Reducing Driving As Climate Action

​Presented by Open Plans:

​The climate movement must explicitly embrace reducing driving as a key piece of reducing emissions and building a sustainable future. Adoption of EVs has not and will not sufficiently address emissions caused by transportation, even if they were being adopted at target goals. In fact, increases in Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), in NYC and nationwide, are currently undercutting other strategies for reducing transportation related emissions, leaving us all in a standstill.

​This panel addresses the need to reduce driving and explores various strategies for getting there, with a focus on strategies that have successfully improved air quality and reduced driving, and the connection between the two.

​Sara Lind (Moderator), Co-Executive Director, Open Plans · Andrew Gounardes, NY State Senator, NY State Senate · Doug O'Malley, Director, Environment New Jersey · Elana Conte, Advisor, Stop the Cross Bronx Expansion Coalition · Isabela Brown, Senior Climate Policy Advisor, NYC Mayor's Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

​This session is hosted by Open Plans and the Parking Reform Network and is a part of The Urban Climate Solution Track at NYC Climate Week 2026. View all events in the track at https://www.urbanclimatesolution.org/.

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