Fall Research Expo 2021

Local Sustainability Programs and Policies

I worked on creating a handbook for deliberation support for climate change-related policies and programs. My role was to create useful documents for policymakers about different climate policy alternatives. The ones I worked on were low embodied carbon-concrete, electrification of lawn care equipment, food rescue programs, and expanding non-motorized (bicycle and pedestrian) thoroughfares. Each policy document included the following topics: Background and Motivation, Examples in Practice, Climate-Related Benefits, Additional Benefits, Dis-benefits, Policy Proposal, and Estimated Costs. The purpose of these informational policy documents is to support deliberation by policymakers or participants in a role-playing activity. Decisionmakers give each policy alternative a score under different criteria, including: budget costs, social costs, greenhouse gas reduction, health and safety effects, co-benefits, disbenefits, and transition effects. A software developed by one of my research colleagues then ranks the policy alternatives based on these scores.

PRESENTED BY
PURM - Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
Advised By
Steven Kimbrough
Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions
Join Gabriela for a virtual discussion
PRESENTED BY
PURM - Penn Undergraduate Research Mentoring Program
Advised By
Steven Kimbrough
Professor of Operations, Information and Decisions

Comments

This sounds like a really interesting and valuable project. What do you see as the biggest obstacles to these iniatives being implemented? Are they similar for each initiative or different?

I had a great time learning about Gabi's summer researching local sustainability and climate policies. I didn't know lawn mowers were such a big contributor to toxic air pollution and carbon emissions.

I loved hearing about Gabi's research related to local climate policy. I especially loved hearing about the different types of low embodied carbon concrete that can be used for green construction.

I had a great time learning about Gabi's summer researching local sustainability and climate policies. I didn't know lawn mowers were such a big contributor to toxic air pollution and carbon emissions.

Woah! Who would've known that CO2 could be mixed right into concrete mixes to make it greener, that is very cool and a great way to reduce the carbon footprint. Do you happen to know about how much food the rescue programs manage to rescue? I think it would be great if large food chains joined the fight against food waste by either donating it or allowing their employees to take it home, rather than simply disposing of it. It's amazing to see how much you have taken away from this project, congratulations! 

These seem like some excellent means for the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases in the United States. Are any of these currently being implemented in the US or other countries, and if so, what have been the primary obstacles and strategies used for their implementation?