By Theme:Arts and Literature | Campus Sustainability | Community Perspectives | Development | Economic Analysis | Ecosystem Analysis | Education | Energy | Environmental Justice | Food Systems | Geology of the Watershed | Green Architecture | Green Business | History of the Watershed | Invasive Species | Land Use Patterns | Public Policy | Recreation | Transportation | Water Quality

Environmental Justice

Impact & Outcomes of Environmental Education on Albany High School Students & Community Perceptions of the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center

Isabel Beard, Audrey Erickson, Andy Rhodes, Brandon Wilson Radcliffe (2020)

We evaluated the impacts of an after-school program at the Radix Ecological Sustainability Center on Albany, NY high schoolers participating in environmental education (EE) programming, as well as the community perceptions of Radix’s youth programs. We addressed gaps in the literature by analyzing garden based, place-based, experiential, and transformative education and environmental justice, through EE at Radix. We found positive changes in environmental understanding and life-projections for students involved in Radix programming.

Paper is not available.  For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.

 

Heating, Cooling and Energizing New York’s Empire State Plaza: A Proposal for a Just Transition to Renewable Energy

Anna Merrens, Mac Dill, and Nicol La Cumbre-Gibbs (2020)

Sheridan Hollow has housed fossil-fuel facilities that power Empire State Plaza (ESP) in Albany, NY, for decades. In 2019, the New York Power Authority created a plan to generate approximately 50% of ESP’s electricity from renewable sources. We then created a proposal to cover ESP’s remaining electricity demand, so it could be powered by 100% green energy, in order to alleviate stress on a historical Environmental Justice community.

Paper is not available.  For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.

 

Environmental Justice is Exhausting: 5 Decades of Air Pollution at Ezra Prentice Homes in Albany New York

Haja Bah, Saima Hannan, Sophia Livecchi (2021)

Our case study research worked to better understand the historical and more contemporary environmental justice issues faced by the residents of Ezra Prentice Homes, a predominately Black, low-income community of color located in the south end of Albany, New York. Through narrative and archival analysis, and purposeful sampling we conducted semi-structured interviews with a diversity of stakeholders from both within and outside of this marginalized community.

Paper is not available.  For information, please contact the ESS Program Director.

 

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Adirondack Park

Olivia Berson, Andres Durante & Lucy Janovitz (2021)

We investigated diversity, equity, and inclusion in the Adirondack Park region of New York State. While the park is free and open to the public, not everyone who wants to access the Park has the ability to do so. Our research found that many programs and organizations are working to increase diversity and inclusivity in the park through education initiatives, more inclusive staff hiring and training, and efforts to make the park a more welcoming space for Indigenous communities in the region.