Student Talk – A Sustainable Future: Mitigating Carbon in the Lower Ninth Ward

Interdisciplinary Research Talk Series
by students & for students

Speakers: Thomas Golaszewski (’12), Hassaan Khan (’13), and Janka Lovering (’13)

Date: April 25, 2012

Time and Place: 12:15pm; Hugel 100

Title: A Sustainable Future: Mitigating Carbon in the Lower Ninth Ward

Advisers: Professor David Veshosky (Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering)

Abstract:

Repopulation of the Lower Ninth Ward (L9W) since Hurricane Katrina has been slow at best, with a current population nearly one quarter of that pre-Katrina. Lafayette College’s Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project (EEGLP), in conjunction with the Center for Sustainable Engagement and Development (CSED), has developed four scenarios in which the L9W can potentially mitigate 17 percent of its future carbon footprint, a goal set forth by the Obama administration.

The L9W’s current carbon footprint is nearly 60,000 tons annually and with repopulation it is expected to rise to almost 200,000 tons annually. Each scenario was based upon different repopulation and economic development metrics. The associated costs range from zero to over $8 million for the entire neighborhood to mitigate enough carbon to achieve their goal. This investigation has also prioritized mitigation measures according to cost per ton of carbon mitigated and the corresponding mitigation capacities.

Sponsored by Lafayette Dean of The College, the Department of Computer Science, The Health and Life Science Program, and the National Science Foundation. Contact Person: Xiaoyan Li, Computer Science, lix@lafayette.edu, 610-330-5416