EGCC Libguides: ENV 102 Environmental Sustainability: Selected Articles

Introduction

Below is a sampling of selected articles from our research databases on some notable environmental issues and policies.

Selected Articles & Cases on the Clean Water Act

Does the Primacy System Work? State versus Federal Implementation of the Clean Water Act Fowler, L., & Birdsall, C. (2021). Does the Primacy System Work? State versus Federal Implementation of the Clean Water Act. Publius: The Journal of Federalism, 51(1), 131-160. doi:10.1093/PUBLIUS/PJAA011
Effects of Water Quality Monitoring on Plant-Level Pollution: Evidence from the Clean Water Act. Chakraborti, L. (2020). Effects of Water Quality Monitoring on Plant-Level Pollution: Evidence from the Clean Water Act. Land Economics, 96(32), 349–365. https://doi.org/10.3368/le.96.3.349
History of the Clean Water Act History of the Clean Water Act
Salmon and the Clean Water Act: An Unfinished Agenda Blumm, M. C., & Smith, M. B. (2021). Salmon and the Clean Water Act: An Unfinished Agenda. Environmental Law Reporter: News & Analysis, 51(2), 10109–10115.
When States Assume: Fulfilling Congress's Objectives Under the Clean Water Act's Wetlands Program. Levey, B. R. (2020). When States Assume: Fulfilling Congress’s Objectives Under the Clean Water Act’s Wetlands Program. Natural Resources & Environment, 35(1), 9.

Selected Articles & Cases on the Clean Air Act

Overview of the Clean Air Act This EPA site provides an overview of the Clean Air Act and what it has achieved.
The Clean Air Act’s Blind Spot: Microclimates and Hotspot Pollution Carlson, A. E. (2018). The Clean Air Act’s Blind Spot: Microclimates and Hotspot Pollution. UCLA Law Review, 65(5), 1036–1088.
Disempowering the EPA: How Statutory Interpretation of the Clean Air Act Serves the Trump Administration’s Deregulatory Agenda Goffman, J., & Bloomer, L. (2020). Disempowering the EPA: How Statutory Interpretation of the Clean Air Act Serves the Trump Administration’s Deregulatory Agenda. Case Western Reserve Law Review, 70(4), 929–970.
Half a Century of Supreme Court Clean Air Act Interpretation: Purposivism, Textualism, Dynamism, and Activism Driesen, D. M., Keck, T. M., & Metroka, B. T. (2018). Half a Century of Supreme Court Clean Air Act Interpretation: Purposivism, Textualism, Dynamism, and Activism. Washington & Lee Law Review, 75(4), 1781–1857.
History of Reducing Air Pollution from Transportation in the United States Brief history of the role and purpose of the Clean Air Act from the EPA website.
Is the Clean Air Act Unconstitutional? Coercion, Cooperative Federalism and Conditional Spending after NFIB v. Sebelius Adler, J. H., & Stewart, N. (2016). Is the Clean Air Act Unconstitutional? Coercion, Cooperative Federalism and Conditional Spending after NFIB v. Sebelius. Ecology Law Quarterly, 43(4), 671–722. https://doi.org/10.15779/Z380Z70W24
The Obama Administration’s Clean Air Act Legacy and the UNFCCC Outka, U. (2016). The Obama Administration’s Clean Air Act Legacy and the UNFCCC. Case Western Reserve Journal of International Law, 48(1/2), 109–125.
Origins of the Clean Air Act: A New Interpretation Ahlers, C. D. (2015). Origins of the Clean Air Act: A New Interpretation. Environmental Law, 45(1), 75–127.

Selected Articles & Cases on Climate Change Policy

Article: U.S. Climate Change Law: A Decade of Flux and an Uncertain Future Carlarne, Cinnamon P. (2019). Article: U.S. Climate Change Law: A Decade of Flux and an Uncertain Future. American University Law Review, 69, 387-477.
Balancing Equity and Effectiveness: The Paris Agreement & the Future of International Climate Change Law Carlarne, C. P., & Colavecchio, J. D. (2019). Balancing Equity and Effectiveness: The Paris Agreement & the Future of International Climate Change Law. New York University Environmental Law Journal, 27(2), 107–182.
Changing Climate Change, 2009-2016 Sunstein, C. R. (2018). Changing Climate Change, 2009-2016. Harvard Environmental Law Review, 42(1), 231–285.
Determining the Proper Scope of Climate Change Policy Benefits in U.S. Regulatory Analyses: Domestic versus Global Approaches Gayer, T., & Viscusi, W. K. (2016). Determining the Proper Scope of Climate Change Policy Benefits in U.S. Regulatory Analyses: Domestic versus Global Approaches. Review of Environmental Economics & Policy, 10(2), 245–263. https://doi.org/10.1093/reep/rew002
The Ends and Means of Decarbonization: The Green New Deal in Context Monast, J. J. (2020). The Ends and Means of Decarbonization: The Green New Deal in Context. Environmental Law, 50(1), 21–43.
Environmental Standards, Thresholds, and the Next Battleground of Climate Change Regulations Castle, K. M., & Revesz, R. L. (2019). Environmental Standards, Thresholds, and the Next Battleground of Climate Change Regulations. Minnesota Law Review, 103(3), 1349–1437.
Moving the Legal Needle of Western Climate and Energy Options Ferrey, S. (2016). Moving the Legal Needle of Western Climate and Energy Options. San Diego Journal of Climate & Energy Law, 8, 129–174.
Not Waiting for Washington: Climate Policy Adoption in California and New York Karapin, R. (2018). Not Waiting for Washington: Climate Policy Adoption in California and New York. Political Science Quarterly (Wiley-Blackwell), 133(2), 317–353. https://doi.org/10.1002/polq.12774
On Environmental Law, Climate Change, & National Security Law Nevitt, M. P. (2020). On Environmental Law, Climate Change, & National Security Law. Harvard Environmental Law Review, 44(2), 321–366.

Selected Articles on Green Infrastructure

Emerging Tools for Energy System Design Increasing Economic and Environmental Sustainability Energy is a fundamental element supporting societal development, particularly with the increasing dependency on the Internet of Things. It is also the main contributor to environmental impacts and subsequently, a potential sector for mitigation. Sustainable energy system design considers energy savings and energy efficiency, waste and consumption reduction, process efficiency enhancement, waste heat recovery, and integration of renewable energy. Emerging tools range from advanced Process Integration, modelling, simulation, and optimisation, to system analysis and assessment. This review covers selected emerging studies promoting sustainable system design, including the recent developments reported in the Special Issue (SI) of the 22nd Conference on Process Integration, Modelling and Optimisation for Energy Saving and Pollution Reduction (PRES'19). The primary emphasis was to enhance the economic and environmental performance. However, social factors were also highlighted as essential for future sustainable development. The discussion and analysis in this review focus on the most recent developments of (a) heat integration and heat transfer; (b) integrated and newly developed heat exchangers, (c) integration of renewables, and (d) roles in economic and environmental sustainability. The key results are highlighted, and future research ideas are suggested according to their links to a broader context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by Yee Van Fan, Zorka Novak Pintaric, and Jiri Jaromir Klemes in Energies, Volume 13, Issue 16, (August 2020). DOI: 10.3390/en13164062
Sustainability, Energy, and the Green Economy: An Interdisciplinary Course on Environmental Sustainability and Life Cycle Analysis Interdisciplinary education offers a collaborative approach to multifaceted topics, such as environmental sustainability. In this article, we present the conceptual framework and lessons learned from a teamtaught course, entitled Sustainability, Energy, and the Green Economy (SEGE). Faculty from the departments of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology offered the course during the 2015-2016 and 2016-2017 academic years at Bronx Community College (BCC). The described interdisciplinary approach was intended to engage students through research-driven, project-based learning using life cycle analysis (LCA) of a simple consumer product. By teaching solutionoriented approaches, SEGE translates complex real-world problems into classroom learning for non-STEM majors. As compared to student performance and engagement data from three 100-level STEM courses at BCC, analyses of C or above grade performance, passing rate, and withdrawal rate indicate that SEGE effectively engaged and retained students. Additionally, student surveys are presented, and were used to guide instructional strategy for effective team teaching and assessment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by Monika Sikand, Claudio Mazzatenta, Keith Wong, Joseph Bush, and Aaron M. Socha in Journal of College Science Teaching, Volume 51, Issue 1 (January/February 2021)
The Role of Partisan Conflict in Environmental Sustainability Targets of the United States The prevailing political atmosphere and partisanship in the United States depict the degree of polarization between the two major political parties of the country. Evidently, the polarization between the Democratic Party (DP) and the Republican Party will expectedly drive the partisan conflict to the higher levels. Considering this motivation, this paper examined the role of partisan conflict in the pollutant emissions in the case of the United States. For sound empirical analysis, the impacts of other environmental quality determinants are being examined over the period 1960–2015. In order to present a decent argument that is viable for policy implementation, the study adopts the combined methodologies of Johansen cointegration; the autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) of Pesaran et al. J Am Stat Assoc 94(446):621–634 (1999); and the Toda and Yamamoto J Econ 66(1–2):225–250 (1995) Granger causality. Empirical outcomes show (i) the kg oil equivalent per capita energy consumed exercise positive and significant impacts on metric tons of per capita CO2 emissions, and it is the principal determinant of environmental degradation in both the short-run and the long-run (ii) renewable energy consumption and economic growth also exercise negative and significant impacts on metric tons of per capita CO2 emissions. Based on our empirical findings, we conclude that partisan conflict indirectly plays a significant role in environmental sustainability targets of the United States. Thus, we are of the opinion that the government should avoid heightened partisan conflict among the political parties in order to promote sustainable environmental policies that would enhance sound and clean environment for both the immediate and the future generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by Seyi Saint Akadiri and Andrew Adewale Alola in Environmental Science and Pollution Research, Volume 27, Issue 10 (April 2020)
Identifying the Links Between Consumer Food Waste, Nutrition, and Environmental Sustainability: A Narrative Review Emerging research demonstrates unexpected relationships between food waste, nutrition, and environmental sustainability that should be considered when developing waste reduction strategies. In this narrative review, we synthesize these linkages and the evidence related to drivers of food waste and reduction strategies at the consumer level in the United States. Higher diet quality is associated with greater food waste, which results in significant quantities of wasted resources (e.g. energy, fertilizer) and greenhouse gas emissions. Food waste also represents waste of micronutrients that could otherwise theoretically fill nutritional gaps for millions of people. To make progress on these multiple fronts simultaneously, nutrition professionals must expand beyond their traditional purview, into more interdisciplinary arenas that make connections with food waste and environmental sustainability. ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR
more...less...
Article by Zach Conrad and Nicole Tichenor Blackstone in Nutrition Reviews, Volume 79, Issue 3 (March 2021)
The Role of Ecological Footprint and the Changes in Degree Days on Environmental Sustainability In addition to the adverse effect of extreme weather and weather variation across the globe, the ecological deficit accounting associated with the USA is perceived to have further worsen the country's environmental quality. Considering the aforementioned motivation, this study examined the effects of cooling degree days, heating degree days and ecological footprint on environmental degradation in the USA over the period of 1960 to 2016. While employing the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) and Bounds testing to cointegration approaches, the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is further incorporated in the estimation model to avoid estimation bias thus enhancing a robust estimate. The result overwhelmingly found that the cooling degree days, the heating degree days and the ecological footprint accounting aggravates the country's environmental degradation. Worse still, the study further presents that there is short-run adverse impacts of the heating and cooling degree days, and the short-run and long-run ecological footprint on the country's environmental sustainability. Moreover, there is statistical evidence that the income growth in the USA especially in the long run will not also improve the environmental quality. Irrespective of the income-environmental degradation long-run relationship, the relieving impact of income growth on environmental degradation is observed in the short run. In general, the study presents relevant policy pathway for implementation.
more...less...
Article by SS Akadiri, AA Alola, UV Aoloa, and CS Nwambe in Environmental Science and Pollution Research International, Volume 27, Issue 20 (July 2020)
Engaging Stakeholders to Assess Landscape Sustainability Context: There is widespread consensus about the need for landscape sustainability but little agreement about how to define or measure it. Objectives: The aim of the paper is to present a systematic approach for measuring progress toward landscape sustainability goals. Methods: The approach was developed based on existing literature and our experiences in applying the approach to support more sustainable agricultural landscapes. Examples applying this approach are summarized for case studies in the United States (U.S.) and Mexico. Results: The approach has six steps: the scope and objectives of the assessment are determined based on the particular context; indicators that alert pending concerns are selected and prioritized based on utility and relevance; baselines and targets are established for each indicator, and scenarios for consideration are determined; the indicator values are obtained and evaluated; trends in and tradeoffs among indicator values are analyzed; and good practices are developed, applied, and assessed. Conclusions: Insights gained from applying this approach suggest that designing sustainable landscapes depends on stakeholder engagement, effective communication, transparency and trust, timely monitoring, and continual improvement. Iterative application of the assessment approach builds capacity and promotes continual improvements in management practices, thus enabling timely responses to changing conditions while still progressing toward a set of locally defined goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by Virginia H. Dale, Keith L. Kline, Esther S. Parish, and Sarah E. Eichler in Landscape Ecology, Volume 34, Issue 6, (June 2019). DOI: 10.1007/s10980-019-00848-1
Understanding Knowledge Use for Sustainability Despite ambition for actionable knowledge, defining and measuring knowledge use remains elusive to those co-producing it. • Researchers co-producing knowledge found it difficult to clearly describe users and uses, among other key attributes. • Narrow typologies of sustainability knowledge do not account for all outcomes and may instead act as a limitation. • The inherent messiness of knowledge production and use contribute to methodological obstacles to studying and explaining it. • The study highlights opportunities for funders seeking to fund collaborative research or to advance sustainability goals. Scientific research is increasingly motivated to produce knowledge for sustainability decision-making and action. This is driving some funders, academic institutions, and researchers to pursue research approaches that are more interactive with potential users of the knowledge created. Yet despite compelling evidence that these more collaborative approaches lead to increased use, it remains unclear what constitutes use and how to evaluate its societal impact. To understand knowledge utilization better, we use data from in-depth interviews of research project team leaders funded through an applied coastal research program in the United States. We show that, empirically, what constitutes 'use' remains elusive: researchers believe that their efforts yield usable knowledge that is impactful but find it difficult to provide clear descriptions about specific uses, user identities, attribution, and evidence of broader outcomes. We argue that rather than an impediment to understanding knowledge utilization, these findings may suggest the inherent messiness of knowledge production and use. These results build on prior findings about the methodological obstacles to studying or explaining knowledge utilization and offer new insight into factors that shape the linking of sustainability knowledge and action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by James C. Arnott and Maria Carmen Lemos in Environmental Science and Policy, Volume 120 (June 2021). DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.02.016
What Does Targeting Ecological Sustainability Mean for Company Financial Performance? This study empirically examines the effects of companies' environmental orientation on their long‐run financial performance. It also examines the mediating roles of environmental legitimacy and environmental performance. We use PLS‐SEM among a sample of large U.S.‐based companies. The results show that an environmental orientation that targets ecological sustainability is directly and positively associated with the debt ratio and with long‐run market value but to a lesser degree than what is obtained by not targeting ecological sustainability. Targeting ecological sustainability has a greater positive impact on environmental legitimacy than not targeting ecological sustainability. Environmental legitimacy, but not environmental performance, mediates the link between environmental orientation and long‐run profitability and market value. These findings suggest that targeting ecological sustainability is important for improving environmental legitimacy, but companies are not proactive in improving environmental performance. This study offers insights to managers for improving financial performance by targeting ecological sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
more...less...
Article by Taryn De Mendonca and Yan Zhou in Business Strategy and the Environment, Volume 28, Issue 8 (December 2019). DOI: 10.1002/bse.2334

Selected Articles & Cases on Brownfield Sites

Academic papers Creating public assets from brownfields: A comparison of policies and practices in the United States and Germany. Kotval-K, Z., Meitl, C., & Kotval, Z. (2017). Academic papers Creating public assets from brownfields: A comparison of policies and practices in the United States and Germany. Journal of Urban Regeneration & Renewal, 11(1), 60–78.
Brown is the new green: brownfield sites often harbour a surprisingly large amount of biodiversity. Hunter, P. (2014). Brown is the new green: brownfield sites often harbour a surprisingly large amount of biodiversity. EMBO Reports, 15(12), 1238–1242. https://doi.org/10.15252/embr.201439736
Overview of EPA's Brownfields Program EPA's Brownfields and Land Revitalization Program Overview
Soil and brownfield bioremediation. Megharaj, M., & Naidu, R. (2017). Soil and brownfield bioremediation. Microbial Biotechnology, 10(5), 1244–1249. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.12840
Soil heavy metal contamination in residential neighborhoods in post-industrial cities and its potential human exposure risk. Sharma, K., Basta, N., & Grewal, P. (2015). Soil heavy metal contamination in residential neighborhoods in post-industrial cities and its potential human exposure risk. Urban Ecosystems, 18(1), 115–132. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11252-014-0395-7
Sustainable development and brownfield regeneration. What defines the quality of derelict land recycling? Franz, M., Pahlen, G., Nathanail, P., Okuniek, N., & Koj, A. (2006). Sustainable development and brownfield regeneration. What defines the quality of derelict land recycling? Environmental Sciences (15693430), 3(2), 135–151. https://doi.org/10.1080/15693430600800873
A Tale of Two Brownfield Sites: Making the Best of Times from the Worst of Times in Western Pennsylvania's Steel Valley Perkins, N. (2007). A Tale of Two Brownfield Sites: Making the Best of Times from the Worst of Times in Western Pennsylvania’s Steel Valley. Boston College Environmental Affairs Law Review, 34(3), 503–532.
Western Pennsylvania Brownfields Center Case Studies The Brownfields Center's case studies include research compiled over the years by Carnegie Mellon students. Our catalogue of case studies now included not only brownfield developments local to Pittsburgh, but brownfield developments across the state of Pennsylvania and a couple of other states as well. Many of these sites were formerly used by steel mills or other industries and have left behind large pieces of land-a scarce commodity in urban areas-and have been transformed into dynamic new developments.

Richard Croft / Brownfield site / CC BY-SA 2.0