1.What person, group or organization is being profiled, and why are they of interest to this project? The Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign. Their research on coal caused air pollution drives their grassroots organizing campaigns and rallies. 2.What have they done – through research, or a public health program or education forum, for example-- that illustrates how they have worked to improve air pollution governance and environmental public health? Beyond Coal had a stake in the comments of the initial EPA Clean Power Plan which was recently passed by the Obama Administration. They have provided funding and spread awareness on the effects of coal production as well as energy efficiency and renewables. 3.What timeline of events illustrates how this way of addressing environmental public health has developed? Early environmental policy such as the clean air and clean water act set the framework for most emerging proposals. The growth of superfund also had an influence on the Sierra Club. Recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sandy each play a role in the Sierra Club’s research and actions. 4.Does this person, group or organization claim to have a new or unique way of addressing environmental public health? Does this approach point to or suggest problems with other approaches? They tend to have an interdisciplinary approach to addressing environmental public health. Divided into teams, the beyond coal campaign attacks most air polluters from economic, political, legislative, and local angles. For example if a coal plant in Pennsylvania does not meet the industry emissions standards then the Beyond Coal Campaign will step in and take legal action as well as rally the affected locals together in protest while pushing for local and state level politicians who agree with their mission. 5.What data have they collected or used to support their approach to environmental public health? What visualizations of this data have been created? The data has been collected on a case by case basis, usually by state. Most research that comes from the Beyond Coal Campaign focuses on state laws directly relevant to air pollution from coal production. Visualizations are in the form of factsheets tailored to the local population in an effort to rally them together. 6.What research has the organization produce or drawon on in their initiatives – in the last year, and over the last decade? In the last year most research has focused on the clean power plan. The campaign has touched on the economic burdens of producers negative externalities but that is not at the forefront of their agenda due to political division and compromise. 7.What kinds of technology and infrastructure do they rely on in the production of environmental health care? N/A 8.What social ecology does this person, group or organization work within, and how did it shaped their way of conceiving and engaging asthma? This organization works top down and bottom up. Grassroots campaigns help organize local activists to become aware and educated. The top down approach directly influences targeted producers that cause pollution. 9.What events or data seem to have motivated their ways of thinking about and engaging environmental health? The data on the United States dependence on fossil fuels definitely motivates the mission of the Beyond Coal Campaign. 10.What funding enables their work and possibly shapes their way of thinking about environmental health? The Beyond Coal Campaign is sponsored by a 30 million dollar grant, advancement initiatives, local fundraising, and membership fees. 11.What in the history of this person, group or organization likely shaped the way they conceived or and engage environmental health? The Sierra Club history is known for its focus on nature and wildlife which later became conservation. Now we are in the age of consumption and negative environmental externalities. As the relevant environmental issue, it holds a certain weight. Historically the Sierra Club has taken the steps necessary to promote efficient change. 12.What does this person, group or organization seem to find methodologically challenging or concerning in dealing with environmental health? The method is one from all angles. If Beyond Coal can enter a system through as many fundamental aspects as possible then they will run a successful campaign. 13.What kinds of governance are (implicitly or explicitly) called for in the way they think about environmental health? Governance that makes a substantial difference. Beyond Coal is not one to settle for lacking legislation that has potential for loopholes in the immediate future. 14.How can The Asthma Files enable or supplement this way of thinking about environmental health, and the work of this person, group or organization? By taking into account the individual aspects of environmental health and analyzing each of those to form a holistic conclusion.
1. What person, group or organization is being profiled, and why are they of interest to this project?
The Sierra Club Beyond Coal Campaign. Their research on coal caused air pollution drives their grassroots organizing campaigns and rallies.
2. What have they done – through research, or a public health program or education forum, for example-- that illustrates how they have worked to improve air pollution governance and environmental public health?
Beyond Coal had a stake in the comments of the initial EPA Clean Power Plan which was recently passed by the Obama Administration. They have provided funding and spread awareness on the effects of coal production as well as energy efficiency and renewables.
3. What timeline of events illustrates how this way of addressing environmental public health has developed?
Early environmental policy such as the clean air and clean water act set the framework for most emerging proposals. The growth of superfund also had an influence on the Sierra Club. Recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and Sandy each play a role in the Sierra Club’s research and actions.
4. Does this person, group or organization claim to have a new or unique way of addressing environmental public health? Does this approach point to or suggest problems with other approaches?
They tend to have an interdisciplinary approach to addressing environmental public health. Divided into teams, the beyond coal campaign attacks most air polluters from economic, political, legislative, and local angles. For example if a coal plant in Pennsylvania does not meet the industry emissions standards then the Beyond Coal Campaign will step in and take legal action as well as rally the affected locals together in protest while pushing for local and state level politicians who agree with their mission.
5. What data have they collected or used to support their approach to environmental public health? What visualizations of this data have been created?
The data has been collected on a case by case basis, usually by state. Most research that comes from the Beyond Coal Campaign focuses on state laws directly relevant to air pollution from coal production. Visualizations are in the form of factsheets tailored to the local population in an effort to rally them together.
6. What research has the organization produce or drawon on in their initiatives – in the last year, and over the last decade?
In the last year most research has focused on the clean power plan. The campaign has touched on the economic burdens of producers negative externalities but that is not at the forefront of their agenda due to political division and compromise.
7. What kinds of technology and infrastructure do they rely on in the production of environmental health care?
N/A
8. What social ecology does this person, group or organization work within, and how did it shaped their way of conceiving and engaging asthma?
This organization works top down and bottom up. Grassroots campaigns help organize local activists to become aware and educated. The top down approach directly influences targeted producers that cause pollution.
9. What events or data seem to have motivated their ways of thinking about and engaging environmental health?
The data on the United States dependence on fossil fuels definitely motivates the mission of the Beyond Coal Campaign.
10. What funding enables their work and possibly shapes their way of thinking about environmental health?
The Beyond Coal Campaign is sponsored by a 30 million dollar grant, advancement initiatives, local fundraising, and membership fees.
11. What in the history of this person, group or organization likely shaped the way they conceived or and engage environmental health?
The Sierra Club history is known for its focus on nature and wildlife which later became conservation. Now we are in the age of consumption and negative environmental externalities. As the relevant environmental issue, it holds a certain weight. Historically the Sierra Club has taken the steps necessary to promote efficient change.
12. What does this person, group or organization seem to find methodologically challenging or concerning in dealing with environmental health?
The method is one from all angles. If Beyond Coal can enter a system through as many fundamental aspects as possible then they will run a successful campaign.
13. What kinds of governance are (implicitly or explicitly) called for in the way they think about environmental health?
Governance that makes a substantial difference. Beyond Coal is not one to settle for lacking legislation that has potential for loopholes in the immediate future.
14. How can The Asthma Files enable or supplement this way of thinking about environmental health, and the work of this person, group or organization?
By taking into account the individual aspects of environmental health and analyzing each of those to form a holistic conclusion.