NYC Mayor Faces Climate ‘Litmus Test’ on Buildings Law (2)

New York City Mayor Eric Adams, having appointed three respected policymakers to his climate-change leadership team, now faces what is seen as an even bigger test of his climate ambitions.

Adams (D) is sticking to an assertion he made last year as a mayoral candidate, saying he’s unsure about fines for building owners who violate a landmark 2019 emissions regulation that is set to take effect in two years. The regulation—known as Local Law 97—matters because buildings account for some two-thirds of greenhouse gas emissions across New York City.

As a result, where Adams ...