Course Syllabus

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Climate Justice in Our Own Backyard  

Sandy+10: How is New York City Adapting to Climate Change?

 

PLANA-6617-2022

GSAPP Planning Practicum - Fall 2022

Thaddeus Pawlowski, t.pawlowski@columbia.edu

Tuesdays 5:00-7:00 PM

300 Buell South

 

This practicum is offered in partnership with the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes and the Columbia Climate School’s  Fall Symposium Sandy +10: Resilience, Equity, and Climate Justice on October 28-29, 2022.  All students registering for this course should also plan to attend the symposium.

 

10 years ago, the global climate crisis gave New York a wake up call. 44 people died. Tens of thousands of people displaced. 17% of the city flooded. Over $18 Billion has been spent on federal, state, local, and philanthropic initiatives focused on recovery and resilience.  What worked and what didn’t?  Who has benefited and who has been left behind?  How are the impacts of climate change felt differently by different communities?  How is the flow of resources and focus of policy-making treating communities differently?  What projects and policies are evolving within local government today? What are communities doing to advance climate justice, social resilience and a just transition to a post-fossil fuel economy? What have we learned?  

 

Course Objective

This course is offered as a practicum, meaning we will learn by doing, which will involve everyone’s creative and critical input.  Our objective is to build a historical narrative of New York City’s neighborhoods since Hurricane Sandy, rich in lessons for policymakers.  This work will be advanced by our incremental research leading to up to a series of student organized panel discussions that probe the dilemmas and controversies of climate change adaptation and disaster recovery.  

 

Learning Objectives

  • Understand climate change adaptation, resilience planning, and disaster recovery at a local level in New York City; not only the relevant plans and policies, but the motivations and perspectives of the people and institutions working on them right now.
  • Develop skills in facilitated conversations, indispensable for all emerging leaders interested in the multidisciplinary collaboration demanded by the climate crisis.
  • Develop personal and professional perspectives on climate justice.
  • Cultivate creativity and collaboration in the service of building a more resilient and just city.

 

Assignments

  • Assignment 1: Due Nov. 1.  in groups of four assigned by the instructor, students will prepare and deliver a workshop during the Sandy+10 event on October 28-29.  The objective of this workshop is to consult the public (all conference participants) on how the Columbia Climate School and CRCL at GSAPP can better “organize itself to support work to address the climate crises” in our own backyard.  We have two starting points for the conversation, a survey recently conducted by the Climate School, and an engagement tool developed by the Center for Resilient Cities and Landscapes and the Mayor’s Office of CLimate and Environmental Justice, both of which will be presented in the first few weeks of class.  To prepare for the workshop, students will be asked to develop a short presentation and set of workshop exercises.  During the workshop, students will work together to facilitate discussion and practice skills of deep listening.  After the workshop, student teams will write a brief memo (no more than 800 words plus photos) on the workshop's  outcomes.
  • Assignment 2: Due Nov. 15-29. working in the same teams,  students will host  a panel discussion on specific post-Sandy recovery efforts (sign up sheet here).  The purpose of the panel discussion is to convey information about the project including its context and intended outcomes, the public process to date, and the physical, financial and political challenges it faces. Students will create space for multiple perspectives and debate about the project and invite critical perspectives.  Students are encouraged to invite guests to these sessions (virtually or in person depending on Columbia policy).  
  • Assignment 3: Due December 6.  Each student will write one short (600 word) op-ed avoicing their own perspective regarding climate justice in New York City.

 

Grading

Grading for the course will be based on satisfactory completion of the three assignments and participation.  Coursework outside of the classroom should never exceed 3 hours per week, but will generally be less.  Teamwork--inside and outside the classroom--is critical to participation. Participation in the Sandy+10 event is mandatory.

 

Readings: all required and suggested readings are saved here and/or linked below:   https://courseworks2.columbia.edu/courses/157896/files#

And a sign up sheet for readings is here

 

UPDATED SCHEDULE HERE

Course Summary:

Date Details Due