Columbia University
PAE-24: Sustainability Policy Advocacy

Columbia University’s senior administration sat on the NYC Green Codes Task Force which developed 111 recommendations some of which have already been incorporated into laws and practices, with many others in the pipeline. By 2030, the measures already implemented will reduce citywide carbon emissions by almost 5%. A Columbia representative sits on Go Green East Harlem a collaborative community-based initiative implemented by the Borough of Manhattan, it aims at breaking the pattern of harmful environmental conditions that have been part of East Harlem’s history for decades, while serving as a model for other environmentally beleaguered neighborhoods. Columbia also advocated for improved energy efficient lab fire and safety codes with the city government and with the NY Fire Department. At the federal level Columbia University advocates both Congress and the administration for federal subsidies supporting university-based scientific research, including research that promotes long-term goals regarding sustainability and environmental stewardship. This is particularly true of competitive research grant funding as administered by the Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. These efforts are ongoing. At both the City and State level, the University participates in a number of initiatives that are designed to address the sustainability objectives of the City and State, particularly with an eye towards reducing the campus’ energy consumption and carbon emissions. Additional Information: Community Benefits Agreement, http://www.columbia.edu/cu/gca/news/COmmunityBenefitsAgreement/index.html NYC Green Codes Task Force, http://www.nyc.gov/html/gbee/downloads/pdf/urban_green_anniversary_report.pdf