Protecting the Environment/Promoting Sustainable Development

Throughout his career in public service, Bill Thompson has been a forceful advocate for environmental protection and the wise use of natural resources. He has been a strong proponent of recycling, green construction, and responsible waste management. While Comptroller, as chief investment adviser to the New York City Pension Systems, Thompson drew the connection between a company’s profitability and its adherence to environmentally sound business practices.

In support of sound environmental policies, Thompson has:

• Worked to stop natural gas drilling within or near the NYC watershed, which could compromise our drinking supply and require construction of a $10 billion filtration plant.
• Joined Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. in calling for the preservation of precious wildlife space in the Ridgewood Reservoir along the Brooklyn-Queens border.
• Documented the impact of airport congestion at New York City’s three major airports on local ozone levels and runoff into the vulnerable salt marshes of Jamaica Bay.
• Revealed that the Department of Environmental Protection did not effectively monitor waste water treatment plants in the Catskill/Delaware watershed areas.
• Released a report highlighting the challenges and costs our City faces due to capacity limitations at landfill disposal sites.
• Determined that the Dept. of Sanitation constructed compost facilities in the Bronx and Brooklyn before doing mandatory environmental reviews and obtaining necessary permits.
• Urged the passage of a "Bigger Better Bottle Bill" that would add non-carbonated beverages to the deposit law and provide our City with as much as $100 million.
• Called on firms in the City’s investment portfolio to issue “sustainability reports” detailing the impact of their businesses on the environment, including greenhouse gas production.
• Worked with other institutional investors to call on U.S. companies, Wall Street firms, and the SEC to fully inform investors on the financial risks presented by climate change.
• Called on mining giant Freeport McMoran to review policies at its West Indonesia operation after reports emerged that company practices were damaging local rivers.