New York City Department of Environmental Protection Commissioner Rit Aggarwala is stepping down after four years leading the agency, with his final day expected to be Jan. 30.

Aggarwala announced his resignation in a letter to staff, saying he had informed the deputy mayor for operations that he would leave his role as commissioner and the city’s chief climate officer.

What You Need To Know

  • DEP Commissioner Rit Aggarwala plans to step down, with his final day expected to be Jan. 30

  • In his resignation letter, Aggarwala called leading the agency “the honor of a lifetime”

  • He cited major investments in water infrastructure, climate resilience and agency efficiency during his tenure

  • His resignation follows the recent announcement that Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol will also leave his post

“Serving New York City as both the Commissioner of the Department of Environmental Protection and as the City’s Chief Climate Officer has truly been the honor of a lifetime,” he wrote.

Then-Mayor Eric Adams appointed Aggarwala to the role in February 2022.

In the letter, Aggarwala said the department made major investments in the city’s water system, stormwater management and climate resilience during his tenure, along with operational improvements at the agency itself.

Aggarwala also highlighted the creation of a Bureau of Coastal Resilience to protect the city from coastal flooding, as well as the launch of an Environmental Tech Lab focused on bringing new technology into the agency.

He warned that the agency faces growing challenges tied to climate change, aging infrastructure and security threats.

“The climate continues to change, increasing both flood and drought risk,” he wrote. “Our watershed protections need to be updated to meet the new threats our reservoirs face and avoid merely extending programs that were well-suited to the challenges of a generation ago.”

“We must protect our infrastructure, data, and people in an increasingly hostile world in which water systems have been targeted,” he added. “And we must improve our efficiency to ensure that the price of water remains one of New York City’s best bargains, while also investing in our infrastructure for ourselves and for future generations.”

He told staff he is confident the agency can meet those challenges.

News of Aggarwala’s departure comes the same week New York City Emergency Management Commissioner Zach Iscol announced he would be stepping down.