The Bard CEP Eco Reader

“Sea’s” the Day–In High Water

Attention all those “safe” from flooding . . . In the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012, New York City has proactively initiated several projects to enhance the city’s resilience and protect its citizens from coastal flooding in the event of another Sandy-like storm. However, recent research suggests that the City’s coastal …

Change is in the Air – The U.S.’s First Offshore Wind Farm

Here it is, folks. We are standing at the crossroads of a remarkable energy transition in the United States. Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are dropping in cost seemingly every day. The monumental agreement at COP21 in Paris last December and the falling price of oil and …

Keep It In Your Pockets!— Why Energy Efficient Tech is Not That Efficient After All

Have you recently invested in energy-efficient technology? Do you believe that you’re consuming less energy and lowering your carbon footprint? (You can calculate your personal carbon footprint here). If you answered yes to both of these questions, you probably haven’t heard of the rebound effect in energy efficiency. The rebound effect …

Nonprofit Leadership in New York City’s Energy Sector

As I’ve mentioned in my previous blogs about working for NYSERDA, New York City is going through a major energy transition. The State and City governments are both looking at ways to drastically change the energy landscape to include more distributed renewable sources of generation and to reduce energy usage, …

Collaborative Climate Education, Student Voices, and State Policy: Reflections on Power Dialog 2016

The week of April 4th, 2016, over a thousand of students from more than fifty colleges and universities in twenty state capitals participated in Power Dialog forums with state officials and other experts. The focus: state policy efforts to cut global warming pollution, and support the US commitment to reduce …

Women Leaders in Federal Agencies: Their Challenges and Recommendations

Even in the twenty-first century, there is a gender gap in both the STEM fields (science, technology, engineering, and math) and the U.S. government.  As a female government employee, graduate student in environmental policy, and an engineering degree holder, I have personally witnessed disparity in the representation of women in …

Leading the Charge on Climate Resilience and Natural Resource Management Research in the Philippines

Being part of a graduate program that is so interdisciplinary in nature requires one to wear many hats. One has to be flexible and creative enough to be compelling, yet subtle, in order to provide thought provoking insights in a manner that is appropriate to your audience. These qualities are …

Bard College Students Organize Nationwide Dialog on Climate: Students in 20 States to Talk with Policy-Makers

For the last nine months, four students at Bard College in New York’s Hudson Valley have been meeting in a basement office on campus. Their mission: to catalyze a nationwide conversation about state-level action on climate change. Undergraduates Xaver Kandler and Maggie Berke, and environmental policy graduate students Meredith Lavalley and …

Growing Leadership in Sustainability Services in Beijing and Beyond

As the world’s largest emitter of carbon dioxide, China is facing increasing pressure on emissions reductions. Meanwhile, the nation also is facing domestic pressure regarding employment, urbanization, and traditional pollutant (such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide) emissions reductions. The dilemma that China faces today is a developmental crisis coexisting …

Leading Sustainable E-waste Management in Washington

Leadership takes many forms, but can anyone become a leader? A simple Webster definition of leadership is “a person that leads a party or a group,” but being a leader can mean so much more than that. A good leader can drive change and make hard decisions. An effective leader can inspire, motivate, …