Research Guides @ Fordham: Environmental Studies: Green Internet Resources

Some Green Internet Resources

American Resilience Project
Filmmaker Roger Sorkin's initiative: "Wielding the power of strategic narrative to overcome civilization's greatest challenges."
Bronx River Alliance
The Bronx River Greenway project to restore and manage a 23-mile New York City and Westchester County linear-park along the Bronx River.
Carbon Tax Center
“We should start using the tax code to reduce taxes on employment and production, and make up the difference with pollution taxes, principally [on] CO2."
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"Now I fully understand that this is considered politically impossible. But part of our challenge is to expand the limits of what’s possible. Right now we are discouraging work and encouraging the destruction of the planet’s habitability.” Al Gore, testimony before the House Energy and Commerce Committee, 3/21/07.
City Limits
How to become a more pro-active member of the NYC community
Clean Air Gardening
Whisper-quiet lawnmowers, tumbling composters, hand-powered washers, and more...
The Climate Museum
NYC's Climate Museum employs the sciences, art, and design to inspire dialogue and innovation that address the challenges of climate change, moving solutions to the center of our shared public life and catalyzing broad community engagement.
Earth Architecture
"...looking at all aspects of humankind’s relationship to making things with mud, dirt, dust and the effects that our making traditions have impacted contemporary culture, from music, architecture, art, pottery, and 3D printing."
Earth Island Institute
Offering innovative environmental education and opportunities in activism
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The name Earth Island came from Margaret Mead, who urged respect for “The Island Earth.” Her famous admonition, “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever has,” could be the organization’s motto.
Environmental Defense Fund
"We work to solve the most critical environmental problems facing the planet. This has drawn us to areas that span the biosphere: climate, oceans, ecosystems and health."
GreenDisk
Recycle your technotrash, electronic media, their myriad attachments and accessories
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...diskettes, zip disks, CDs, CD-Rs, CD-RWs, DVDs et al, video tape (i.e. VHS), audio tape, game cartridges, DAT, DLT, Beta or Digibeta, and virtually all other type of computer tapes. Hard drives, Zip and Jazz drives, jump drives, etc. All forms of printer cartridges including both inkjet and toner. All types of cell phones, pagers, PDAs and their chargers, cables, and headset accessories. All types of rechargeable batteries (not regular alkaline ones) and their chargers. All of the small computer accessories such as MP3 players, iPods, digital cameras, hand-held scanners, handheld games and other connected devices. All of the cords, cables, boards, chips, etc. attached to or removed from a computer, and laptop computers.
Greener Choices
Consumer Report’s recommended green choices, envisioning a better planet.
Natural Renewable Energy Laboratory.
The Department of Energy's activities to produce renewable energy: Energy Analysis, Science and Technology, Technology Transfer, and Applying Technologies.
The New York City Street Design Manual.
Policies and design guidelines for city agencies, design professionals, private developers and community groups for the improvement of streets and sidewalks throughout the five boroughs
Rachel Carson Council
Founded in 1965, RCC is the national environmental organization envisioned by Rachel Carson to carry on her work after her death. RCC promotes Carson’s ecological ethic, combining scientific concern for the environment and human health with a sense of reverence for all forms of life in order to build a more sustainable, just, and peaceful future.
Renewable Energy World
News about Renewable Energy, Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Geothermal Energy, Bioenergy, and Hydropower. Finance section with data on top 40 renewable energy companies.
Scrap Magazine.
ISRI Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ “Voice of the Recycling Industry.”
UN Habitat
UN Habitat "promotes transformative change in cities and human settlements through knowledge, policy advice, technical assistance and collaborative action to leave no one and no place behind."
United Nations Division for Sustainable Development (UNDSD)
The Future We Want - Rio+20 - highlighted the following thematic areas and cross-sectoral issues/topics.

Agriculture and Conservation

Center for Plant Conservation
Consortium of 38 American botanical gardens and arboreta whose mission is to conserve and restore rare native plants to the U.S.
Center on Food Security and the Environment
A joint effort of the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, the Center addresses critical global issues of hunger, poverty and environmental degradation by generating vital knowledge and policy-relevant solutions.
Forest Stewardship Council
Certifying products as coming from responsibly managed forests.
The Nelson Institute at U-Wisconsin
Faculty, scientists, students and staff at U-Wisconsin's Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies collaborate to expand and deepen scientific and policy discourse on agriculture, air quality, climate, energy, public health, urban environment, and water.
TREES NEW YORK: Plant, Preserve, Protect
Trees New York (TreesNY) is an environmental and urban forestry nonprofit organization whose mission is to plant, preserve and protect New York City’s urban forest through education, active citizen participation and advocacy.
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TreesNY was founded in the 1976 as a volunteer response to New York City’s devastating cutbacks in forestry and tree-related community services.

Toward a greener NYC

BuildingGreen
Targeting sustainable design and architecture, this online environmental consultant covers all aspects of building design and construction, identifying available green materials and promoting best practices.
Urban Farming in NYC
Photo exhibit with descriptions of five successful urban farming enterprises in NYC
Green Thumb
The GreenThumb Program of the New York City Parks & Recreation Office operates agricultural spaces in all of the city's five boroughs. Each garden or urban farm is volunteer-run and supported by the GreenThumb program. Visitors can volunteer at any of these 600-plus sites and participate in the largest community gardening program in the nation.

Hydroponic greenhouse, image @ Gotham Greens

Urban agriculture is about more than just addressing a locavore trend or beautifying the built environment. It’s about re-connecting with our food supply, educating our youth and nourishing our souls. Urban farming is unlikely to ever be the primary source of a city’s food supply but its impact can be lasting. --From website: Gotham Greens

Five Borough Farm Initiative
Urban gardening and farming are catching on throughout NYC, offering substantial opportunities for community involvement. As the Initiative's founders testify: "In all five boroughs, New Yorkers have turned vacant lots and rooftops, schoolyards and NYCHA gardens into places to grow food."
Trees New York
Trees New York’s mission is to plant, preserve and protect New York City’s urban forest through education and community participation.

International Green Initiatives

Global Environment Facility (GEF)

The GEF unites 183 countries in partnership with international institutions, civil society organizations (CSOs), and the private sector to address global environmental issues while supporting national sustainable development initiatives. Today the GEF is the largest public funder of projects to improve the global environment. An independently operating financial organization, the GEF provides grants for projects related to biodiversity, climate change, international waters, land degradation, the ozone layer, and persistent organic pollutants.

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) is the international body for assessin the science related to climate change. The IPCC was set up in 1988 by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) and United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to provide policymakers with regular assessments of the scientific basis of climate change, its impacts and future risks, and options for adaptation and mitigation.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN)

The IUCN is an international organization working in the field of nature conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. It is involved in data gathering and analysis, research, field projects, advocacy, lobbying and education. IUCN's mission is to "influence, encourage and assist societies throughout the world to conserve nature and to ensure that any use of natural resources is equitable and ecologically sustainable."

Global Soil Partnership

An initiative of the UN's Food and Agriculture Organization, the GSP aims 1) to promote Sustainable Soil Management (SSM) and improve soil governance to guarantee healthy and productive soils, and 2) to support the provision of essential ecosystem services towards food security and improved nutrition, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable development.

United Nations Environment Programme

As the UN’s leading environmental authority, UNEP uses its expertise to strengthen environmental standards and practices while helping implement environmental obligations at the country, regional and global levels. UNEP’s mission is to provide leadership and encourage partnership in caring for the environment by inspiring, informing, and enabling nations and peoples to improve their quality of life without compromising that of future generations.

Environmental Studies: Green Internet Resources

Some Green Internet Resources

Agriculture and Conservation

Toward a greener NYC

International Green Initiatives

Reference & Instruction Department