The Trail- Volume 15 Issue 1

Rutgers University Department of Human Ecology

The Trail

Photograph by Bhuvan Dave

A note to our readers...

Dear Trail Readers,

Thank you for being here for another issue of the Trail. We are thrilled to share with you these articles on a wide variety of topics. You may notice that the first half of this issue centers around local happenings relevant to Rutgers, and the second half details events happening globally. The Trail started as a way to spotlight things happening here at Rutgers and specifically among the Human Ecology Department, so this issues aims to pay homage to our roots (although we are very proud of how far this publication has come). Best wishes for a festive rest of autumn and a cozy winter, Mia Weinberg Trail student lead

Visit our website: epibtrail.wix.com/epibtrail

Photographed on film by Bhuvan Dave

Student and Local Groups Hold Climate Strike

By Mia Weinberg

Imagine returning to campus next fall to see all electric buses, bike lanes built into the fabric of every New Brunswick street, and newly installed solar panels on more houses than ever. These are just some of the changes being proposed by a group of impassioned Rutgers students and local nonprofits. On September 23, 2022, several student and local organizations collaborated to demonstrate against the lack of climate action taken thus far by Rutgers and the municipality of New Brunswick. Marching from Alexander Library to New Brunswick City Hall, organizations such as RU Progressive, Students for Environmental Awareness, and Central Jersey Environmental Defenders were represented. Alexa Haris, a senior in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences and president of the club RU Progressive played a vital role in organizing the march. The march had seven official goals aimed at the Rutgers administration and the New Brunswick government. Goals for Rutgers included more concrete initiatives from the Office of Climate Action, which starts with increased funding. The office was founded in 2021 after a group of determined students and faculty advocated for its creation. However, a lack of staff, funding, and influence within the university has made it difficult for the office to take action, according to Haris. If the Office of Climate Action had more governing power, it could act as an environmental consultant for Rutgers, reviewing contracts for construction and transportation deals before they are made. Without this action being taken, the office has little enforcement power over the university-wide goals that it has put in place. Other demands for the university included the eventual electrification of the buses and increased climate resilience action. Climate resilience refers to the level of preparedness of the university to anticipate and respond to climate-related disasters. In September 2021, Tropical Storm Ida flooded Route 18 which runs between Rutgers’ New Brunswick and Piscataway campuses, causing in-person classes to be held remotely as buses could not

operate. Institutional climate resilience would plan for these kinds of events and develop solutions.

Demands for the municipality of New Brunswick included better and safer bike lanes and affordable green housing with solar-ready roofs. The latter, explains Haris, is a result of decades of real estate practices designed to benefit the developers rather than the residents. The protest represented both collective climate action goals and those of individuals and organizations. Victor Aguilar, a senior at the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences represented his native Puerto Rico, giving a speech to raise awareness about the increasing severity of hurricanes due to climate change. He also represented Students for Environmental Awareness (SEA), which pursues campaigns to make the university’s food, recycling, and transportation systems more sustainable, among other things. Although he advocates strongly for climate action on campus, Aguilar says of the march that it also represented “residents of New Brunswick who feel that they don’t have a voice…it was more than Rutgers.”

Although the president’s Task Force on Carbon Neutrality and Climate Resilience has been as active as possible during the pandemic, other climate initiatives on campus had dissipated at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Haris sees the climate march as a way to mobilize climate-centered groups towards common goals once more. Due to connections made during the march, RU Progressive is working with the nonprofit Food & Water Watch to oppose a proposal regarding a power plant in Woodbridge, New Jersey. Looking to the future, Haris and Aguilar encourage students to get involved in organizations on campus if they are passionate about climate action. While it is easy to feel powerless against such a pervasive and global issue, advocating for short term goals within the local community is something that anyone can become involved in.

New Brunswick mayoral Charlie Kratovil and Haris at the climate rally (left). Courtesy of Alexa Harris

What Is Carbon Neutrality and What Does It Mean for utgers?

By Stella Campbell

A recent poll from the Morning Consult found that most adults in the U.S. don’t know what the term “carbon neutral” means, and only 45% of selfidentified environmentalists were able to correctly identify the exact meaning of the phrase. With Rutgers committed to achieving carbon neutrality by 2040 and becoming carbon-negative (removing more carbon dioxide than we are putting into the atmosphere) no later than the University’s 275th anniversary in 2041, it is worth providing an explanation of this terminology.

Carbon neutrality, also referred to as “net-zero emissions,” is often confused with the term “zero-emissions.” When an institution achieves carbon neutrality, the carbon dioxide emitted from its operations and production is balanced with carbon dioxide that has been removed from the atmosphere, having an overall neutral impact on atmospheric CO₂. Achieving zero-emissions would entail preventing all direct and indirect emissions from being released in the first place. While zero-emissions are ideal, given the difficulty of eliminating greenhouse gas emissions entirely with our current technology and lifestyles, many plans aim for carbon neutrality.

Oftentimes emissions are counterbalanced through the use of carbon offsets, which are investments in environmental projects designed to remove and sequester carbon from the atmosphere. These may be projects implemented directly by the institution, or in many cases, purchased from a third-party vendor. However, third-party offsets can be difficult to verify and measure accurately.

What does this mean for Rutgers and our climate goals? While the Rutgers Climate Action Plan calls for net-zero emissions, it explicitly states that third-party carbon offsets should be used only as a last resort. Rutgers will prioritize reducing emissions at their sources. For emissions that cannot yet be eliminated, Rutgers will manage local carbon sequestration projects. Finally, if additional offsets are needed to achieve net-zero emissions in advance of state- and nationwide carbon neutrality, Rutgers will work with a third-party provider. An advisory board will oversee selection of offset providers and ensure they meet high quality standards, allow Rutgers researchers and students to verify project calculations and measurements, and maximize side benefits to residents of New Jersey and our host communities.

Bridging the Gap Between Bridging the Gap Between Bridging the Gap Between

Rutgers and its Gardens... Rutgers and its Gardens... Rutgers and its Gardens...

LLiterally Literally iterally

By Khushbu Patel

On the hot and sunny morning of September 25th, 2021, a group of 500 people gathered behind the Woodbury Bunting-Cobb Residence Hall on the Rutgers Douglass campus in a circular grassy clearing. After various speeches, cheer, applause, and chanting, the group began to march to Cook Farm and Rutgers Gardens. As participants took the two mile trek, they were accompanied by incredible live performances of dance, music, and storytelling. Guests learned from speakers about community and nature centered values and the history of the land that Rutgers was built on.

At one point, the marchers arrived at a cow tunnel under US Highway 1, the longest north-south road in the United States. The tunnel was dark, muddy, and wet, with singers lined up against each side. Dressed in white, and they sang the names of flora and fauna in Latin. It sounded angelic. Little did I know, this tunnel would be the subject of my work for the next 8 months. After the tunnel, the marchers were greeted by silent dancers dancing to the sound of nature in tall grasses. Then, the marchers arrived at Ryders Lane. Cars zipped by. There was no crosswalk. No bridge. Ryders Lane was impossible to cross safely - an obstacle in the marchers’ path, that is, until RUPD blocked off the road with their vehicles.

Image By: John Evans

Shortly after, the protestors arrived at Cook’s Market (the entrance of Rutgers Gardens), where a band welcomed them with music. It was a joyous atmosphere, pierced only by the truth that what the marchers did that day had never been done before and would never be done again unless Rutgers and New Brunswick took action to implement a much-needed change.

The March to Rutgers Gardens was a collaborative, publicly engaging, art-integrated choreographed walking intervention acknowledging the desire for safe and inclusive access to nature for the diverse constituents of Rutgers-New Brunswick and its surrounding communities. Its goals were to celebrate the history and resources of Rutgers and to promote equity, access to green spaces, connectivity, and exercise for all. The march, however, was only the beginning of a much longer discourse. It showed that there was a sizable demand for pedestrian access to the Gardens, but there was still work to be done.

Rutgers Gardens, a 180-acre public green space, is only accessible by car. Located on Ryders Lane, Rutgers Gardens is isolated due to the lack of sidewalks or bike paths. Pedestrians, cyclists, and individuals using assistive devices cannot travel safely to the Gardens or Cook’s Market.

As a student that lives on campus with no car and a love for nature, this issue directly impacted me. Like many other students and New Brunswick community members, I rely on public transportation, bikes, and my own two feet to get me places. For me, a walkable city is a necessity, but there are others that are consciously walking more and using their car less as part of a more sustainable lifestyle. After the March to Rutgers Gardens, I was determined to find a carbon neutral way for everyone to get to the Gardens.

That is when I met Dr. Julia M. Ritter and Dr. Annette Fraytag, and began my internship at AIR Collaborative. Founded by Dr. Ritter and Dr. Freytag, AIR Collaborative aims to enhance inclusiveness in nature and reduce carbon emissions by augmenting the walkability of New Brunswick environments through strategies of creative placemaking and connectivity. They believe that we learn about our communities by walking them, talking with our neighbors, and interacting with the layers of space, sound, and people beneath our daily routes. Specifically, I worked on bringing a mural to the cow tunnel through dialogue with the New Brunswick community, city planners, and Rutgers Administration. The idea was that by making the mural an artistic landmark along the path to the Rutgers Gardens, more people will choose to walk there. We also explored the possibility of having a shuttle (Rutgers bus) run to the Gardens on a weekly basis. By April, we had a proposal, ready to submit.

Truthfully, the cow tunnel mural was just a small part of a much larger goal of creating a permanent footpath from Cook’s student housing along the pastures of the Equine Research Farm to Rutgers Gardens, including a bridge over Ryders' Lane.

On April 27th, 2022, I stood at a podium in Rutgers Gardens and presented our work to campus deans, Rutgers administration, faculty, and New Brunswick city planners. I mentioned that the only reason I could be there that day was because a friend had agreed to lend me a ride to the Gardens. Two other interns presented their plan for the permanent footpath. Fourth year engineering students (with Dr. Nenad Gucunski) presented their capstone projects: possible bridge designs for Ryders Lane. This gathering was a crucial chance to secure support and funding for the path, bridge, mural, and bus campaign. It was an inspiring event, but proved not to be pivotal. Our asks were large, time consuming, and expensive. The funding fell through. To this day, I haven’t been back to the Gardens because I cannot physically get there. I’m now a resident’s assistant, and when my residents ask me how to get to the Gardens, I have to reluctantly tell them that unless they have a car, they can’t cross the Gardens off of their RUcket list.

Today, Dr. Anette Freytag and Dr. Kristin O’Brassill-Kulfa are continuing this important work in the AIR Collaborative with a new cohort of bright-minded students. I hope that they will be the ones to finally bridge the gap between Rutgers and its beloved Gardens.

Image By: Brandon Williams

Image By: Rutgers Gardens

Image By: John Evans

Don't Let Climate Change Change Your View of Human Rights

By Lea Cerini

It is predicted that by 2050 at least 1.2 billion new environmental refugees will emerge as a result of severe weather conditions and natural disasters. As climate change grows more intense, people all over the world are being affected in some ways worse than others. Americans have a reputation for turning a blind eye to global news and the conditions of how others live. When analyzing historical events such as wars and humanitarian crises, there is a debate about whether America should be involved. This conversation continues when discussing how climate change affects foreign countries. Many Americans are unaware that “environmental inequalities are becoming significant drivers of climate induced migration” (Rosignoli, 2022).

When you think of Greece, what comes to mind? It is a beautiful country known for its enchanting shores and is an idealized vacation destination for many. It is not as well known that Greece has a long history of conflict with its neighbor country, Turkey. Just this past summer, Greece accused Turkey of encouraging illegal immigration after Frontex, the EU border agency, reported that 92 men from Afghanistan and Syria crossed the Evros river in rubber dinghies from Turkey and were found in Greece barely clothed and beaten. In another occurrence, 80 migrants from Afghanistan were shipwrecked on the Greek island of Kythira, traveling from Turkey to Italy. Of this group, 29 were rescued by Greece’s Navy and Air Force, but 50 people are still missing (Smith, 2022). These events are massive human rights violations. In response to numerous immigration scandals, Greece’s government announced that they plan to strengthen surveillance measures and build a fence along its border with Turkey (Maltezou,2022).

The issue of poorly treated refugees is not new and will not be disappearing. The United Nations have watched as Greece and Turkey have floundered for years with little constructive assistance. Greece has pleaded for Turkey to follow a 2016 deal with the European Union that stated they would control the entrance of migrants in return for billions of euros for aid. The European Union needs a better solution than trying to appease Turkey with money because it is evident it has not prevented the unsafe transport of migrants. The United Nations must guide the European Union on the refugee crisis and hold them accountable for the conditions of the migrants.

“Syrian refugee camp in the outskirts of Athens. Over 6.6 million Syrians were forced to flee their home since 2011. Many are still stranded in refugee camps in Turkey and Greece, waiting (and hoping) to be granted asylum in European countries or beyond."

Environmental refugees are the responsibility of all nations that have contributed to climate change, and the human rights standard must be upheld. Climate refugees typically are relocated to overcrowded areas in poor living conditions. Refugees desperately need medical and mental health services, as they are an extremely vulnerable population. As more children are born into stressful situations, there will be a higher prevalence of mental health disorders, such as anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia to cope with the unpredictability of climate change (Scutti, 2018). It is inhumane for global leaders to fail to protect refugees because it knowingly allows their suffering. The global response to the ongoing refugee crisis reveals that we are wildly unprepared for what is to come. As more climate change-related disasters occur, there will be more unpredictable displacements. How we prepare for change determines the respect we have for humanity and future generations. Americans should be well informed about international affairs and vote for politicians that promise to secure safety and peace for all.

Image by: Julie Ricard

HowDrought HowDrought Affectsthe Affectsthe Navajo Nation Navajo Nation Navajo Nation

The Navajo reservation stretches across more than 27,000 square miles that intersect three different states: Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. The region's major water source is the Colorado River, which has seen drastically decreasing water levels in the last five years. Water problems have plagued the Nation for years, not only from the overuse of water by others with senior water allocation, but also from internal moral conflict within the tribe. To the Navajo people, “stopping a free-flowing river is a spiritual violation that is contributing to the climate crisis,” so by using the Colorado River Basin, they are going against their ancestor's beliefs (McGivney, 2022).

The area has been facing increasingly severe droughts throughout the years. Droughts have significantly impacted the Native people’s lives at “economic, social, and environmental scales” (El-Vilaly et al., 2018). The temperature rise and evaporation increase from increased periods of heat without water has caused soil adhesion to decrease. This has caused crop losses, resulting in food shortages, leaving the Navajo Nation at a loss. They used to lead self-sufficient lifestyles, but now their families are reliant on services that work to disenfranchise them. The Natives used to follow "nature and where the water was flowing,” but now they barely have access to indoor plumbing (McGivney, 2022).

The Navajo Nation has also seen economic losses from these droughts. Sheep and cattle production has decreased due to reduced water access. The Nation has seen a “loss of $8.2 million and $0.4 million for the cattle and hay sectors, respectively” (Drugova et al., 2021). Socially, the tribe is hit hard by the lack of

water and the lack of a proper local economy. They have poverty levels that are “above the U.S. average,” and the heat only increases their vulnerability to the effects of drought (Davis, Roscigno, and Wilson, 2016; U.S. Census Bureau, 2020). 3.5% of the population is employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing, hunting, and mining, which is higher than the U.S. average (U.S. Census Bureau, 2014-2018). They have been losing jobs with the loss of agriculture from increased droughts.

The droughts affect every aspect of the Navajo Nation’s lives. The droughts increase crop losses and decrease production rates, affecting their ability to become economically prosperous; because the citizens cannot make money off of agriculture or cattle, which interferes with their ability to buy food and access clean water. The inadequate access to water and food makes them more susceptible to health concerns. This then makes it harder for them to work longer days and work towards fixing more issues in their Sovereign nation.

Horseshoe Bend, Arizona Image by Ian Beckley

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS OF HOSTING THE WORLD CUP

BY: SANTIAGO VARELA

The World Cup is the greatest global sports event on the planet. Millions of fans around the world attend the spectacular event to support their nation's soccer team in search of glory. An aspect of hosting the world cup that is generally overlooked is the sustainability initiatives of the host country to ensure that carbon emissions remain low during and after the world cup. Qatar is hosting the upcoming FIFA World Cup beginning this November and is committed to implementing a carbon neutral policy during the construction of the stadiums and maintaining it during the games.

Early reports from Carbon Market Watch indicate that Qatar's promise of carbon neutral emission has significantly fallen short of its goal. It is predicted that the 2022 World Cup will generate 3.6 millions tons of Co2 which is 1.4 million more tons of Co2 that the 2018 World Cup in Russia generated. Most of the emissions generated are coming from housing for teams’ facilities and fans, transportation from stadium to stadium, and infrastructure building. While Qatar is currently facing problems concerning their carbon emissions goals, it will deal with new issues occurring after the World Cup. One of them is transitioning from natural grass that will be used for the tournament to artificial turf after the tournament d h f h hat the country experiences.

Photo from Pexels.com

Qatar is not the only host country of a world cup that has faced obstacles in executing their environmental goals. Brazil hosted the World Cup in 2014, although Brazil advertised the event as the “Green Cup”, it faced major backlash from its Native people for investing billions of dollars for the World Cup instead of funding environmental and social policies to an existing struggling nation. While Brazil did install renewable energy and rainwater collection in its stadiums, the grand event still managed to contribute to 2.7 million tons of Co2 emissions. In contrast to Brazil’s negative environmental impacts from the World Cup, the environmental assessment conducted for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa found impressive results in its Co2 emissions levels. South Africa prepared for an accumulation of 2.64 tons of Co2 emissions. To the nation's surprise, the amount of Co2 that the event emitted was 1.65 million tons of Co2 emissions.

In the upcoming World Cup, Qatar has implemented new technological strategies to combat dust and particulate matter emissions. One interesting technique that Qatar implemented was to wash construction site debris off the large vehicles used to transport materials. The water used to wash off the vehicles is recirculated to the water system. Other initiatives that Qatar has used to minimize the risk of dust and particulate matter to its workers and environment includes the use of dust monitoring devices, enclosed areas to keep dust from escaping its work site. Qatar’s transportation plan is expected to reduce emissions. 25 percent of buses are going to be electric buses by the time the tournament begins. Qatar is hoping that the technology used in the process of constructing the stadiums and renewable energy will lower the burden of environmental impacts on the players, fans and people of Qatar during the World Cup and for years that follow the grand event.

cited

"Student and Local Groups Hold Climate Strike"

"How Droughts Affect the Navajo

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