Join us for an inspiring evening as the Global Climate Justice Fellows of the Energy Climate Justice and Sustainability (ECJS) Lab present the culmination of their hands-on experiences in the world of climate action. The Global Climate Justice Fellows program is designed to provide NYU graduate students with immersive, experiential learning opportunities that bridge environmental and social justice with climate change and sustainability.

Our fellows have worked alongside leading figures from the private sector, environmental non-profits, multilateral agencies, and government sectors throughout the program. These experiences have allowed them to deepen their understanding of sustainability practices, develop leadership skills, and gain valuable professional experience in the field of climate action.

During this final presentation event, the Global Climate Justice Fellows will share their projects, insights, and the valuable lessons they have learned. This is a unique opportunity to hear firsthand about their innovative work and the impact of their efforts on global climate justice initiatives. It's also a chance to engage with the broader NYU community and explore ways to integrate sustainability practices into diverse professional networks.

A description of the project abstracts can be found below:

National Grid

Buildings currently account for about one-third of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in New York State. To reduce these emissions and advance the state's ambitious climate justice goals, eliminating fossil fuels from buildings' energy systems is crucial. While electrifying heating systems is a key decarbonization strategy, transitioning entire energy grids to meet these electrification goals presents significant financial, practical, and equity challenges for state and city municipalities.

Global Climate Justice Fellow Sruthi Raj worked on a study addressing these challenges, focusing on the affordability of the energy transition, including the upfront and ongoing costs of electrification through heat pump installations. Finding solutions to these issues will help New York develop an affordable pathway for its low-income households—a key climate justice objective during the energy transition.

East NY Farms!

The East New York Farms! Project (a project of United Community Centers, Inc.) is a collaborative initiative that organizes youth and adult residents to address community food issues by promoting local and regional sustainable agriculture and community-based economic development. Their community-facing programs include weekly farmers' markets, community gardener workshops, youth internship programs, and free food distribution initiatives. The overall goal is to create a sustainable food system that increases food security in East New York.

Fellows supported ENYF! by designing and creating program assessments, tracking and gathering input data, and conducting community research to bolster urban agriculture educational efforts and sustain a local food system. Through this work, they drafted sample outreach documents, such as printed menus and recipe cards, for attendees of cooking demos and workshops. They also identified gaps in community knowledge about available programs and opportunities for more effective capacity building.

Solar One

Over a six-week period, Global Climate Justice Fellows collaborated with Solar One on New York State's Clean Energy Communities Program (CECP) to run a community campaign promoting the Community Solar program. This initiative allows New York City renters and homeowners to benefit from solar panel energy without requiring rooftop installations, leading to savings on their Con Edison energy bills. The fellows developed and implemented outreach methods, such as digital campaigns, brochures, and flyers, to effectively reach potential subscribers. Additionally, they conducted surveys to gather feedback from current subscribers. Despite some challenges, they successfully achieved several key goals and targets.

United Nations

As an intern and Global Climate Justice Fellow with the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs, Neve Durrwachter was primarily responsible for assisting with preparations for the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development. In this role, she helped coordinate the presentations of the Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and the thematic VNR labs, and facilitated the Ministerial Declaration negotiations. Additionally, she co-authored the biennial Secretary-General's Report on Human Resource Development. Through these experiences, she gained invaluable insight into the dynamics of the UN system and regional approaches to sustainable development.