[In development – if you have questions now, send an email to Peter Crownfield, coordinator for the sustainability impact assessment project.] This list is provided as a starting point for others doing a sustainability impact assessment for a proposed, planned, or existing project. It will cover climate, community, health, environmental, & local economic impacts, … [Read more...] about Resources (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
Focus on Pages
The "Focus On" section provides in-depth information and opinion on many facets of sustainability. (Although these topics may appear quite distinct and separate, it’s important to remember that they are interconnected and interdependent in multiple ways — in general, the 4 basic principles of ecology apply to all complex systems.)
When you select a Focus On… topic, the system will select all the articles and posts in that category with the most recent pages at the top, just under a brief introduction to the topic. (Many articles appear in multiple categories.)
Background & detail information is organized into the following main categories:
- Climate & Energy
- Community & Culture
- Economy, Business, & Finance
- Education & Schools
- Environment & Ecosystems
- Food
- Government
- Health
- Place & Infrastructure
- Systemic Approaches – new paradigms & holistic approaches
- The World – Regional news & topics such as War & Peace
Climate & Energy
The categories of Climate & Energy are linked because it’s almost impossible to consider energy issues without considering their impact on the Climate.
Also see: Environment & Ecosystems, Food, Transportation
Table of Contents (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
Table of Contents Executive Summary Introduction Why a Sustainability Impact Assessment?What does Sustainability Mean?Types of Impacts ConsideredThe Easton – Phillipsburg Area Impacts Building Design & SystemsTransportationFoodEducational Programming & OperationsConstruction Recommendations & Opportunities Building … [Read more...] about Table of Contents (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
Impacts (Sustainability Impacts Assessment)
This project examines the inter-related facets of climate, community, health, environment, and local economy. While the project focused on the proposed Da Vinci Science City project in Easton, the descriptions below provide an introduction to the various types of impacts to be potentially considered for any new development project. Climate Climate change effects … [Read more...] about Impacts (Sustainability Impacts Assessment)
Acknowledgments (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
First of all, the Alliance thanks the 5 student interns whose hard work made this project possible: Olivia Barz (Lehigh ’19)Ryan Dougherty (Lafayette ’19)Harris Eisenhardt (SUNY–ESF ’19)Ashley Kushner (Lafayette ’19)Brandy Moser (Boston University ‘21) The project team thanks the many community leaders for their assistance—and is especially grateful to Lin Erickson, … [Read more...] about Acknowledgments (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
Recommendations (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
The recommendations take a holistic view to mitigate the challenges associated with the Da Vinci Science City and explore opportunities. Each recommendation indicates which of the five impact areas (climate, community, local economy, health, and environment). All recommendations are directed to the Da Vinci Science Center unless otherwise stated. To operationalize … [Read more...] about Recommendations (Sustainability Impact Assessment)
Sustainability Impact Assessment
A team of Alliance interns recently completed a preliminary sustainability impact assessment on a proposal to construct Da Vinci Science City (DVSC) in Easton. Prepared by: Olivia Barz (Lehigh ’19), Ryan Dougherty (Lafayette ’19), Harris Eisenhardt (SUNY–ESF ’19), Ashley Kushner (Lafayette ’19), and Brandy Moser (Boston University ‘21). Why a … [Read more...] about Sustainability Impact Assessment
Teaching About Food, Climate, and Sustainability
by Alyssa Fama Growing up, I always admired the beauty of nature and the world around me; blossoming flowers in the spring, the buzzing of insects during the summer, changing leaf colors in the fall and the silent snowfall in the winter. My childhood eyes were never opened to what we were doing to our planet, and it wasn’t until recently I began to understand. We go … [Read more...] about Teaching About Food, Climate, and Sustainability
Colleges Lead the Way
The Lehigh Valley Association of Independent Colleges (‘LVAIC’) held its third valley-wide Campus Sustainability Conference in February. Keynote speaker Shana S. Weber, who directs the Office of Sustainability at Princeton University, kicked off the day with a talk on the importance of developing an ethos of sustainability on college campuses. “Sustainability,” she said, “is an … [Read more...] about Colleges Lead the Way
Personal Takes on the Challenges of Climate Change
Four folks share some of their thoughts on this daunting matter. Dork Sahagian, Professor of Earth and Environmental Science at Lehigh University: Two things to consider in meeting the challenge: mitigation and adaptation. 1. Mitigation is what we need to do to prevent undesirable things from happening. We need to stop (not just reduce) emissions of greenhouse gases so that … [Read more...] about Personal Takes on the Challenges of Climate Change
Is There Hope for the Future?
by Alex Fischer Conducting one’s life to end exploitation and injustice is moral and dignified. The twin threats of nuclear war and climate change forecast a bleak future. While we cannot know whether or not people and their societies can change things, thereby improving the conditions under which we and other beings live on Earth, great danger lies in not imagining change. I … [Read more...] about Is There Hope for the Future?