Digital Commons Network^™

Heat And Hardship: Energy Price Increases And Heatstroke Risks In Japan During The Global Energy Crisis, Kenshin Ueoka

CMC Senior Theses

Given the global rise in surface temperatures due to climate change, it is important to understand the interactions governing economic and behavioral responses to household heat adaptation. This study investigated the relationship between energy prices and heatstroke risks in Japan. The analysis revealed that the increase in energy prices during the 2021 global energy crisis was associated with an unexpected decrease in home heatstroke emergency room visits. This result is consistent with the Peltzman effect and moral hazard problem, as reduced economic access to air conditioning may have increased risk perception, heightening heatstroke prevention measures. The ambiguity of this result …

The Role Of Cap-And-Trade In Corporate Accountability: Evaluating The Effectiveness And Challenges Of Emissions Trading Systems, Maxwell Feldman

CMC Senior Theses

The growing urgency of climate change demands actionable solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, particularly from corporations with significant environmental footprints. This thesis examines the role of cap-and-trade systems in promoting corporate accountability for emissions reductions, analyzing how market-based mechanisms can incentivize companies to transition to lower-carbon operations. While these systems offer flexibility and economic efficiency, their effectiveness is largely contingent on robust design, stringent enforcement, and transparency. Drawing on case studies from the European Union, California, and China, this paper explores the strengths and weaknesses of existing emissions trading systems (ETS), focusing on how these markets balance environmental goals …

Birth On Mother Earth: Mitigating The Maternal Health Crisis, Jill C. Engle

Faculty Scholarship

Maternal health outcomes in the U.S. are remarkably poor, especially when compared to those in other industrialized countries. For example, our maternal death rate is more than twice that of Canada’s. Women of color in the U.S. suffer maternal morbidity and mortality at rates considerably higher than white women. Indigenous women experience the worst maternal health outcomes of all. Yet, most maternal deaths and injuries are preventable. Furthermore, rates of maternal harm, including death, are lower when midwives and similar birthing attendants are involved. This Article is the first to fully explore the unique skillset of traditional birth attendants (TBAs). …

Conference Schedule, Georgia Southern University

National Youth Advocacy & Resilience Conference

Conference Schedule

Destroy, Rebuild, Repeat: How To Break The Climate Disaster Cycle, Mark P. Nevitt

Faculty Articles

Climate change is fundamentally reshaping how we live, where we live, and whether we invest in or retreat from climate-exposed communities—but climate and disaster law is not changing with the climate. This legal latency is driven by antiquated statutes, doctrines, and policies that have not kept pace with the climate moment. Ex ante adaptation decisions governing where to live are life and death choices that shape ex post disaster response. Laws and policies should facilitate sound climate decisionmaking, but too often they frustrate individual and governmental decisions on whether to stay or retreat. In this Article, I argue that laws …

Environmental Racism In America: Minority Communities As Dumping Grounds For Environmental Waste, Shelly Taylor Page, Patricia A. Broussard

Southern Illinois University Law Journal

This Article explores the systemic and disproportionate burden of environmental hazards placed on minority communities in the United States. It examines the historical and contemporary practices of environmental racism, where Communities of Color, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Latino populations, are more likely to live in areas with high levels of pollution, hazardous waste sites, and industrial facilities. The Article highlights the intersection of race, class, and environmental policy, showing how socio-political and economic factors contribute to the marginalization of these communities. It underscores the urgent need for comprehensive policy changes that address the immediate health risks and the long-term environmental …

Cumulative Environmental Impacts In Thailand : A Legal Appraisal Of The Eia Regime Under Neqa, Leila Kenza Cherkaoui

Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD)

This Research examines the limitations of Thailand’s Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) framework under the Enhancement and conservation of National Environmental Quality Act B.e. 2535 (1992) (NEQA), with a focus on its failure to address cumulative environmental impacts in tourism-intensive regions such as Phuket, Koh Samui, and Chiang Mai. While EIA was originally introduced to ensure that environmental risks are considered before project approval, in practice Thailand’s system remains narrowly projectbased, overlooking the combined effects of multiple small and medium scale development that together exceed ecological carrying capacity. This has contributed to serious environmental degradation, including coral reef decline, freshwater depletion, …

Renewable Energy Federalism 2.0, Danielle Stokes

Law Faculty Publications

Much like climate change, the clean energy transition presents a “super wicked” problem that is further complicated by prioritizing justice. History has taught us that government regulation, industry innovation, and community engagement are the catalysts of effective transitions. Similarly, the just energy transition requires the support of these interconnected networks. This Essay offers sustainable collaborative governance as a theoretical framework through which decision-makers may filter their assessments, industry can model its metrics, and community can develop language to articulate its needs. Sustainable collaborative governance is also a means of navigating the complexities of renewable energy siting and regulation while fostering …

Empowering Voices: The Unsung Role Of Women In Establishing And Sustaining The Pelindaba Treaty For An African Nuclear Weapon–Free Zone, Heba Fathy Elkomey, Alejandra Loreto Alfaro, Dennis Balami, Adeline Yuego, Miriam Yartey, Geraldine Okoye

International Journal of Nuclear Security

The Pelindaba Treaty, officially known as the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone (NWFZ) Treaty, stands as proof of Africa’s collective commitment to a nuclear-weapon-free continent. It was opened for signature in 1996 in Cairo, Egypt, and entered into force in 2009. Its main aim is to prevent the development, acquisition, possession, or stationing of nuclear weapons within the zone, thereby promoting peace and security for all African nations. The treaty outlines an array of comprehensive measures to achieve this goal. State parties are prohibited from engaging in any nuclear weapon–related activities. Also, the treaty requires parties to maintain the highest standards of …

Rooted In Resistance, Growing In Boriken: The Fight For Climate And Agricultural Justice In Puerto Rico, Jada Melendez

LEAD Scholars Academy Showcase

This project examines how Puerto Rico’s agricultural system has been shaped by historical colonization, economic policy, and climate change. Once largely self-sustaining, the island now imports more than 85 percent of its food, creating major vulnerabilities during natural disasters and economic disruptions. My research analyzes four key systems of injustice political, economic, social, and environmental and how they intersect to impact food sovereignty. The project also highlights grassroots solutions such as agroecology education, land protection, and investment in sustainable infrastructure. Through this work, I developed a deeper understanding of how colonial legacies continue to affect food systems today and how …

Racism Against Latinx Communities In The United States: A Personal And Structural Examination, Emilia Carpio

LEAD Scholars Academy Showcase

No abstract provided.

The Chthulucene Is Colonial Ecology: Ontology And Ethics In Anti-Colonial Environmental Theory, Aaron Morgan

Pomona Senior Theses

This thesis interrogates the movement from ontology (what things are) to ethics (what one should do) in the context of environmental theory and settler colonialism. From new materialism to posthumanism, theorists within the “ontological turn” aim to overcome the anti-ecological foundations of modern philosophy (e.g., dualisms of nature and society, matter and meaning, body and mind). Contra dualism, critical environmental theorists argue that relational ontologies can produce more ecologically responsible ethical frameworks, affects, and values. In this thesis, I focus on appeals to climate anxiety and ecological urgency as two common discursive formations that function to redirect philosophical accounts of …

The Migration Of Abolition Theory, Matthew Boaz

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

This Article considers whether and how theories of abolition developed by criminal law scholars are transferrable to the realm of immigration enforcement. A key question is how abolitionist principles might be employed in support of critiques of the United States’ immigration regulatory regime in the same way that these principles have been deployed in denouncing racialized policing and an injurious, industrialized prison system.

This Article makes two contributions: First, it identifies and illuminates a methodology adopted by critical and decarceral criminal law scholars: (i) denouncing the harms of a structural system, (ii) identifying the normative justification(s) for this system, and …

Public Land And Political Identity: Problematizing Open Space Preserves In Marin County, California, Samantha Gottsegen

Pitzer Senior Theses

This thesis is an interdisciplinary exploration of the role of protected natural areas—namely county-run open space preserves—in shaping political identity in Marin County, California. I critically examine the politicization of public lands and the sociorelational dynamics that emerge within local communities surrounding protected open space. I seek to deconstruct dominant understandings of landscape and nature as apolitical, neutral, or untouched, instead approaching public land as a site of ongoing meaning-making, identity formation, and power negotiation. I further place emphasis on the role of the state, through county governing bodies and affiliated organizations, in mediating access, constructing narratives of ownership, and …

One Move, Many Wins: Green Social Housing As A Solution For Housing Insecurity And Residential Energy Inefficiency In New Haven, Ct, Arinze Colin Agu

Public Health Theses

This thesis explores the dual challenges of housing insecurity and residential energy inefficiency in New Haven, Connecticut, and advances green social housing as a transformative policy response. Through a qualitative research design that integrates semi-structured interviews, document analysis, and policy review, the study uncovers the structural conditions that drive unaffordable, unhealthy, and energy-inefficient housing for low- and moderate-income residents. The findings reveal that high utility costs, poor building infrastructure, and disempowering tenant–landlord dynamics are not isolated issues but manifestations of deeper systemic inequities in housing and energy governance. Green social housing emerges as a strategic intervention that aligns sustainable building …

Nature-Based Solutions For Urban Climate Resilience: Assessment Of Environmental Planning & Policy Perspective In New York City, Padmi R. Ranasinghe

Planning Dissertations - Archive

Climate change exerts a profound global influence, elevating the risk of disasters. Rapid urbanization and high population density make cities increasingly vulnerable to disasters. Climate impact is intense for cities in deltas and coastal regions, highlighting the importance of managing urban watersheds effectively. Often, climate change affects people unequally, with marginalized communities being extra vulnerable to climate-related disasters due to where they live (geographical vulnerability) and limited adaptive capacity. People often live in areas vulnerable to climate-related hazards, including flood zones and regions affected by environmental injustices. Enhancing city resilience is crucial, as it needs to reduce vulnerability and exposure …

The Color Of Carbon: Racial Capitalism, Climate Change, And Law, Sumudu Atapattu, Carmen G. Gonzalez

Faculty Publications & Other Works

Climate change is a direct consequence of capitalism’s drive to maximize profits through the unbridled extraction of wealth from humans and nature, aided and abetted at every turn by law. In its voracious demand for cheap labor, cheap raw materials, and cheap waste disposal, capitalism has created a treadmill of fossil fuel–dependent production and consumption that has triggered a planetary emergency. It has also produced extreme economic inequality—a racialized division of wealth grounded in colonialism that enables the ultrarich to capture the spoils of the capitalist global economy while billions of people continue to live in extreme poverty. The articles …

Beyond Vulnerability: Climate Change And The Moral Authority Of Youth, Amber Acquaye

Yale Medicine Thesis Digital Library

Young people worldwide demand a voice in climate governance, yet their perspectives remain largely excluded from the moral frameworks that shape climate policy. This exclusion not only marginalizes children’s lived experiences and ethical reasoning but also perpetuates paternalistic norms and dangerous marginalization. To counter this, this thesis study shows that youth are not just passive stakeholders but moral agents whose perspectives yield a more just and comprehensive understanding of climate responsibility. Recognizing their ethical insights is crucial for medicine, especially pediatrics and child psychiatry, given how climate change amplifies health risks like respiratory illnesses, heat-related conditions, and eco-anxiety. Understanding how …

Fire District Impacts On Coastal Access In Rhode Island, Annie Longo

Open Access Master's Theses

There are forty-two fire districts in the coastal state of Rhode Island, nine of which are now archaically named, as they no longer provide firefighting services nor have any firefighting responsibilities. Weekapaug, Watch Hill, and Bonnet Shores fire districts are three coastal fire districts that are uninvolved with fire suppression generally, aside from the occasional bonfire permit or fireworks show. Fire districts are quasi-public entities with taxing authorities and land ownership capabilities that act as the “keepers” of many miles of pristine coastline, instead of strictly as fire departments. The actions of these fire districts often conflict with coastal access …

Predicting Evapotranspiration, Quick Flow, And Recharge In The Contiguous United States Through 2100, Paige Aldenberg

Open Access Master's Theses

Groundwater pumping has more than doubled since 1950 across the United States and now accounts for more than 50% of water use in much of the country. These high pumping rates have exceeded recharge in many aquifers, especially in the dry Western United States. As a result, water levels are declining, increasing water scarcity for humans, and causing various adverse ecosystem impacts. So, predictions of future groundwater recharge rates, especially in the face of changing climates, are necessary for informing future water management practices. While historical groundwater recharge rates have been estimated across broad geographic regions, high-resolution predictions of future …

The Houston Climate Justice Museum As A Catalyst For Environmental Justice: Exploring The Intersection Of Art, Activism, And Creative Placemaking In Houston, Texas, Aylin Castro

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

This thesis explores how the Houston Climate Justice Museum (HCJM) functions as a site for environmental/climate justice education through art and community engagement. Drawing on interviews, participant observation, and document analysis, this research examines how the museum’s curating practices generate new understandings of environmental in/justices, fosters local partnerships, and creates a welcoming space for community dialogue. Findings show that the HCJM does more than exhibit art, it demonstrates how art can be leveraged to advance both activist and educational projects. This study positions the HCJM as a model for how local and justice orientated museums and cultural spaces can contribute …

Shaping A City: Municipal Housekeeping, Civic Activism, And Urban Environmentalism In Progressive Era Louisville Through The Women’S City Club, Amy J. Malventano

Theses and Dissertations--History

At the turn of the twentieth century, rapid industrialization and urban expansion transformed American cities, creating urgent challenges in governance, public health, and environmental management. In response, women across the United States extended their domestic expertise into the public sphere, spearheading initiatives to improve sanitation, waste disposal, and urban infrastructure. This dissertation examines the Louisville Women’s City Club (LWCC) as a case study of municipal housekeeping, demonstrating how middle-class women used their traditional roles to influence systemic reform in Louisville, Kentucky. By bridging gender history, urban environmentalism, and Progressive Era activism, this study reveals how the LWCC shaped public policy …

Come Hell Or High Water: A Constructed Grounded Theory Of Disaster Preparedness In Nonprofit Arts Management, Leah D. Hamilton

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

This dissertation study constructs a grounded theory of disaster preparedness in nonprofit arts management, a research area that is underrepresented in broader disaster science research, and underrecognized by US government emergency management policy. Using the Constructivist Grounded Theory methodology, this qualitative study involves a systematic document review of more than 20 years of US practices and standards related to arts preparedness in combination with a two-year inquiry using a purposive sample of nonprofit arts managers who have recently been affected, directly or indirectly, by disasters in the state of Kentucky. The findings and the subsequent Theory of Performative Preparedness provide …

Constitutional Drafting Processes And Constitutional Success, Adam Chilton, Murat C. Mungan, Mila Versteeg

Public Law and Legal Theory Working Papers

Several recent constitution-making processes have been celebrated for being participatory, inclusive, and representative. However, many of these processes also failed. We theorize that aspects of these kinds of constitutional drafting processes could reduce the probability of constitutional success. To show why, we construct a “Constitution Drafting game” (CD game) in which representatives from different interest groups must draft a constitution. We consider the case where the probability of constitutional success is single peaked, but the value from successful adoption is increasing in the degree of issue protection chosen. The drafting process then leads to protection choices that are above those …

Cultivating Hope: A Future With Ethics Towards People And Places, Vanessa Ann Racehorse

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Equity Along The Yellowstone, Jason Anthony Robison

University of Colorado Law Review

No abstract provided.

Attacking Diabetes One Day At A Time, Kyla Duncan

Theses and Dissertations

The "Attacking Diabetes One Day at a Time" initiative targets the growing concern of public health, type 2 diabetes, among under-reserved communities. This comprehensive care program emphasizes the importance of prevention through education, improving lifestyles, and access to care. Based on insights from the Self-Care Management Theory, this initiative seeks to provide individuals with sound, culturally tailored strategies that reduce disease risk and help them manage healthy lifestyles. Major components include educational workshops, and resource navigation. The success of this program, from community engagement through evaluation on a phased implementation plan, is guaranteed. The expected outcomes of this work will …

The Migration Of Abolition Theory, Matthew Boaz

North Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents (V. 49, No. 2)

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

No abstract provided.

A Human Right To A Sustainable Climate?, Ottavio Quirico

William & Mary Environmental Law and Policy Review

Is a fundamental right to a sustainable climate progressively being recognized globally? Climate change is triggering parallel progressive developments in the human rights arena at both the domestic and international levels. Firstly, it is fostering an extensive interpretation of first- and second-generation human rights, protecting collective environmental interests rather than individual entitlements. Secondly, climate change has decisively accelerated the evolution of first and second generation human rights into a third generation right to a sustainable environment. Thirdly, emerging evidence discloses the possibility of conceiving a specific human right to a sustainable climate. This Article explores the trajectory of climate rights …