Laura Popa

Laura Popa serves as the deputy commissioner of sustainability for the New York City Department of Buildings. In this role, Popa leads the newly created Bureau of Sustainability, which will spearhead all sustainability initiatives at the Department. She works closely with DOB’s team of sustainability specialists to push forward Department actions that will help New York City achieve its climate goals and continue to serve as a model for energy efficiency and emissions reductions.

Popa joins the Department after more than 22 years of public service. She was a legal and policy advisor at the New York City Council and the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission. During her public service career, Popa oversaw the development of legislation and policy at the City Council and directed the Council’s efforts to enact landmark legislation that supports citywide greenhouse gas emissions limits, the institutionalization of long-term sustainability and resiliency planning, and the expansion of clean and renewable energy. She also served on numerous advisory boards and task forces related to sustainability and was a member of the Mayor’s Commission on Gender Equity. Previously Popa taught at Fordham Law School for many years, and she is currently a lecturer at Columbia University. A long-time resident of Brooklyn, Laura earned her B.A. from New York University and her J.D. from Fordham Law School.

TEACHING:

• Environmental Law and Policy in New York