In evaluating the potential for New York to become a circular city, the members of the initiative chose to focus on the levers of change. Specifically, we wanted to identify actions that the city, its businesses and financial institutions could take that would generate positive impacts, individually and collaboratively, across a range of sectors.
Through a brainstorming exercise we identified more than 50 potential levers that were then put to a vote for further analysis.
This process resulted in the following 10 levers being selected. In researching these levers, it became apparent that each brings different benefits to the city. Some have a great potential to create jobs, others to deliver wider economic or environmental benefits. Finally, some act as “enablers” in that they don’t deliver direct benefits but instead contribute to the success of others.
These enabling levers can be accessed at the bottom of the page.
Our research approach here analyzed 10 levers for change that can help the city, its businesses and financial institutions make the transition toward the circular economy.
In conducting our research we have uncovered a range of potential approaches that can deliver jobs and economic opportunities, and address critical environmental challenges. These are explained in detail in the report, but the table below highlights the potential offered by each of these levers.
KEY:
Our research findings
In this section, we focus on the role of enabling levers: those levers that support the achievement of the core levers and play a critical role in facilitating the transition to a circular New York City. Our research has identified five key enabling levers: Policy, Finance, Innovation, Communication and Education.
