Nyc’s new chief climate officer louise yeung aims to transform city into climate-resilient haven

Louise Yeung brings a decade of hands-on climate experience to her new role as Chief Climate Officer under Mayor Zohran Mamdani, with an ambitious vision to make New York City not just more sustainable, but a fundamentally “better place to live” for all residents.

Yeung’s extensive background in NYC government has positioned her uniquely for this challenge. She played a crucial role in rebuilding the city’s flood infrastructure following the devastating Hurricane Sandy, demonstrating her ability to turn climate disasters into opportunities for stronger, more resilient systems. Her work has spanned critical areas including fortifying streets and tunnels against extreme weather events and ensuring the city’s financial portfolio reflects its climate commitments—a increasingly important aspect of municipal climate policy.

In her new position, Yeung plans to take a comprehensive approach that goes beyond traditional environmental measures. She aims to integrate climate resilience with addressing New York’s ongoing affordability crisis and public health challenges, recognizing that effective climate action must also improve residents’ daily lives. This holistic strategy reflects a growing understanding among urban climate leaders that environmental sustainability and social equity are inseparable goals.

With climate change accelerating and cities like New York facing intensifying storms, heat waves, and flooding, Yeung’s appointment signals the Mamdani administration’s commitment to proactive rather than reactive climate policy. Her track record suggests she’s well-equipped to navigate the complex intersection of environmental protection, infrastructure development, and urban livability that defines modern climate governance.