Drawing on Cornell’s expertise in climate change science and education, the Cornell Climate Smart Solutions Program is delivering a comprehensive training program for the New York Power Authority’s (NYPA) nearly 2,400 employees in New York.
Cornell researchers, along with researchers from Clarkson University and the State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, have been awarded contracts to partner with NYPA – the largest state public power organization in the U.S. – over the next year.
Led by Allison M. Chatrchyan, senior research associate in the Department of Global Development and the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), the project will leverage the Cornell Climate Smart Solutions Program and its multidisciplinary expertise in climate science, communication and policy analysis.
Chatrchyan and her colleagues have experience developing and leading climate change education programs, including courses, workshops and curricula for community members, volunteers and farmers.
“NYPA’s new climate science training program … requires all employees, from the CEO on down, to gain a basic understanding of climate change science and impacts, solutions and policies,” Chatrchyan said. “This sets an important precedent for other companies and agencies to follow by recognizing the importance of climate change for NYPA and the communities in which it operates.”
NYPA generates nearly 25% of New York state’s power. Ambitious goals set under the 2019 New York State Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act mandate that NYPA address climate change within its organization and with its customers across New York state. According to Chatrchyan, climate change training and increased literacy will help NYPA employees better understand the risks posed by climate change and the best strategies for mitigating these risks.