Yesterday, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio appointed Jainey Bavishi as Director of the Office of Recovery and Resiliency. Bavishi will helm the city’s OneNYC program, begun in April 2015, which aims to promote equitable growth and climate change resiliency. Key objectives include reducing 80 percent of the city’s greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 and preparing the Big Apple for rising sea levels.

“Our goals to ensure our city is prepared for the impacts of climate change are ambitious. To help keep us on the path of protecting our residents and demonstrating leadership and collaboration in adapting to these threats, I am so pleased to have Jainey Bavishi join our team of extremely talented climate experts,” said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a press release.

Previously, Bavishi was the associate director for Climate Preparedness at the White House Council on Environmental Quality, where she had a major role in implementing the President Obama’s Climate Action Plan. “With the addition of Jainey Bavishi to our team, the City will expand its global leadership on climate adaptation and resiliency. I’m thrilled to have Jainey join the team as we raise the bar and achieve our ambitious climate commitments,” added Daniel Zarrilli, senior director for Climate Policy and Programs and chief resilience officer for the Office of the Mayor

Zarrilli will continue in his role leading the City’s integrated climate team and overseeing the work of the Office of Recovery and Resiliency, the Office of Sustainability, the Office of Environmental Coordination, and the coordination of the OneNYC program.

For our most recent update on Manhattan’s “Big U” coastal resiliency project, see here.