both the nation and the world. The work we do together makes our communities and organizations stronger so we can all live healthy, thriving lives.

Daniel Egan is a managing director and head of Americas real estate ESG at Blackstone. Prior to joining Blackstone in 2022, he was senior vice president, sustainability & utilities at Vornado Realty Trust. He serves on the board of the Building Energy Exchange in New York. Dan graduated with honors from New York University and received his MBA from City University New York – Zicklin School of Business.

What does sustainability mean to you?
I spend my days viewing sustainability through a real estate lens. In my experience, sustainable buildings run more efficiently, deliver a more positive experience for their inhabitants, and can deliver higher returns for their owners. That has been a guiding principle as I’ve built my career. When we apply this principle to the work at Blackstone, the world’s largest commercial real estate owner, I believe we enhance value and mitigate risk at a global scale.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
At Blackstone, we believe climate strategy is a fundamental part of how we can build resilience and create value. We’re focused on accelerating decarbonization. We prioritize energy efficiency investments which can deliver higher returns and improve performance. To achieve deeper decarbonization and cost benefits, we also work with our portfolio to identify and source renewable energy. Our portfolio companies have hit 100 MW of rooftop solar in the US and Canada, with more to come.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Real estate is a consumer product that responds to customer demand. If the environment is important to you, vocalize that importance to your landlord. Demand energy efficient lighting and appliances. Ask for better recycling options. Tell your landlord you want to buy an electric vehicle and need somewhere to charge it. It’s amazing to see the positive change that customers, residents, and tenants can bring to the built environment.

OSI president and CEO Christopher “Kim” Elliman has been with the organization since 2004. Over the past three decades, he has overseen a remarkable era of expansion for OSI, during which it grew from a Hudson Valley land trust into a nationally recognized conservation leader active in 16 states in the eastern U.S. and three Canadian provinces. Working with a wide range of partners, OSI has protected more than two million acres of at-risk and biodiverse land. Elliman has served with boards and foundations including The Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation; Overhills Foundation; Samuel Freeman Charitable Trust; The Wilderness Society; Yale School of the Environment Steering Committee; and the Wildlife Conservation Society.

Irving Fain is founder and CEO of Bowery, the largest vertical farming company in the U.S. Bowery is transforming the fresh food supply chain to be smarter, safer, and more sustainable. Fain has led Bowery to raise $647M in equity and debt from tech and agriculture leaders, representing the strongest institutional backing in Controlled Environment Agriculture. Prior to Bowery, Fain was co-founder and CEO of CrowdTwist, which sold to Oracle, and he launched iHeartRadio. 

What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability is doing more with less. More flavor, more reliability, more re-purposing of non-arable land, and more accountability by using less land, less water, less food miles, less food waste, and less impact on the planet. If we want a sustainable tomorrow, we need to start today. Bowery farms are run on 100% renewable energy and are 100x more productive than traditional agriculture on the same footprint of land. 

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
Bowery is growing produce smarter to secure the future of food. Technology can help solve major climate issues, including the question of feeding growing populations. We are tackling food security by building smart farms near cities; we are scaling quickly with three commercial farms, two R&D farms, and two more commercial farms opening in 2023. Bowery is contributing to a key solution for food insecurity. Wherever food is needed, we can grow it. 

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Make protecting the environment a priority in everyday purchases. At the grocery store shelf, we all have choices to make. Some products are more sustainable than others. When you choose to support sustainable food options, you are voting for the values that brought that product to the shelf. By choosing Bowery, for example, you’re keeping pesticides out of the environment, opting for fewer food miles, and selecting produce that is grown with less resources.

Thomas Falcone has served as LIPA’s chief executive officer since 2015, having joined LIPA in 2014 as chief financial officer. Previously, Mr. Falcone was an investment banker and advisor to publicly owned utilities and local governments. In that role, Mr. Falcone raised more than $25 billion for infrastructure investments nationwide. Mr. Falcone received a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
LIPA is committed to achieving New York State’s goal of a carbon-free electric grid by 2040. LIPA is aggressively focused on transitioning its power supply to cleaner sources while helping customers electrify heating and transportation for significant carbon and cost savings. LIPA’s carbon emissions will decline by more than 70% by 2030.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Customers can use technology like cold climate heat pumps. A typical Long Island home that heats with fuel oil could save $1,500 in heating costs by switching to a cold climate heat pump while reducing their carbon emissions by 46%. With LIPA rebates and federal tax credits, the additional cost of the heat pump pays for itself in less than two years for a typical home.

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
LIPA will be the first major utility in New York State to implement Time-of-Day rates for all customers. When customers choose to shift their usage to less costly times of the day, it decreases the amount of energy production and delivery infrastructure needed during peak times, reducing carbon emissions by 50% and lowering system costs. Customers save money and help the environment.

Luke Falk is COO of Clean Path NY for energyRe, leading the development of renewable generation and transmission for one of the largest clean energy infrastructure projects in New York. Prior to joining energyRe, Mr. Falk served as senior vice president of Related Companies, where he led the energy and sustainability practice for Related’s global development portfolio.  Mr. Falk was previously senior project manager for the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA). 

What does sustainability mean to you?
In the context of New York, sustainability is an approach to maintaining an advanced and growing economy that enhances quality of life in communities while also advancing environmental health and social equity. That means advancing a just and swift transition to accessible clean energy to power everything we do —while investing in frontline and historically marginalized communities in order to ensure that our energy transition delivers enhanced public health and robust economic opportunities for all.  

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
energyRe is focused on decarbonizing cities—our nation’s highest energy load centers and the largest consumers of fossil fuels.  In New York, that means adding capacity and resiliency to the state’s aging, fragmented electric grid so that our abundant renewable resources can plug in and power our communities. That’s why we, along with NYPA and Invenergy, are advancing Clean Path NY—a project that will bring New Yorkers nearly 8 million megawatt-hours of clean energy annually. 

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Learn more about efforts to bring clean energy to your community, and vocalize your support for local sustainability and resiliency initiatives. Also, compost your food waste – it creates nutrient-rich soil that can support community-based and other agricultural initiatives.

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
energyRe is advancing projects that reimagine and transform our nation’s power grids to be climate solutions versus climate problems. By combining resilient, modern transmission with new renewable generation, we’re ensuring that our energy future is not only clean, but reliable—and ready for the affordable, rapid deployment of even more clean energy as the nation continues to transition away from fossil fuels.

Mr. Flaherty joined Tishman Speyer in 2007 and oversees global sustainability, energy, telecom and smart building efforts for the company. Mr. Flaherty is the chair of the board of directors for the Building Energy Exchange and is on the board of the NY Energy Consumers Council. He holds a BA from Kenyon College, and an MBA and MSUP from Columbia University.

What does sustainability mean to you?
Sustainability means ensuring that our actions today do not negatively impact future generations. At Tishman Speyer, we are focused on making a positive impact across our portfolio and our firm, and to building sustainable, inclusive and welcoming communities in all of our markets. Our commitment to sustainability ensures that as we are enhancing our physical environments, we are also minimizing our environmental impact. We all bear responsibility for this planet.

Is there one major climate issue your organization is looking to tackle?
Buildings are currently responsible for almost 40% of global carbon emissions, which means our industry has a vital role in response to the climate emergency. As a responsible developer, operator, and owner, Tishman Speyer is dedicated to reducing the environmental burden of its buildings and eliminating its operational carbon emissions. As such, we have committed to achieve operational net zero carbon across our global real estate portfolio by 2050 or sooner.

What is one thing everyone can do to help protect the environment?
Everyone can think about reducing their own energy consumption through everyday practices such as unplugging devices, turning lights off and adjusting your thermostat. At Tishman Speyer, we’ve started rolling out personalized energy management dashboards at properties so that customers can view and track their space’s energy and carbon performance. Customers also receive monthly sustainability reports with their carbon footprint and efficiency ranking. This reporting enables customers to track consumption and support their individual sustainability goals.

What steps are your organization taking to ensure a sustainable future?
We design, construct and operate our properties with a sustainable future in mind. We’re taking steps such as: 

1. Promoting responsible consumption by monitoring energy, water and waste data and associated GHG emissions.
2. Identifying and implementing innovative operational and mechanical strategies to improve resource efficiency.
3. Building and operating our portfolio in alignment with industry-recognized sustainability standards via green building certifications.
4. Enhancing human health and wellbeing by improving indoor air quality, water quality, and biophilic design strategies.