The Cornell Daily Sun (https://cornellsun.com/page/2/?s=sustainability)
Three Democratic primary candidates for the Ithaca Common Council gathered in a virtual livestream Monday. Sustainability, infrastructure, law enforcement and affordable housing were discussed among a plethora of other topics.
A new fleet of electric buses equipped with Wi-Fi and GPS have been released by TCAT, aiming to increase ridership and keeping with TCAT sustainability goals.
This year’s virtual Earth Day festivities at Cornell will range from a stream-a-thon to a scavenger hunt and seminar series.
Atkinson Hall promises new opportunities for progress in sustainability initiatives and collaboration between various science departments.
It is encouraging to see Cornell’s ongoing, significant commitments to sustainability, as detailed in “Cornell Doubles-Down Commitment to Sustainability Measures Despite Pandemic.” While the Cornell Climate Action Plan is admirable, larger scale, statewide initiatives are obviously needed, and change will not be delivered from experts alone. As New York residents, Cornell students must fight for an equitable energy transition. Why is this important? Climate change kills over 150,000 people per year, according to the WHO, while air pollution kills 6.5 million annually, as estimated by IEA. This annual death toll already exceeds the most deadly genocides of the twentieth century.
Cornell is teaming up with climate justice leaders to build sustainability efforts across the University community, reviving its commitment to the environment in light of the pandemic and worldwide movements for racial and social equality.
Despite women bearing more responsibility in the grassroots sustainability movement at Cornell and beyond, men dominate the top climate panels, generating a massive dilemma.
COVID-19’s ability to spread through air borne transmission, along with some transmission via contaminated surfaces, has necessitated social distancing measures that often run opposed to sustainable practices but through the pandemic Cornell has maintained its commitment to sustainability and eventual carbon neutrality.
I am a freshman in the School of Engineering and an international student. This last detail is important because from Aug. 17 to Aug. 31, I had to quarantine in my room, eating only the boxed meals provided by Cornell Dining. During, and well after my time in mandated quarantine, widespread complaints about two issues circulated: The overuse of single-use plastics and inadequate waste disposal.
The report includes a synopsis of 2020’s sustainability accomplishments, Cornell’s carbon neutrality progress, education and engagement, campus operations and future goals.