Digital Commons Network^™

Adapting To Environmental Crises: Humans’ Resilience To Humanity, Isabella Volonte

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis addresses the modern adaptations of human societies in response to environmental crises during the times of Covid-19 and climate change. As humans continue to inflict destruction on the planet and each other, we must understand human adaptation as a response to human action and treat this action as one equal to the forces of nature. Chapter 1 discusses the concept that human action has evolved to be as powerful as nature in terms of destruction and catastrophic consequences on human society. This chapter addresses relevant data on the magnitude of human consequences, in the context of Covid-19 and …

Adapting To Environmental Crises: Humans’ Resilience To Humanity, Isabella Volonte

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis addresses the modern adaptations of human societies in response to environmental crises during the times of Covid-19 and climate change. As humans continue to inflict destruction on the planet and each other, we must understand human adaptation as a response to human action and treat this action as one equal to the forces of nature. Chapter 1 discusses the concept that human action has evolved to be as powerful as nature in terms of destruction and catastrophic consequences on human society. This chapter addresses relevant data on the magnitude of human consequences, in the context of Covid-19 and …

Sustainable Urban Planning: Turning The Concrete Jungle Into Green Buildings, Danielle Richardson

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the issue of greenhouse gas emissions – particularly those from buildings – within New York City and discusses ways to construct new sustainable buildings and retrofit existing buildings to both minimize greenhouse gas emissions as well as act as carbon sinks to absorb some of the emissions. Reducing overall greenhouse gas emissions is critical to NYC meeting its climate target goals, as detailed in the mayoral administrations’ PlaNYC and OneNYCenvironmental plans. This paper analyzes sustainable architecture and construction and presents various options and policies as to how to turn the city into a green city through …

Remedying Renewable Energy Research: Implementation Of Green Chemistry In Laboratories, Julia Mayes

Student Theses 2015-Present

One of the pillars of environmental studies is the analysis of the natural world and the research being done to rectify harmful human activity on it. Laboratory components in the fields of chemistry, biology, ecology, among others, are powerful tools for learning about the way our environment works and assessing how human activities harm it. More advanced laboratories conduct research in the pursuit of new technologies to mitigate anthropogenic climate change. Concurrently, this work yields large quantities of waste. While laboratories are inherently valuable to the field of environmental science, the waste created by them raises a question of net …

Doomscrolling: How Science Journalism Can Fight Climate Despair, Rachel Gow

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis explores how the compulsive consumption of negative climate news leads to passivity and what science journalists can do to galvanize rather than traumatize readers. While journalists must alert the public of the climate crisis’ severity, they should avoid creating a too-late-to-help narrative. This thesis attempts to find a balance in the tones of intensity and optimism in environmental communications. The first chapter establishes climate change as human-caused before exploring the history of climate communications and its contributions to eco-anxiety. The second chapter looks at the use of emotional pleas in climate change reporting as found in fake climate …

Water Remunicipalization: Insights And Policy Implications From Atlanta, Georgia Case Study, David L. Fretz

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper investigates the ways in which water remunicipalization and the natural right to clean drinking water has affected the livelihood of the population of Atlanta, Georgia. Looking at the failures of water privatization efforts across the globe within the context of the ecosystem resources that water provides, I show in chapter 1 that the privatization of water is antithetical to the core goals of water supply, and an increasingly pressing issue as climate change produces increasing water scarcity. In chapter 2, I analyze the efforts of utility privatization in general through the lens of political science, both in motivations, …

Locked Inside: The Importance Of New York City’S Parks In The Wake Of Covid-19, Ellena Dickerson

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper investigates the role of green space in combating the negative impacts of the COVID-19 lockdown on New Yorkers. Access to the outdoors is vital for ensuring the mental, physical, and emotional well-being of individuals at all times, but especially in times of communal crisis. Chapter 1 investigates park usage during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, from changes in the numbers of people patronizing their local parks, to the implications the pandemic had on park maintenance. Chapter 2 discusses Nature Deficit Disorder and the benefits of time spent outdoors to understand the vital role parks have in individuals’ …

Towers Of Trash: Dissecting India’S Solid Waste Management Crisis, Maya L. Reddy

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the complex issue of poor solid waste management in the nation of India. The infamous Ghazipur landfill in New Delhi serves as a focal point of this paper as it provides drastic examples of the consequences of solid waste management systems that do not operate effectively. Drawing on information from various scholarly sources, Chapter 1 discusses the issue of solid waste mismanagement in India and its surrounding quantitative and qualitative data. Chapter 2 highlights the socioeconomic, cultural, and religious aspects of consumption, growth, and waste, specifically in relation to prevailing sociological attitudes on material wealth and luxury. …

U.S. Seaweed Farming: How We Can Remedy And Revolutionize Our Industrialized Food System, Gabrielle Alexis Perez

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the potential that regenerative kelp farming along the U.S. coasts can have to remediate environmental degradation caused by our industrialized food system. In chapter 1, using quantitative data from various peer-reviewed journal articles, I explain the ways in which the widespread use of petrochemicals in fuel and fertilizers have contributed to environmental degradation in the form of nitrogen pollution on land and in water, soil erosion, and ocean acidification. Chapter 2 examines the political figures and events that led to our decades-long dependence on petrochemical farming. Then, I discuss seaweed fertilizers as a sustainable alternative for the …

Farm To Boardroom: How Improving Farm Conditions Leads To Sustained And Ethical Profit, Emily Mueller

Student Theses 2015-Present

As a society evolving and innovating at a pace faster than ever before seen in human history, we find ourselves at a crossroads of dealing with planetary boundaries and improving social standards. We are met with a crisis just thirty years away; the crisis of needing to be able to effectively and sustainably feed ten billion people across the globe. The 20th century brought on a booming age for industrializing the food system in order to increase yield and thus profit. The new process was a significant breakthrough at its time, but now we must face the question of when …

The Bitcoin Standard: The Pursuit Of Sound Monetary And Environmental Management Systems, Yuta T. Kobayashi

Student Theses 2015-Present

The adoption of blockchain technology as a medium for monetary and management systems creates an opportunity for an environmentally conscious economic system. This paper discusses how Bitcoin and blockchain would provide a socio-economic management system better aligned with a society’s eco-friendly aims and to address the extent of environmental degradation. Unfortunately, our ecosystems are not being protected or restored reflective of the value they provide. Economic models also ignore the varied costs of polluting our ecosystems. Advancements of blockchain-based technology enable a decisive move from current legacy market structures and incentives. Efforts in environmental policy and regulation have ultimately been …

Reaching Climate Resiliency: The Challenge For Urban Areas, Anita Gitta

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores some of the current challenges urban areas face in regards to climate change and the shifts that are necessary for urban areas to reach a state of climate resiliency. Chapter 1 uses the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report on urban areas to understand the current and future challenges that urban areas will face in the years to come. Chapter 2 explores how New York City is working to address climate change. Chapter 3, explores the role that urban agriculture can play in moving urban areas closer towards a future of climate resiliency. Within …

Commodifying The Commons: American Individualism And Corporate Agriculture, Sarah A. Cryer

Student Theses 2015-Present

An individualistic ideology strongly defines the American value system, shaping the economic and political landscape of the country. It encourages a competitive, free-market economy with little government restriction, prioritizing short term economic growth over environmental and social sustainability. This paper addresses how American individualism fuels the commodification of food and corporately controlled agriculture. The egocentric ideology opens the door for unfettered corporate control of farming, meant to maximize profit and control resources, despite its effects on food insecurity and small farms. Consolidated agriculture, corporate contracts, and farm subsidies are meant to expand the pockets of corporations, though leaving low income …

Conserving Chelonia Mydas Populations In Oahu: The Impact Of Plastic On The Hawaiian Archipelago, Hailey Arango

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the anthropogenic factors that hinder the survival of the once-endangered Hawaiian Chelonia mydas population and the associated environmental degradation faced by the Hawaiian Islands. Chapter 1 introduces quantitative data on the decline and gradual recovery of the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle (Chelonia mydas). By understanding the origin of the inhibition of the Hawaiian Chelonia mydas population growth and its correlation to the demise of coral reef health, the future viability of recreational fishing and ecotourism can be determined. This chapter studies the cultural significance of this species and evaluates the current stance on government support …

Microplastics In The Big Apple: A Look Into Plastic Pollution Of New York City Waters, Taina Colon

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the issue of the presence of microplastics in NYC waters and how existing policy, in combination with a lack of research, fails to acknowledge the risk and harm of this type of pollution. Additionally, it presents the Bronx River as an example of a specific body of water in New York City and employs the following disciplines to analyze microplastic pollution. Chapter 1 uses ecological research to define microplastic pollution and discuss how this type of pollution is a problem far more vast and complicated than it is widely considered to be. Chapter 2 delves into environmental …

The True Cost Of Clothes: Sustainability Issues In The Fashion Industry, Grace Costa

Student Theses 2015-Present

Fashion is one of the most environmentally harmful industries on the planet. From greenhouse gas emissions to toxic chemicals in water supplies, the price that the planet, and vulnerable populations, must pay in the production of the clothing we wear each day is not cheap. This paper discusses the role that the fashion industry plays in environmental degradation today, as well as strategies that can be employed within the industry to make it more sustainable. Chapter 1 provides an overview of and through quantitative data on why and how the manufacturing and sale of clothing is environmentally harmful. Chapter 2 …

A Meadow From Above: Expanding Green Roof Implementation In Nyc, Lydia Hallett

Student Theses 2015-Present

Urban green roofs are among the encouraging climate solutions that can transform the future of cities. The reincorporation of vegetation into the built environment enhances invaluable natural services, like clean air and water, for all New Yorkers to enjoy. Although the natural services aren’t economically valued, the benefits that stem from them are. Benefits range from stormwater management, increased property value and increased lifespan of roofs, and lower energy bills. Many buildings can be retrofitted for green roofs that work with natural systems to maximize the environmental, economic, and social benefits unique to the needs or wants of the installer. …

Conservation And Murder: The Plight Of Indigenous Land Defenders In Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand And The Philippines, Jillian G. Kenny

Student Theses 2015-Present

This thesis focuses on four countries: Mexico, Costa Rica, New Zealand and the Philippines, and focuses on the state of Indigenous land defender cases in each country. Each country has a different approach to granting free, prior, and informed consent to Indigenous communities in regard to environmental issues. Chapter 1 focuses on the issue of Indigenous land and environment defenders, explaining who they are and why they are activists within their communities. It also elucidates how Indigenous people are being treated within their countries and how reliance on ecosystem services leads to an environmental justice issue. Chapter 2 focuses on …

A Living City: Food Accessibility And Urban Growth In New York City, Kat Coleman

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the way in which food equity and localization initiatives, specifically in New York City, are a vital response to urban growth and sustainable food demand. Improvements to the current food system in the form of changing the way food is produced, procured, stored, transported, and distributed improves nutrition and contributes to urban sustainability. Chapter 1 provides data on urban environmental justice issues related to food equity, drawing on research from the United Nations and food justice organizations in New York City. Chapter 2 explores the ethical issues surrounding food access and food justice in an increasingly urban …

The Ongoing Effects Of Apartheid On Waste Management In South Africa, Katherine Kuemerle

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper explores the negative imprint that apartheid has left on the waste management sector in South Africa and the strategies being put in place to decolonize and restructure the current system. Chapter 1 includes quantitative research to introduce this topic as well as a discussion of the history of colonization in South Africa, with data on how indigenous groups interacted with the environment in pre-colonial history. Chapter 1 will also examine how, after the arrival of the European colonizers, the creation of townships and informal settlements and their inaccessible, unsustainable infrastructure has led to the current ways in which …

A Sea Of Trouble: The Threat Of Rising Sea Level In New York City, Claudia Kay Keech

Student Theses 2015-Present

Sea levels have been rising steadily due to earth’s increasing surface temperature, and they are becoming extremely detrimental to coastal areas, such as New York City. This paper addresses the negative impacts that sea level rise will have on coastal communities and psychological damage it may cause. Additionally, it will discuss sustainable design that will allow these communities to adapt to and mitigate the issue of sea level rise, as well as other policy recommendations to further combat this issue. The introduction illustrates the reality of the citizens of these coastal communities and how their homes and jobs are at …

A Winner's Mentality: Building An Environmental Dynasty Through Sustainable Sports, Alexander J. Heilman

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper examines the short- and long-term benefits of sustainability in professional sports and how it can be used as a platform for educating others on sustainable practices, focusing mainly on the 4 major sports leagues of North America as well as European Soccer. Chapter 1 provides an overview of the sports industry and the effects it has had on the environment. The sports industry’s relationship with environmental issues, such as pollution and waste, are also examined through case studies and data analysis. Chapter 2 explores the history of the sports industry since 1900 and how it has evolved into …

Florida’S Red Tide: The Hidden Costs Of Land Development In The Everglades, Catherine Joan Outman

Student Theses 2015-Present

How does human development of land affect the surrounding ecosystems? This paper explores the development of the Everglades throughout the 1900s, which turned much of this wetland into farmland. Rerouting and restructuring of the Everglades’ remaining waterways has caused fertilizer-rich water from the farms to be dumped into the ocean. This fertilizer pollution has caused aggressive outbreaks of red tide, a toxic algal bloom which depletes the ocean’s oxygen and kills aquatic ecosystems, off the coast of Southwest Florida. Chapter one presents quantitative data about land development in the Everglades, focusing mainly on the amount of wetland before the 1900s …

The Intersection Of Deforestation And Economic Growth In The Brazilian Amazon, Victoria Oceguera

Student Theses 2015-Present

Abstract

As a result of capital gain, deforestation of the Amazon in Brazil continues. Brazilian government's insufficient efforts to mitigate and enforce the preservation of these precious forests has ledto the commodification of the Amazon. Chapter 1 uses historical and quantitative data to examine the negative impacts of deforestation on indigenous communities and climate change. Chapter2 employs economics to analyze the role of business as a crucial component of deforestation in Brazil. Chapter 3 engages politics in Brazil to discuss interactions between key actors involved in the perpetuation of deforestation. Chapter 3 examines the interactions between politics and corruption involved …

Storm On The Horizon: Climate Change, Hurricanes, And The Future Of The Eastern Caribbean, Joseph P. Odegaard

Student Theses 2015-Present

Hurricanes are a fact of life in the Caribbean. This meteorological reality has shaped the islands’ development throughout its history. However, in recent years, the Atlantic’s most fearsome storms have been unprecedented, both in strength and number. This paper explores the relationship between climate change and hurricanes and the effect this relationship has on the Eastern Caribbean. Chapter 1 uses quantitative data from a variety of sources, including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment of the United Nations, as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association and the National Climate Assessment of the United …

Food Choice Reform: Shifting American Culture Toward Sustainable Diets, Colleen Mccarthy

Student Theses 2015-Present

Excessive meat consumption is associated with a wide range of environmental problems. Reducing meat consumption has been recognized as one of the most efficient ways to decrease one’s ecological footprint, yet meat consumption is still on the rise and many are not willing to make changes to their diets to include less meat. This paper discusses the problem of America’s continued and rising overconsumption of meat, with the end goal of developing and concluding which strategies are most effective at shifting American culture toward sustainable diets. Chapter 1 gives an overview of why a reduction in meat consumption is necessary …

There Must Be Something In The Water: Understanding Pfas Contamination Of Groundwater As A National Security Issue, Kylie N. Ford

Student Theses 2015-Present

This report addresses the widespread pollution of domestic groundwater resources with Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) caused by firefighting activities performed at military installations across the United States. Two former military bases in Southeastern Pennsylvania are used as a single case study: the Naval Air Development Center (NADC) in Warminster and the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base (NASJRB) in Horsham. Chapter 1 gives a history of domestic military bases from the perspective of the infrastructure buildup and downsizing that occurred over the 20th Century, along with the environmental degradation revealed during brownfield redevelopment. The chapter then gives specifics about …

Breaking Ground On New Agricultural Models: Industrial Agriculture And The Local Food Movement, Elizabeth Nealon

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper discusses and examines the longstanding issues surrounding industrial food production as it currently exists and the various ways that purpose-driven enterprises and environmentally-conscious consumers in the United States have been able to steer food production in a more sustainable direction. Over the course of the technological revolution, people living in metropolitan areas have become so distanced from farms and the processes of food production that many are ignorant of the realities of the food industry. Chapter 1 addresses these issues by presenting quantitative data that lays out a timeline of the evolution of the food and agriculture industry …

Raising An Indoor Generation: Outdoor Environmental Education Impact On Adolescent Development, Daisy Elizabeth Bewley

Student Theses 2015-Present

In an increasingly digital world, children are growing up with less involvement and interaction with the environment. Hands-on and experiential learning is less popular in schools and a more test-oriented and numerical evaluation is increasingly popular. This thesis explores the decrease in outdoor environmental education and the impact that has on adolescent development and developmental milestones in children. This impact extends past just mental development and impacts the physical health development of children. Obesity, attention deficit disorders, and other behavioral issues are just a few of the signs of the problems that have arisen due to a decrease in environmental …

Documentaries Making A Difference: Communication Effects Of Environmental Film And Television, Lindsey A. Register

Student Theses 2015-Present

This paper addresses the motives of environmental documentaries and their influences on public opinion and action regarding environmental issues and ethics. It suggests that through the communication platform of the environmental documentary, environmental education can further one's understanding of the environment and the human relationship with nature. Chapter 1 uses quantitative data on contemporary documentary filmmaking, as well as on coverage of environmental issues in all communications media. This chapter also includes the data from a survey conducted at Fordham University, showing the influence of environmental documentaries on students’ mindsets and behaviors at this school/institution. Chapter 2 explores the history …