The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management (SPM) plays an integral role in shaping the academic experience within the Sustainability Management master’s program. By drawing directly from our cutting-edge research, we design and lead a range of innovative courses that equip students with the knowledge and tools to address complex sustainability challenges.
Below, you'll find a selection of outstanding work produced by students enrolled in courses led by the SPM team:
Every semester, students taking the Sustainability Management course dare tasked with writing case studies that examine how different organizations—from public agencies to private companies and non-profits—integrate environmental sustainability into their structures and daily operations. Explore some of the most outstanding case studies here.
This paper analyzes the approach taken by the New York City government to tackle environmental justice (EJ) issues, particularly those impacting disadvantaged communities in Harlem related to affordable housing, climate change, and access to resources. The paper provides historical context for EJ issues and employs quantitative data analysis to examine specific metrics, such as PM2.5 levels and housing maintenance needs, highlighting how systemic factors like colonial legacies, urban development policies, and redlining, perpetuate environmental injustice. It evaluates the various strategic plans instituted by the New York City government to address these concerns, assessing their effectiveness and impact. By employing a mixed-methods approach, the study emphasizes qualitative analysis of existing policies and their implementation, drawing insights from a comprehensive literature review that includes city publications, peer-reviewed research, and news articles. This paper compares EJ efforts from other US cities such as San Francisco, Chicago, and Philadelphia, and highlights e community-centric strategies that could benefit New York City. These findings demonstrate the need to bolster robust community engagement measures into EJ initiatives tailored to the specific challenges faced by neighborhoods like Harlem. A significant limitation identified in this research is the lack of data measuring the impact and outcomes of EJ initiatives at the community level across many U.S. cities. The paper recommends establishing robust data collection and impact assessment mechanisms to evaluate the effectiveness of these initiatives, thereby reinforcing the call for a community-focused approach in their implementation.
A Comprehensive Cost–Benefit, Fiscal Impact, and Risk Assessment of the Kaskida Offshore Development by by David Mullins (dm4158), Matthew Conley (mc5943), Akachukwu Oguine (ajo2159), and Gabriel Wooden (gmw2145), Fall 2025
The Kaskida project is a proposed deepwater offshore oil production initiative in the Gulf of Mexico spearheaded by BP. This cost-benefit analysis investigates whether the project’s economic, fiscal, and environmental outcomes collectively justify its pursuit. We evaluate the project from the perspective of BP, the United States government, and U.S. consumers, and compare these outcomes to the counterfactual of leaving the resource undeveloped.
The Nevada North Lithium Project (NNLP) in Elko County, Nevada, represents a significant opportunity to strengthen domestic lithium supply chains, reduce import dependency, and contribute to clean energy transitions. This report presents an ex-ante Cost-Benefit Analysis (CBA) of the NNLP from the perspective of the State of Nevada, comparing a 40-year mine operation scenario to a counterfactual scenario in which lithium continues to be imported into the state.
Canada is facing an urgent ecological crisis, with ecosystem degradation accelerating across several critical landscapes. From wetlands to temperate forests, development pressures, climate change, and habitat loss are outpacing current protection efforts, underscoring the need for conservation. This report presents a novel and data-driven approach for the Ecosystem Property Fund, a privately financed, non-profit initiative designed to acquire and protect high-value ecosystems in perpetuity.
Please note that all rights to the papers, assignments, and other content featured on this page remain solely with the student authors. The Research Program on Sustainability Policy and Management (SPM) does not claim ownership of any student work showcased here. Our goal is to highlight the creativity, rigor, and insight demonstrated by students in SPM-led courses, while fully respecting their intellectual property.
For additional information about any of the featured projects, or to inquire further about specific content, we encourage you to reach out to the individual authors directly.