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SUNY ESF kicked off this year’s Earth Week celebrations with a lecture from Dr. Emily Schoerning focusing on climate resilience and raising awareness about solutions to climate change effects.

In her Monday afternoon talk, Schoerning encouraged open conversation about climate change challenges and solutions on a federal, state and local level. She highlighted the rapid rise in global temperature and ways it can be mitigated. This increase in temperature requires immediate attention, she said, due to its potential to destroy infrastructure and habitats.

She acknowledged the impact ESF has on the climate community through educating students on the necessary skills and knowledge to respond to climate change. She said it is critical work, emphasizing the key aspects of nurturing landscapes and food systems

“We can start to see the edges of the problem that we need to work and the kind of work that people come to ESF to learn how to do,” said Schoerning, founder and CEO of American Resiliency. “There’s no place I would rather be than right here for Earth Week, the work that you all are learning how to do is the crucial work for building this future.”

Each year, ESF extends Earth Day, which is observed annually on April 22, into a week-long series of events including lectures, activities and workshops to raise awareness about environmental concerns and advocate for protecting Earth’s resources. This year’s theme is resilience.

Chloe Evans, a sophomore environmental studies major at ESF, attended the lecture and emphasized the importance of the celebrations that draw attention to the environment. While the state of the planet is sometimes depressing, Evans said Schoerning provided her with hope instead of despair.

“It’s very important for institutions to be very environmentally conscious and take an active role in remediation,” Evans said.

In her lecture, Schoerning frequently referenced the Paris Agreement of 2015, where 196 nations, including the United States, committed to limiting the global average surface temperature rise to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels by 2100.

Schoerning warned global temperature averages during the first three months of 2025 were above the pre-industrial levels, continuing a two-year trend. While emissions have declined, Stanford scientists predict the world will likely exceed the 1.5 degrees Celsius warming threshold by the 2030s.

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Despite rising temperatures, Schoerning said many people believe the Paris Agreement’s limits haven’t been reached because the agreement looks at progress every five years, though temperatures are rising monthly at a much faster rate.

Schoerning also outlined several strategies to address climate change, including reducing emissions and greenhouse gases, and changing land usage to other more bioavailable areas.

She explained cities like Yuma, Arizona, contribute to around 90% of the market share of winter greens consumed in the U.S. This is damaging the city’s farmland, contributing to heat increases and groundwater completion. Schoerning suggests regions like upstate New York be used as a replacement.

“We’re talking about a future where many living things will continue to thrive, and where many living things could find new homes,” Schoerning said. “Where I would expect that many life forms that are capable of migrating from the southeast will come up, not just humans, but many other plants and animals and other living things.”

Under President Donald Trump’s administration, the federal government has introduced proposals to boost fossil fuel production, withdraw the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and reverse environmental regulations. Trump has also publicly expressed skepticism about climate change and criticized action towards mitigating it.

The government data she once used to measure climate change levels has recently become “compromised” under the Trump Administration, Schoerning said. She now strictly uses non-government-affiliated information, using dot-org websites instead of dot-gov websites, citing the unreliable nature of the information.

The F. Franklin Moon Library sponsored the event under the leadership of ESF director of the College of Libraries, Matthew Smith. Schoerning’s ideas directly align with ESF’s mission to improve the world, he said.

During the 2023-2024 academic year, ESF outlined their commitment to sustainability with goals to increase “education, research, workforce development, and decarbonization of its facilities, fleet, purchases, and operations” in its Climate and Sustainability Action Plan.

The plan includes 125 goals utilizing data and scientific-based evidence to empower students and faculty to expand on climate change solutions. The Office of Sustainability plans to publish its first annual update this summer, according to its website.

Smith added that the event was an opportunity for learning new perspectives and localizing international conversations.

“We’re ready to thrive in an environment where resilience is going to be paramount,” Smith said. “We hear about New York strong, we’re going to have to show it.”

Schoerning expressed hope for the future, citing growing public interest in climate solutions as a driver of change. She encouraged attendees to view climate change as a “workable problem,” not with fear.

She also emphasized the importance of building strong foundations by investing in local climate resources. Funding renewable energy companies, donating to food services and building infrastructure that can withstand environmental changes is necessary for creating a sustainable future, she said.

“Syracuse is already one of the many U.S. cities that is experienced (in climate change),” Schoerning said. “We will continue to experience the benefits of long-term climate investment in New York State, as it really stands out as well for its state-level resources.”

Published on April 22, 2025 at 1:46 am
Contact Sydney: sadepiet@syr.edu