The NYC subway is drowning. Here’s how to save it

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illuminem summarises for you the essential news of the day. Read the full piece on The Washington Post or enjoy below:

🗞️ Driving the news: The New York City subway system, increasingly impacted by heavy flooding, is undergoing significant changes to improve its resilience against climate-driven storms
• With rising extreme rainfall, the system's infrastructure, which was not designed to handle such extremes, is being overhauled to protect passengers and ensure reliable service

🔭 The context: The subway’s vulnerability stems from both its proximity to the surface and its aging infrastructure
• The city is now grappling with increasing moisture in the atmosphere, causing frequent downpours far beyond what the system was originally built to handle
• Flooding in subway stations has become a recurring issue, disrupting service and posing risks to both passengers and infrastructure

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: The fight against flooding in NYC’s subway system highlights the growing importance of adapting urban infrastructure to climate change
• With more intense rainfall driven by climate change, these upgrades are crucial not only for ensuring public safety but also for reducing reliance on cars, which contributes to reducing carbon emissions

⏭️ What’s next: The MTA has committed to $700 million in new stormwater defenses
• It will focus on upgrading pumps, raising station entrances, and implementing "tactical" interventions to prevent flooding, with a long-term strategy to integrate natural solutions like the restoration of bluebelts to absorb excess water

💬 One quote: “A city that works with its nature is going to be a city that lasts longer for its people,” — Ecologist Eric Sanderson

📈 One stat: The NYC subway now handles an estimated 22 million tons of CO2 emissions avoided annually by reducing car usage

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