Coastal Resilience at the University of Delaware

The University of Delaware stands out as a leader in sustainability and environmental research, driving innovation through projects like developing offshore wind energy systems, creating strategies for coastal resilience against rising sea levels, and restoring vital wetland ecosystems that support biodiversity and protect against flooding. Diego Tovar, Assistant Director of Campus and Civic Engagement for the Rachel Carson Council, visited UD to support its efforts in addressing the impacts of sea level rise.

Clark University Joins RCC to Grow Sustainability Initiatives

In the heart of Worcester, Massachusetts, Clark University, founded in 1887, has long been a pioneer in exploring the frontiers of knowledge—both in the realms of psychology, famously visited by Sigmund Freud in 1909, and in the quest for sustainability. This fall, amidst crisp air and falling leaves, Assistant Director of Campus and Civic Engagement Diego Tovar arrived at Clark, hosted by Dr. Morgan Ruelle, Assistant Professor in the Environmental Science and Policy program within the Department of International Development, Community, and Environment.

Holy Cross Joins RCC to Boost Climate Action Efforts

Perched atop Mount Saint James in Worcester, Massachusetts, the College of the Holy Cross is known for its historic role in social justice movements, its commitment to liberal arts education, and its innovative approach to sustainability. Recognized by the Princeton Review for its ecological-related policies, practices, and programs for the 12th consecutive year, Holy Cross remains a leader in integrating environmental responsibility into campus life.

EPA Recognizes Johns Hopkins University as a Leader in Green Power

The university purchases 60% of its total power needs from green sources and ranks No. 4 among U.S. colleges and universities that are part of the EPA's Green Power Partnership

Johns Hopkins University has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as one of the nation's leading colleges and universities in the utilization of energy from renewable sources.

Catawba College’s Commitment to Sustainability Earns Recognition

Catawba College has announced its inclusion in the 2025 edition of The Princeton Review’s Guide to Green Colleges. This recognition highlights the college’s ongoing commitment to sustainability, environmental stewardship and fostering a green-conscious campus community. This recognition aligns with Catawba’s mission to invest in the success of its students, community and the region. As a leading institution in sustainability, Catawba is dedicated to providing a nurturing environment where students thrive.

‘Our work is just beginning’: Duke Community Celebrates Carbon Neutrality Milestone

Duke community members commemorated the University’s recent carbon neutrality achievement during its Climate Commitment Celebration Thursday.

The event, hosted by the Office of Climate & Sustainability, featured speeches from President Vincent Price and Climate Commitment leaders, as well as a ceremony recognizing Climate Commitment Leadership Award recipients.

Princeton Review Names Elon University a ‘Green College’

The university was recognized for standing out within a pool of nearly 600 schools for its sustainability-related policies, practices and programs. The Princeton Review has again recognized Elon University for being among the country’s most environmentally responsible colleges and universities. “The Princeton Review Guide to Green Colleges 2025 edition” profiles colleges with the most exceptional commitments to sustainability based on their academic offerings and career preparation for students, campus policies, initiatives and activities.

Rutgers Secures $607K Grant to Develop Zero-gravity, Water-scarce Farming

Rutgers Health received a $607,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to spearhead the development of “electroponics.” The new farming method utilizes a design to operate in water-scarce or zero-gravity environments – including space stations. In an Oct. 3 press release announcing the project, the school said it aims to demonstrate scalability of the system in a field study, proving its ability to enhance plant growth with minimal water and agrichemical use.

Whales That Use Echolocation Mistake Plastic For Prey

Deep-diving whales that rely on sound rather than vision to hunt in the ocean’s darkest depths are confusing plastic marine debris for prey, new findings suggest. For the study, “Acoustic signature of plastic marine debris mimics the prey items of deep-diving cetaceans,” researchers from Duke University as well as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, North Carolina State University and the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, compared the way sound bounces off plastic that is floating underwater to that of typical whale prey, in this case, squid and squid beaks.

Student Climate Leaders React Positively to Duke’s Carbon Neutrality Announcement, Look Toward Next Steps

Duke student climate leaders expressed pride and excitement in the wake of the University’s Oct. 16 carbon neutrality announcement and are now looking to how the University can improve and expand its climate work. Duke set an ambitious goal in 2007 to achieve carbon neutrality by 2024. The University was able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 31% in the past 17 years to meet the deadline, becoming one of only 14 U.S. colleges and universities with the distinction.

After the Storm: Soil Strike Team Helps Farmers Assess Land

In the wake of Hurricane Helene, western North Carolina faces a slow recovery. While power has been restored and roadways repaired, farmers are contending with profound changes to the foundation of their livelihood — their soil.

Last week, a team of researchers from NC State University’s Department of Crop and Soil Sciences visited western North Carolina to support local Extension agents in evaluating the shifting landscape.

Overall Youth Turnout Down From 2020 But Strong in Battleground States

We estimate that 42% of young voters, ages 18-29, (+/- 1%) cast ballots in the 2024 presidential election, a lower youth turnout than in 2020—when our early estimate put youth turnout above 50%—and approximately on par with the 2016 presidential election. We also estimate that youth voter turnout in battleground states may have been much higher: 50% on aggregate in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

Howard University Students Disappointed But Resilient After Harris' Election Loss

Howard University students say they are disappointed after Vice President Harris’ loss to President-elect Donald Trump, but are encouraged by her historic run.

As Harris conceded the race in a speech on The Yard at her alma mater Wednesday, many of her supporters, including students, shed tears as she told them to "never give up the fight for our democracy" and not despair about the days ahead.

How One Minnesota College Got Nearly 90% Voter Turnout — and is Pushing For More

St. Olaf College in Northfield encourages civic participation through its election ambassador program.

On average, about two-thirds of students on college campuses get out and vote during every presidential election cycle, according to Tufts University’s Institute for Democracy & Higher Education. But one college in Minnesota blows the rest out of the water.

Student Voter Engagement Efforts Grew in 2024. Student Voting Didn’t.

At the National Student Vote Summit, attendees discussed the best ways to boost political involvement after an election that saw worse turnout than in 2020.

Nicholas Crookston, who leads campus engagement efforts for the civic engagement nonprofit Voto Latino, opened the National Student Voter Summit Thursday morning by announcing how much student voter engagement efforts grew this past election cycle.

Welcome to the American Petrostate

The United States is now a failed Democratic state. With the reelection of Donald Trump, a candidate who has flaunted his desire for autocracy—aided and abetted by a Republican-controlled Congress that will not constrain him with guardrails—the United States is now poised to become an authoritarian state ruled by plutocrats and fossil fuel interests. It is now, in short, a petrostate. The oligarchs who control the Republican party do not intend to waste valuable time—as they did during Trump’s first term—in implementing their fossil fuel-driven agenda.

Ray Bloomer: Breaking Accessibility Barriers in U.S. National Parks

Ray Bloomer’s legacy is a powerful reminder of what one person’s determination can achieve. As the first blind interpretive ranger in the National Park Service (NPS), he didn’t just adapt to a challenging role—he redefined it, paving the way for lasting inclusivity across America’s most beloved landscapes. Ray’s story began in 1976 at Independence National Historical Park in Philadelphia. At the time, hiring a blind ranger seemed unlikely, and the park’s chief of visitor services openly doubted his capabilities.

5 Questions for Trinity Washington’s Outspoken President and Trump Critic

Patricia McGuire set a tone by fiercely critiquing the first Trump administration. She’s poised to do it again, calling institutional neutrality “pure folly.”

When Donald Trump was first elected president in 2016, Trinity Washington University president Patricia McGuire didn’t hold back how she felt about his policies. She let him have it—publicly, sharply and often.

Did Title VI Guidance to Colleges Suppress Protesters’ First Amendment Rights? A Lawsuit Seeks Answers.

The Knight First Amendment Institute at Columbia University filed a lawsuit last week against the U.S. Department of Education, demanding the release of all guidance it has given to colleges on how to fight discrimination based on race, religion, ethnicity, or national origin. The free-speech advocacy group believes the federal agency has been privately instructing college administrators on how they should respond to campus protests over the Israel-Hamas war.

Texas A&M Cuts Programs Amid Political Pressure

The flagship is eliminating dozens of programs, including an LGBTQ studies minor that a conservative lawmaker has criticized. He says he’ll soon target other institutions.

The Texas A&M University System Board of Regents last week directed the president of its flagship to end 52 low-enrollment programs, including a nascent LGBTQ studies minor that conservative state legislators have cast as “liberal indoctrination.”

Recent Storms Stir Climate Anxiety Among College Students

Despite President-elect Donald Trump’s belief that climate change is a hoax, most young people are worried about the future of the environment. In light of that, colleges are nurturing mental resilience.

When Liv Barefoot first heard Hurricane Helene was headed toward the University of North Carolina at Asheville, she didn’t expect it to upend her senior year and escalate her anxiety about climate change.

The Fall Election: Caring for Bleeding Hearts in New York

“It is a wholesome and necessary thing for us to turn again to the earth and in the contemplation of her beauties to know the sense of wonder and humility. ” – Rachel Carson, The Sense of Wonder

The day after the 2024 presidential election, my coworkers wore black. We communed at the water cooler to spout plasmic fears about the health and safety of the planet and each other, about science and journalism, our collective and individual fates. We made morbid jokes.

A Night of Beauty and Sadness in Florida

In high school, a five-day trip to the Florida Keys was the highlight of my year, a getaway planned by our AP Environmental Science class to explore marine ecosystems up close. I had spent the week prior buzzing with anticipation, carefully packing my duffel bag full of swimsuits, breathable tees, and my favorite hiking sandals. Trading the brisk Virginia air for tropical breezes sounded like a dream, and I couldn’t wait to see what adventures awaited. By the time our plane touched down in Miami, I was ready to dive into the experience.

Community Gardens as the Roots of Resistance

In Evanston, Illinois, where the legacies of redlining and segregation remain sewn into the fabric of the community, environmental injustice is deeply linked with the racial demographics of the city. The predominantly Black 5th Ward of Evanston experiences significantly higher temperatures and lower air quality than wealthier and whiter neighborhoods in the rest of the city and remains the only ward in Evanston that lacks a grocery store, straining access to nourishing and healthy food.

To Save the Planet, Think About Places.

Why are maps important?

Storytelling is a powerful tool to persuade and motivate climate action. Rachel Carson’s legacy teaches us that the most effective advocates can clearly share the drivers of climate change and the impact it has on humans and nature. Climate change is not just about what’s happening to our planet and why, but also where. The ability to create clear and persuasive maps using geographic information systems (GIS) is a valuable asset in a climate storyteller’s toolbox.

Stanford, Salamanders, and Sustainability

I often hear conversations from people talking about the beauty of Stanford’s campus and the mild California weather. There is usually sun year-round, and people always lounge on the lawns to study or hang out with friends.

However, my favorite time on campus is when it rains. Stanford’s campus boasts a plot of land called Lake Lagunita, which for most of the year is a dried lake filled with plants.

Darting Past Extinction: Endangered Fish in Birmingham

It’s a hot September morning; chirping insects and an enthusiastic warbler sing with Robert Green’s voice. We stand by Seven Springs behind Faith Apostolic church in Birmingham, Alabama, home to the watercress darter (Etheostoma nuchale), a federally listed endangered species found in only four locations around the city. Green, a long-term member and spokesperson for Faith Apostolic, told us how the story of the church and the darters became intertwined.

Houseplants: Sustainable or Not?

In a society growing with virtual communication and sprouting with new technology models every year, the desire for more natural beauty indoors has spiked, especially since the pandemic. Whether it be aspirations for a Zoom background teeming with green foliage or the need for increased social interaction with other life (human or not), plant sales have accelerated in small botanical shops and big box stores. However, does this seemingly harmless hobby actually have a greater carbon footprint than what appears at face value?

Keeping the Lifeboat of Local Climate Action Afloat

On November 6th, I drew solace from the memory of standing with the members of the Town of Tremont's Sustainability Committee in muck boots, monitoring a climate-bloated king tide. When outrage and hopelessness threatened to overwhelm me, I tried to remember the looks on the faces next to these devoted champions, all of whom were volunteers, none of whom were experts, when, with their help, our town voted to adopt an ambitious set of policies that would build climate resilience while caring for our neighbors.

Hurricane Helen: A Natural Disaster?

As a Sustainable Development student, I’ve known for quite some time that there is a closing window for collective action against climate change. I’ve been shown numerous examples of climate-related patterns and extreme events, ranging from desertification on one end, and flooding on the other. The disastrous impacts of climate change are wide in range and are only becoming more threatening. Growing up in Asheville, North Carolina, a valley protected by the glorious Blue Ridge Mountains lying roughly 300 miles from the nearest ocean, I had always considered myself to be in a climate haven.

Habits of Habitat and “Permaculture”

I’ve recently felt called to start gardening. Whether the call is from wanting to cultivate biodiversity on my patio, seeking control after the most recent U.S. election results, or genuine curiosity to develop a new skill, I am not sure. Perhaps it is a combination of the aforementioned feelings and more––I’ve always wanted to take a horticulture class, and I’m very interested in learning more about plants from a medicinal or survivalist standpoint. In my preparation for what I should plant, I’ve also been learning more about various sustainable agricultural methods from which I hope to take inspiration.

“All that you touch, you change”

Wearing a long-sleeve black blouse, I rushed between patches of shade, desperate for relief from the sweltering heat. I was walking from my fellowship at Earthjustice on Wall Street to the bus stop heading north. The late summer afternoon sun pressed relentlessly against the pavement, and I wasn’t alone in this discomfort—dozens of equally weary New Yorkers crowded the bus stop. When the bus arrived, I moved quickly to secure a seat. I finally had a moment to pull out of my bag a book my friend Ava had gotten for me at an environmental event called Earth Sessions.