New York City Sustainable Development Initiative Panel Series Draws Interest from Across the Columbia University Campuses and Communities.

The New York City Sustainable Development Initiative at the Earth Institute at Columbia University recently hosted two panels as part of a series highlighting the area’s environmental and public health concerns. This series looks at sustainable development and environmental issues in the New York City area through new advancements in science, research, technology and policy. The panels were well attended by students and faculty from across the University and local community groups.

On November 11th Steven Cohen, Executive Director of the New York City Sustainable Development Initiative and Director of the Office of Educational Programs at the EI, moderated “Waste Not…What to do with Waste,” a panel that addressed the far-reaching implications of the City’s consumption and disposal policies. Cohen also moderated a panel on November 18th entitled “Public Health, Public Transport, and Public Access to Health Care,” which discussed factors contributing to the alarming asthma rates in Harlem.

“It is important to facilitate this sort of conversation in the Columbia community on problems, such as waste management and public health, which daily affect the city where we live. These two events were very successful in bringing together researchers and practitioners to discuss possible solutions to these critical local problems” said Cohen.

In the “Waste Not” panel, Dr. Nickolas Themelis and Dr. Kate Ascher discussed the 26,000 tons of garbage that New York City produces each day and methods for its disposal. Themelis, Director of the Earth Engineering Center at Columbia’s Earth Institute, presented his wide research on waste disposal in New York City and in other major cities, while Ascher, Executive Vice President of the New York City Economic Development Corporation, provided insight into the logistics of consumption and the city politics of waste. Over one hundred members of the Columbia Community attended the event.

Panelists for “Public Health” addressed recent research showing that Harlem boasts asthma rates five times higher than the national average. Researchers have cited transportation patterns as well as health care services as factors for these high rates. Panelists, including representatives from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, West Harlem Environmental Action (WeAct) and Columbia University faculty, discussed pollutant distribution in Manhattan, diesel engines, health care options and the effects of asthma on education and family life. Columbia Professor Patrick Kinney of the Mailman School of Public Health presented data on the relationship of air pollution to public health in New York City.

Cecil Corbin-Mark, Program Director of WeAct, emphasized the need for interconnected approaches to these problems, and criticized transportation policies that ignore environmental and economic realities. “Many people are afraid to attack these realities,” he said. According to Corbin-Mark, the New York Transit Authority could and should convert to compressed natural gas fuel for its buses, but it is too set in its ways to do so.

The need to improve healthcare options in Harlem was stressed by Dr. Mary Northridge, Associate Professor at the Mailman School of Public Health. “No one should be in the hospital because of asthma anymore. This is a failure of primary care and preventative medicine,” said Northridge, who works with the Harlem Children’s Zone Asthma Initiative (HCZAI). HCZAI is a program working to improve the health of children within a 60-block area of Harlem. While HCZAI has diagnosed 30% of 3200 children screened for asthma, the initiative has produced significant results in the past nine months through home visits, health education, environmental assessments and medical support.

In addition to hosting these events on environmental issues, the Earth Institute has responded to student demands to make these events more “green.” As a result, the last two panels featured environmentally sound products, such as recyclable paper products and environmentally friendly coffee stirrers. “While we host many events that promote environmental awareness, we must be careful to practice these policies ourselves. I am glad the students brought this matter to my attention and have helped to make changes for the better,” said Louise Rosen, Director of Student Programs at the Earth Institute.

On December 8th the Earth Institute will host the final panel of this series, entitled “Gains and Losses for New York City Biodiversity.” This panel will address the loss of more than 600 indigenous species from New York City in the past century, and the surprising return of a number of new species to the City’s environment. The event will feature representatives from the Wildlife Conservation Society, the Wildlife Trust and Columbia University, and will be held from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Dag Hammarskjold Lounge at the International Affairs Building.