For many years, the scientific community perceived quantitative knowledge as free from human biases. However, this understanding has been challenged by broadening the processes through which quantitative knowledge is generated. These more open processes provide a role for different points of view in the construction of knowledge and allow for a more inclusive approach to knowledge generation.
Lucy Kessler (FES ‘18) sits down with Zach Wendling, the lead investigator for the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) for a discussion about the relevance of the biannual global report, now in its 20th year. They explore what has changed over time with regards to international reporting on environmental issues, as well as what this year’s report reveals about the state of environmental regulation and progress.
Dan Esty is the Director of the Yale Center for Environmental Law & Policy (YCELP) and the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy. Dan sits down with Lucy Kessler, the YCELP Communications RA, to discuss his new article “Red Lights to Green Lights: From 20th Century Environmental Regulation to 21st Century Sustainability,” on the need to shift the approach toward environmental regulation to embrace a new sustainability strategy for the 21st century.
In this episode Oriana Persico and Salvatore Iaconesi, both teachers of digital design at La Sapienza University of Rome, discuss what the near future is, how they study it, and what implications of designing the near future has for natural resource companies such as Shell. They help listeners envision the possibilities of a collaborative and ubiquitous learning environment. Much of the conversation centers on their recent Human Ecosystems project in New Haven, Connecticut where they “mapped the city” using mass amounts of social media data.
The 2014 Environmental Index (EPI) ranks countries on high-priority environmental concerns, including air quality, water management, and climate change. In this podcast, Angel Hsu, lead author of the 2014 EPI, discusses the rankings and global performance trends. Overall, the index reveals that the world is doing well on improving drinking water and sanitation. Progress in these categories tracks the concerted pursuit of the Millennium Development Goals, which have clear targets, strategies, and metrics for assessment on water and sanitation.
Biodiversity underpins all ecosystem services that sustain our environment and power our economies. Intact and sufficient habitat is critical to supporting ecosystems and maintaining biodiversity. However, natural habitats have witnessed considerable declines in biodiversity in recent decades, and today many species are at risk of extinction.
Air pollution is the most pressing environmental threat to global public health according to the 2018 Environmental Performance Index (EPI). Researchers at Yale and Columbia Universities in conjunction with the World Economic Forum issue the report every two years.
Over the past 20 years, there has been a steady growth in the collection and use of data on environmental performance.
The Environmental Performance Index (EPI), was released January 22nd in Davos, Switzerland at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. YCELP Research Assistant, Lucy Kessler, sat down with the Zach Wendling, the EPI Principal Investigator, to discuss the 20th anniversary of the Index and his key takeaways from the report.
