Khushbu Patel

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.

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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.

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: Rutgers Gardens

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 climateinduced 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.

Image by: Julie Ricard 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.