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Student capstone and applied projects from ASU's School of Sustainability.

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Enhancing Environmental Education Opportunities in the Borderlands : A Consulting Project for Borderlands Restoration Network by JKLM Sustainability Consulting (MSUS)

Description
Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) is a nonprofit organization based out of Patagonia, Arizona, that partners with borderland communities to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for wildlife, and reconnecting border communities to the land through shared learning. Borderland communities encompass the southern United States and northern…

Borderlands Restoration Network (BRN) is a nonprofit organization based out of Patagonia, Arizona, that partners with borderland communities to grow a restorative economy by rebuilding healthy ecosystems, restoring habitat for wildlife, and reconnecting border communities to the land through shared learning. Borderland communities encompass the southern United States and northern Mexico border, and BRN is centered within the Madrean Archipelago, one of the most important biodiversity hotspots in the world. A core program that BRN offers is the Borderlands Earth Care Youth (BECY). This paid internship-style program focuses on educating and training youth between fifteen and twenty to address the growing environmental and sustainability challenges associated with climate change, habitat fragmentation, aridification, and socio-economic injustices. Through the BECY program, BRN provides a critical opportunity for the Arizona communities of Douglas, Patagonia, Nogales, and Rio Rico. The purpose of this program is critical for borderland communities, given the historical marginalization of these communities. This can be seen with the demographics of these communities as the communities of Douglas, Nogales, and Rio Rico are all over 80% Hispanic/Latino identifying, according to the U.S. Census Bureau information from 2020-2022. With the majority of these communities being Hispanic/Latino, the implementation of an environmental education program that accounts for and supports cultural backgrounds and resources is one that is critical. The advancement of quality education and networking opportunities in these communities helps to create a diverse conservation sector that will further support the restoration economy in borderland communities. In 2018, BRN completed a survey research project and found that ninety-two percent of overall respondents claimed they were inspired by the BECY program to make sustainable changes in their lives. Respondents reported that the program helped them “To look at the environment differently, [and] the impact humans can have (positive and negative) on other species’ habitats,” and to recognize the benefits of “...the social aspect of community building, as well as the fundamentals of ecosystem and watershed restoration” on their environment (Anonymous Participants, 2018, BRN Program Evaluation). These statements showcase the importance of BECY in shaping participants’ views of the environment and the role that they each play as stewards. Over the course of nine months, the JKLM Sustainability Consulting team completed a project for BRN by using sustainability analysis tools and the North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) guidelines to provide foundational information and guidance regarding environmental education curriculum development, program evaluation, and program expansion to assist BRN in achieving its youth education program expansion goals. The deliverable of the consultation project was an updated and enhanced BECY curriculum and related activities guide to be used in Summer 2023.
ContributorsSene, Jordan (Author) / Napper, Kayla (Author) / Meeker, Laney (Author) / Fabara, Marshall Morgan (Author)
Created2023-04-26

Creating a Green Growth Framework for Islands

Description
Islands are some of the smallest contributors to global carbon emissions, yet are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g. rising sea levels, extreme storms, and declining fish populations due to warming seas). At the same time, due to their smaller scale and local limitations on…

Islands are some of the smallest contributors to global carbon emissions, yet are among the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g. rising sea levels, extreme storms, and declining fish populations due to warming seas). At the same time, due to their smaller scale and local limitations on resources, island communities have been driving adaptation efforts for responding to the impacts of climate change based on their lived experiences and indigenous knowledge. Recognizing that local community members are in the best position to advance sustainability solutions in their respective island communities, our project sought to uncover best practices of islands that are collaboratively working with their communities to promote sustainable development and adapt to climate change, while leading the way in measuring progress on the SDGs. To this end, we interviewed island leaders from Hawaii, Guam, and Tasmania, who have already launched strategies for achieving these goals, and combined their experiences into a framework requested by other island leaders to encourage locally-driven, culturally-relevant green growth initiatives in partnership with our project partner, the Local2030 Islands Network (Local2030IN). Through designing the framework, we learned 17 possible actions islands can take when developing their own green growth initiative, key insights for implementing the SDGs on islands, and how to work alongside a project partner to create a final deliverable.
Created2021-04-28

Supporting U.S. States in Integrating Agriculture into Climate Efforts

Description
Members of the United States Climate Alliance, all of which have committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, are actively pursuing ways to mitigate climate change. This project is intended to support the integration of agriculture into U.S. state and territory efforts by aiding in the creation of an…

Members of the United States Climate Alliance, all of which have committed to the goals of the Paris Agreement, are actively pursuing ways to mitigate climate change. This project is intended to support the integration of agriculture into U.S. state and territory efforts by aiding in the creation of an agricultural policy toolkit for Alliance members in partnership with the American Farmland Trust and the Coalition on Agricultural Greenhouse Gases. My contribution was phase one of the toolkit, for which I created fourteen state profiles of existing efforts related to agriculture and climate change and used these for a comparative analysis. I also developed an outline of the toolkit based on conversations and a list of partner ideas I maintained and drafted an internal protocol to assist in development and implementation. Further, I analyzed the outline using a sustainability framework to identify additional efforts that could strengthen the toolkit’s sustainability. In April 2019 I presented my phase 1 efforts and the toolkit plans alongside my partners at a C-AGG conference. Overall, through this project, I generated forward momentum for integrating and supporting agriculture in climate change efforts
ContributorsHarmon, Anna (Author)
Created2019-05-15

Biochar Briquettes: Alternative to Firewood and Charcoal Fuel

Description

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think…

Domestic energy is an important component of our day to day lives and is something we cannot live without. Imagine how life would be without a means to cook our food, to warm our house, life would be unbearable. As we enjoy these comforts rarely do we stop to think what the opportunity cost is. For those using renewable sources, it is not a big issue, but for those who rely on wood fuel, they have to strike a delicate balance between need for fuel and the need to conserve the greatest support systems of their livelihoods, the forests. The main source of energy for households in many developing countries is biomass, mainly from forests and woodlands. The continued use of firewood and charcoal fuel puts a strain on forests, resulting in adverse effects on the environment such as prolonged droughts, loss of biodiversity, dwindling water resources, changing weather patterns among other sustainability challenges. An alternative to firewood to charcoal lies in biochar briquettes. This paper discusses the role of biochar briquettes in mitigating climate change and serves as a step by step guide on how biochar briquettes may be produced.
ContributorsNganga, Patrick M. (Author)
Created2018

The Sustainability Fair: Building a Grassroots Movement Around Community

Description
People everywhere should be doing everything they can to be more sustainable so that climate change can begin to be mitigated. We are already feeling the negative effects of climate change, and they are thoroughly documented. Despite this people are not changing to be more sustainable fast enough. Many either…

People everywhere should be doing everything they can to be more sustainable so that climate change can begin to be mitigated. We are already feeling the negative effects of climate change, and they are thoroughly documented. Despite this people are not changing to be more sustainable fast enough. Many either reject the idea of climate change, do not know what they could do, or are unaware of how climate change affects them. Sustainability also impacts more than just climate change. Living more sustainably can have positive impacts economically as well as positive impacts on human health. In a world that is so connected and with such a wealth of information, we can no longer afford to have communities in the dark. Leaders need to rise on a community level to make a difference. Leadership is an aspect of an organization or a project that can elevate it to new heights. A leader is not everything, but the difference a good leader makes is universal. In this paper I will teach you about organizing a sustainability fair that educates and engages marginalized communities that typically are not included in the conversation on how to save our world.
ContributorsSalinas, Jorge (Author)
Created2018-11-10
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Connecting Community and Climate: Transportation Electrification Options for Underserved Communities in Phoenix

Description

Underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and current inequities present in our emissions-heavy transportation system only exacerbate these burdens. As of 2019, transportation accounted for 29% of total GHG emissions in the United States. Electric Vehicles (EVs) present an opportunity to lower emissions associated with transportation, as EVs…

Underserved communities are disproportionately impacted by climate change, and current inequities present in our emissions-heavy transportation system only exacerbate these burdens. As of 2019, transportation accounted for 29% of total GHG emissions in the United States. Electric Vehicles (EVs) present an opportunity to lower emissions associated with transportation, as EVs emit zero tailpipe emissions. We define electric vehicles as cars, bikes, scooters, buses, and rail systems. As transitions to EVs occur, action can be taken to adopt more equitable practices within the transportation space, specifically in historically underserved communities.

In partnership with The City of Phoenix’s EV Department, and with additional support from the Housing Department, the EV Changers team developed a transportation-oriented survey to be distributed to the Edison-Eastlake Community (EEC) in Phoenix. Efforts to understand the EEC’s needs will lend to more efficient, connected, and accessible transportation in the upcoming transportation electrification movement.
ContributorsDavis, Stephanie (Author) / Dent, Sam (Author) / Georgiou, Stephanie (Author) / Keller, Adrian (Author) / Tsark, ISabella (Author)
Created2022-05