Spring 2005 Workshop in Applied Policy Analysis

The Spring 2005 Workshop in Applied Policy Analysis for the MPA Program in Environmental Science and Policy has students work on client-based projects. Students work on real projects such as the campaign to increase hybrid vehicle use in NYC, guidelines for environmental-sensitive building in Battery Park City, and the disposal of sewage wastewater in New York and New Jersey. The Workshop in Applied Policy Analysis is the capstone course of the program, emphasizing practical and professional training that is gained by working on real problems for real clients, where student analyses and reports could have an impact on actual public sector operations. The workshop teaches students to integrate their understanding of natural science, social science, policy studies, and management in order to solve practical problems. The project-teams work under the supervision of a faculty member and write a report analyzing an actual environmental policy or management problem faced by their clients.

Spring 2005 Workshop Events

Date, Event, Time, Location

March 2, Midterm Briefings, 9:00am-11:00am, 1501 International Affairs

April 20, Final Briefings, 9:00am-11:00am, 1501 International Affairs

Please RSVP to Louise Rosen at lar46@columbia.edu

The Division for Sustainable Development of the United Nations serves as the substantive secretariat responsible for servicing the Commission for follow-up of the implementation of Agenda 21 as well as the Plan of Implementation (POI) of the World Summit. The Division's goals include providing leadership and expertise for governments, the United Nations system, and other international organizations. With the Kyoto Protocol entering into force this year, the issue of carbon emissions trading and transaction costs has become immediately relevant.  Although transaction costs for carbon trading should decrease over time, it might also be possible to "privatize" certain of the regulatory functions, and allow the market to perform these tasks. Students will prepare a document examining the source of transaction costs, evaluating private sector strategies to reduce them, and suggest policy implications for public officials.

Current disposal methods of New York City's garbage present economic, environmental, political, and social difficulties. With no landfills or incinerators located within the five boroughs, research indicates that there are two viable alternative options: gasification and anaerobic digestion (AD). A number of plants utilizing these two methods have been constructed and are operating throughout the world. The purpose of this study is to identify 3-5 cases of innovative waste disposal facilities and study them for lessons applicable to New York City. The goal of the analysis is to benchmark the development of these facilities and identify lessons for New York City, should the City decide to explore alternatives to waste export and pilot test a new waste management technology.

The transportation sector adversely affects air quality primarily through the emission of wastes from the combustion of hydrocarbons. Over the last decade, with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) as a prime advocate, harmful diesel emissions in the NYC fleet have been reduced dramatically through the introduction of buses powered by hybrid systems as well as the use of cleaner-burning diesel fuel. Hybrid technologies are now beginning to significantly increase and would have at least two sorts of impacts. First it would make a positive contribution to air pollution levels. Second, it would position NYC as a leader in the hybrid market and in the regulation and management of commuting and passenger fleets. Our project is to propose a campaign that NRDC could implement to increase hybrid vehicle use in the NYC region. The plan will include a set of strategies, milestones, and goals. It will also propose an implementation plan.

The Hugh L. Carey Battery Park City Authority has published a set of Residential Environmental Guidelines that "establish a process for the creation of environmentally responsible residential buildings that are appreciably ahead of current standards and practices for development" (Residential Environmental Guidelines, 2003). These guidelines identify standards and goals for energy efficiency, indoor air quality, materials and resources, operations and maintenance, and water conservation.

This project asks students to evaluate BPCA's guidelines to better understand their technical and cost feasibility. The results from this project can provide valuable feedback for the Authority on the extent to which these guidelines are realistic. More broadly, the project can offer useful policy advice to other public jurisdictions interested in establishing green building standards.