Tag: Event

Social Impact Investing: How Profit Motivation can Power Social Change

by Jon Chin

Image courtesy of mottmac.com
Image courtesy of mottmac.com

Right around the corner of NYU, The New School is hosting a series of phenomenal speaker events open to the general public. Dubbed the Nth Degree, they are bringing in “thinkers, visionaries, and creators” who are making a positive impact on society, from prison reform to ethical business practices to environmental justice. On September 26th, they hosted speakers from the Impact Finance Center in an event titled, “Social Impact Investing for Sustainability.” While not explicitly part of the Nth Degree series, the night shared the same values: how to navigate the real world—the world as it is—and steer it to the right path.

Now, I’ve been a giver for a large part of my life. It’s a character trait/flaw that’s influenced what I study, where I work, how I spend my time, and what I love. Whenever money enters the conversation, I start to feel guilty; I sometimes compensate for that feeling by undercharging people or working overtime for free. Even when I know my clients can afford it, I deflect these conversations. And I imagine that I’m not the only person who does this; we sometimes think that profit somehow cheapens or mis-motivates our work. Read more

Talking Capitalism and Climate with Naomi Klein

by Adi Varshneya 

nk_1Climate activist, author, and filmmaker Naomi Klein spoke at NYU’s Tishman Auditorium on Friday evening as part of the Educating for Sustainability series. The series focuses on women on the forefront of the environmental movement and is a collaboration between Office of Sustainability and EarthMatters, the largest environmental student group at NYU.

Klein is well known for her criticism of global corporate capitalism, continually stressing the incompatibility between neoliberalism and climate justice throughout her speech. She makes two key points: firstly, neoliberal policy inhibits the public investments needed to combat climate change. A weak public sphere cannot implement clean energy, extend public transport, and improve infrastructure. Secondly, neoliberal ideology is centered around a growth imperative. While marginal growth is possible alongside marginal emission reductions, 2016 is no longer a time for marginal improvements. Our leaders have waited far too long to take action. If we want to keep global temperature increases below 1.5-2 degrees Celsius and prevent climate catastrophe, we need to act radically and begin making systematic changes in our governments and economies. Read more

NYUnplugged 2016

Unplugged FB cover photo

This February, NYU will be hosting the fourth annual NYUnplugged energy reduction competition! In years past, the Office of Sustainability has carefully tracked the energy consumption from each NYU Residence Hall throughout the month to determine which Hall can best reduce its consumption. The goal of the competition is to both educate and engage the student community around conscious and responsible energy use, and to see those efforts all the way through to actual reductions. Read more

NYU Leads in NYC Carbon Challenge

“The success of the NYC Carbon Challenge is a powerful demonstration that New York City’s largest private and institutional sector organizations can work with the City toward a common goal of fighting climate change and creating a healthier and more sustainable place to live for all New Yorkers.” – Nilda Mesa, Director of the NYC Office of Sustainability

IMG_3698Earlier this week, Interim Director of the Office of Sustainability, Dianne Anderson spoke with a panel of sustainability professionals from institutions featured in the NYC Carbon Challenge Handbook for University and Hospitals.

The NYC Carbon Challenge was launched in 2007 to partner with private and institutional sector leaders to achieve significant greenhouse gas emissions from buildings. New York University is one of 17 participating universities, joined by 11 hospitals, 11 global companies and 18 residential property management firms, committed to reducing emissions by 30 percent or more over a ten year period. NYU committed to a 30% reduction based on 2006 levels by the year 2017. In 2012, we met that goal 5 year ahead of schedule. This year we set a new target for 50% emissions reduction by 2025. Read more

NYU Students Frame COP21

logocop21-ppalFrom November 30 – December 11, world leaders from 195 countries are gathered in Paris for the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). These government, civil society and global leaders are convening with the hopes of creating what would be the first ever legally binding, international agreement to combat climate change. The primary goal of the agreement is to create a plan to keep global temperatures from rising beyond 2 degrees Celsius by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Around the world, through a United Nations campaign, activists have been using #EarthToParis to send messages to the negotiators, calling for swift, strong and steadfast action on climate.

Last week, NYU students added their voices to the #EarthToParis conversation through the Office of Sustainability’s “Framing COP21” Campaign. Here’s what they had to say: Read more