Rohit Aggarwala

Rohit Aggarwala
Born 1971
Manhattan, NY
Residence Manhattan, NY
Occupation

Chief Policy Officer Sidewalk Labs

Adjunct Professor at Columbia University
Organization

Sidewalk Labs

Columbia University

Dr. Rohit T. Aggarwala, also known as Rit, is an American environmental policy advisor, transportation planner, and historian. He is currently the Chief Policy Officer at Sidewalk Labs.[1]

Aggarwala is best known for his work as the Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability for New York City from 2006 until June 2010.[2] In this role, he led the development and implementation of PlaNYC, Mayor Michael Bloomberg’s long-term sustainability plan for New York City.

PlaNYC: A Greener, Greater New York”, a long range plan for New York City’s continued growth through the year 2030. While maintaining the support of both the business and environmental communities, PlaNYC has led New York City to a 19% reduction in its overall carbon footprint since 2005.[3][4] Mayor Bloomberg called him "the brains behind PlaNYC."[5]

He serves on several boards, including that of the Regional Plan Association (RPA); the Urban Green Council; the advisory boards of the Eno Transportation Foundation and New World Capital.[6] He is co-chair of the RPA’s Fourth Regional Plan, and was recently appointed to the Transportation Reinvention Commission of New York’s M.T.A.[7]

In early 2013, he was briefly rumored to be a potential candidate to be Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.[8]

Early Career and Education

Before joining the Bloomberg administration, Aggarwala was an associate[9] at McKinsey & Company.[10]

Aggarwala was born in New York City and grew up in White Plains, New York and Rome.[11] Aggarwala holds a B.A., M.B.A., and Ph.D from Columbia University, as well as a Master’s degree from Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario.[10]

Director of New York City’s Office of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability

Aggarwala’s accomplishments spearheading PlaNYC include the drafting and passage of the Greener, Greater Buildings Plan, a comprehensive package of legislation requiring energy efficiency improvements in existing large buildings; rules requiring hybrid taxis, which despite a Federal lawsuit have resulted in 25 percent of the yellow taxi fleet converting to hybrid vehicles; the establishment and report of the Green Codes Task Force; and the creation of the first-of-its-kind New York City Panel on Climate Change, which developed official climate change forecasts for New York City. He also played a leading role in the proposal to bring congestion pricing to Manhattan in 2007, which was a PlaNYC initiative.[12]

Special Advisor to the C40 Chair

From 2010 to 2013, Aggarwala served as a Special Advisor to the Chair of the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group, a network of the world’s megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[13]

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Aggarwala served as Environmental Donations Director for the Bloomberg Philanthropies during which time it made a $50 million grant to the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Initiative.[14]

Bloomberg Associates

Prior to joining Sidewalk Labs Aggarwala was the leader of the sustainability practice at Bloomberg Associates, a philanthropic consulting firm that serves city governments.[15]

Columbia University

Aggarwala is an adjunct Professor Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs.[6] In the past, he has also taught at Stanford University.

Awards and Honors

Selected Publications

Articles

Interviews

See also

References

  1. "Sidewalk Labs: Team". www.sidewalklabs.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  2. Mayor Bloomberg Announces Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability Rohit T. Aggarwala Stepping Down in June, News from the Blue Room http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2010a%2Fpr141-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1, accessed 2013-05-21
  3. "Rohit T. Aggarwala - Principal, Sustainability". Bloomberg Associates.
  4. "Groups Embrace PLANYC 2030". Environmental Defense Fund.
  5. "MAYOR BLOOMBERG ANNOUNCES DIRECTOR OF LONG-TERM PLANNING AND SUSTAINABILITY ROHIT T. AGGARWALA STEPPING DOWN IN JUNE". www.nyc.gov. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  6. 1 2 "Rohit Aggarwala". Columbia University.
  7. "MTA Establishes Transportation Reinvention Commission". Metropolitan Transportation Authority. June 24, 2014.
  8. Eilperin, Juliet (January 16, 2013). "Salazar departure leaves 'green' posts vacant". The Washington Post.
  9. "Rohit ("Rit") T. Aggarwala, PhD | NewWorld Capital Group". www.newworldcapital.net. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  10. 1 2 Rohit T. Aggarwala, Eno Center for Transportation, http://www.enotrans.org/profile/rohit-t-rit-aggarwala accessed 2013-21-05
  11. Annie Karni, “Planner behind Bloomberg’s PlaNYC,” New York Observer, May 29, 2007 http://www.nysun.com/new-york/planner-behind-bloombergs-planyc/55342/
  12. Mayor Bloomberg Announces Director of Long-Term Planning and Sustainability Rohit T. Aggarwala Stepping Down in June, News from the Blue Room, http://www.nyc.gov/portal/site/nycgov/menuitem.c0935b9a57bb4ef3daf2f1c701c789a0/index.jsp?pageID=mayor_press_release&catID=1194&doc_name=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.nyc.gov%2Fhtml%2Fom%2Fhtml%2F2010a%2Fpr141-10.html&cc=unused1978&rc=1194&ndi=1, accessed 2013-05-21
  13. "C40: Press Release: C40 Announces New Milestones in Leadership and Funding". C40. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  14. Shogren, Elizabeth (July 21, 2011). "Mayor Bloomberg Donates $50 Million To Sierra Club". NPR.
  15. "Sidewalk Labs: Rohit Aggarwala". www.sidewalklabs.com. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  16. "2011 Gala Honorees | Urban Green Council". urbangreencouncil.org. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
  17. "PlaNYC Wins Heart of Green Award". The Daily Green. Retrieved 2016-06-05.
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