In this article for Constructioneer Magazine, Dewberry Senior Project Scientist David Nowak discusses the impact of New York City’s ambitious climate strategy on the broader construction market and how policies, such as Local Law 97, are redefining the role of the contractor. With focus shifting from operational-carbon reduction to embodied-carbon management, contractors will be responsible for implementing low-carbon requirements through procurement decisions and construction practices that align with New York’s evolving decarbonization landscape.