In times of widely publicized environmental issues, namely global warming, the transportation sector is often bemoaned for its contribution to carbon emissions. Though diesel exhaust certainly exhibits detrimental effects on the atmosphere, its effects on the human body attract less attention. The World Health Organization estimates that urban air pollution, to which vehicles are a significant contributor, kills 1.2 million people every year.  On Sept. 9, Prof. Oliver Gao, civil and environmental engineering, who focuses on the nexus of transportation, air quality and energy, discussed his ongoing research on the effect of different fuels on air quality measurements. 

Cornell's residential housing is implementing sustainability initiatives that go along with the University's Climate Action.

On Apr. 22, students representatives from Cornell and other NY schools convened at the University of Buffalo for Power Shift 2010.  The annual student conference focuses on contentious issues, including climate change, environmental concerns and energy.  New York State Senator Antoine Thompson addressed the student activists about federal legislation to limit climate change.

In celebration Earth Day, Alex Harlig discusses ways to conserve without skimping on style.

Because of its commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation, Cornell was recently recognized as a Tree Campus U.S.A. for 2009; the first time an Ivy League institution has received such a title.

As students walked in and out of Collegetown last Friday, many were surprised to find that an ordinary parking space had become a public park for the day. Some even chose to sit down upon the mat of fall foliage and talk with the landscape architects who arranged the site. Nearby, a can collected donations to feed the meter.

“Some people consider open space to be prohibitive in big infill developments,” said Christopher Mateo grad, secretary of the American Society of Landscape Architects’s Cornell chapter’s executive committee. “We want to show how much green space you can contain in a 9-by-18 square foot plot.”

Imagine a life without cars, cell phones or laptops. Olin and Uris Libraries closing as soon as the sun sets, while rough drafts for freshman writing seminars fill up the trash cans with their paper, ink and lead. While such a disaster will clearly not happen tomorrow, unsustainable rates of production and waste have professionals from agriculture to architecture concerned.

Asst. Prof. Kevin Pratt, architecture, teaches a class on thermal and environmental systems. He is currently involved in two research projects — Vibro Wind Power and Sustain — both of which are focused on improving the energy efficiency of buildings.

In an continued effort to develop energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly innovation, Ithaca is set to launch a multitude of new programs this summer directed at training workers in the local community.

According to Julia Mattick, director of the Tompkins County Workforce Investment Board, the Board will invest approximately $120,000 in 2009 to fund various programs meant to create and sustain green-collar jobs for Ithacans under the age of 24. The funding comes primarily from the federal government's workforce investment act and stimulus bill, according to Mattick.

I need to speak up. A few weeks ago, I was robbed. There was no police report. There was no campus-wide alert letter to tell the student body that a Cornell Daily Sun columnist was robbed. My assailant is no better off, and (laughably), he claims that I am no worse off. In fact, he claims that this is a very special type of robbery which benefits me. And the environment.