REUTERS 10/17/19 By Michael Shank Banks are still investing too heavily in fossil fuels, but 30 other top investors are making a green shift The news this month that the world’s largest banks still heavily finance fossil fuels, failed to respond to climate risks, and have yet to make substantial […]
RUTLAND HERALD 10/05/19 TIMES ARGUS 10/05/19 By Michael Shank The way our society responds to problems — be they social, economic or environmental — rarely prevents that problem from occurring again. We’ll quickly treat a cough, by temporarily suppressing it with cough medicine, for example, but not change the conditions […]
NEWSWEEK 09/03/19 By Michael Shank The planet has finally arrived on America’s political main stage. On Wednesday, 10 Democratic presidential candidates will speak to voters for an expected seven hours about their policies to combat the climate crisis. This is unprecedented. Climate change has never received this kind of attention […]
NEWSWEEK 08/21/19 By Michael Shank and US Congressman Lloyd Doggett While reports forecasting a climate change apocalypse and doomsday climate scenarios may get our momentary attention, they are not producing action. Even as we see the impact of climate change in devastating, intensified weather and the spread of disease, we […]
MEDIUM 08/09/19 By Michael Shank In order to quickly move cities and towns towards carbon neutrality, one social science game changer that needs to be scaled up is behavior change communications. Few of the more technical game changers in our climate-leading communities— enumerated in Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance’s Game Changers […]
UN Web TV 04/16/19 Strengthening social investments from public and other sources to improve the conditions of the poor and the most vulnerable. Moderator: Mr. Michael Shank, Adjunct Professor, Center for Global Affairs, NYU; Communications Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Speakers: H.E. Prof. Hala Helmy El Said, Minister of Planning, […]
UN Web TV 04/16/19 Preparing investment-ready infrastructure projects and identifying adequate financing instruments – what are countries doing to prepare sustainable investment projects? Moderator: Mr. Michael Shank, Adjunct Professor, Center for Global Affairs, NYU; Communications Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance Speakers: H.E. Prof. Dr. Bambang P.S. Brodjonegoro, Minister of National […]
Dr. Michael Shank sits down with Carl Etnier, host of Relocalizing Vermont on WGDR, to discuss ways in which the environmental community can more effectively message on climate change.
Dr. Michael Shank, communications director at the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, joins Johanna Miller from the Vermont Natural Resources Council and Dave Gram from WDEV to discuss climate issues and climate policy in the US and more specifically Vermont. For the […]
Joint meeting: Second Committee, 7th meeting – General Assembly, 73rd session and Economic and Social Council, 3rd plenary meeting. Moderated by Dr. Michael Shank, Communications Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance The Joint Meeting of ECOSOC and the Second Committee of the General Assembly discussed how the transition towards a circular […]
On September 6, the Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance hosted a town hall in Boulder, Colorado, to showcase the game-changing climate action in CNCA’s global cities. Dr. Michael Shank moderates the event, which features the work of 20 vanguard cities. Check out the entire town hall here.
UN WEB TV 07/19/18 2018 ECOSOC High-level Policy Dialogue Thursday, 19 July, 10:00 am United Nations Headquarters, ECOSOC Chamber 10:30 am Policy Dialogues Moderator: Mr. Michael Shank, Communications Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance and Urban Sustainability Directors Network Policy Dialogue 1 Trends in the global economy and international trade and […]
Innovative approaches to foster participation of all relevant stakeholders are being pioneered and implemented across the globe. The session will showcase positive practices and innovative policies that promote sustainable, resilient and inclusive societies at regional, national and local levels. Moderator: • Mr. Michael Shank, Communications Director, Carbon Neutral Cities Alliance […]
This session will address the challenge of sustainable and resilient infrastructure in several areas, including health, education, energy, transport, security and public institutions. Several cities around the world have rolled out multi-stakeholder strategies setting out roadmaps with solutions to their resilience challenges. The discussion will address how these strategies relate […]
Presentation from Michael Shank (USDN/CNCA Communications Director) on a brief introduction to communications best practices (the 12 Ms for more effective messaging). For more info on these 12 Ms, click here https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/12-ways-to-improve-climate-change-communications_us_5a15983fe4b0f401dfa7ec5f
Q&A after a screening of Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Sequel”, w/ Karenna Gore (Center for Earth Ethics), Paul Gallay (Riverkeeper), Michael Shank (UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network) & Manna Jo Greene (Hudson River Sloop Clearwater), moderated by Nancy Vann (SNeRG). Prod: BH. See full credits in video.
On March 7, 2018, in Asheville, North Carolina, Lewis Black presented a climate change rant during his comedy show. The text was written by Dr. Shank for Lewis Black in response to an invitation by Mr. Black the night before. Warning: Viewer discretion advised (i.e. strong language). Video courtesy of […]
Urban areas account for nearly three-quarters of humanity’s greenhouse gas emissions. What can be done in order to mitigate the amount of emissions that New York produces? In the face of changing demand, leaders in the industry are striving towards new forms of renewable energy. Ranging from community solar power […]
Dr. Michael Shank, head of communications at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, discusses 1) effective messages, frames, and campaigns for communicating climate and environmental policy; 2) an overview of what resonates with the public when it comes to climate policy; 3) […]
Dr. Michael Shank, Head of Communications for the UN SDSN and professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, speaks at the United Nations’ launch of the 2017 Global Peace Index, which is authored annually by the Institute for Economics and Peace. Shank highlights the gap between the problems and solutions […]
In this Journal News’ Video View, Peekskill’s Michael Shank says Westchester can become a leader in harnessing renewable energy. Video courtesy of Lohud.com (Wochit). For the entire opinion piece, click here to read: http://www.lohud.com/story/opinion/2017/05/22/westchester-could-and-should-lead-renewable-energy-view/335892001/
What can the world expect from the new administration in the area of mitigating climate change? What powers might the new administration have to roll back national policies and international treaties related to climate change? What might the impact be, particularly for the developing world and nations most affected by […]
Michael Shank, PhD, Head of Communications for the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and Adjunct Professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, discusses for the SDG Academy the key ingredients of effective messaging around sustainability, sustainable development and the UN’s sustainable development goals. Shank walks through how to best use […]
Michael Shank, PhD, adjunct professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs and Head of Communications at UN SDSN, narrates this Center for Food Safety video regarding Dow Chemical. The same company that brought us Dursban, Napalm, and Agent Orange, is now in the food business and is pushing for an […]
Michael Shank, PhD, Head of Communications at the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network and adjunct assistant professor at NYU’s Center for Global Affairs, moderates the UN Economic and Social Council panel on shifting paradigms on the SDGs. For the entire session: http://webtv.un.org/meetings-events/economic-and-social-council/watch/20th-meeting-ecosoc-integration-segment-2016-economic-and-social-council/4876075880001
We Need to Make it Cool to Consume Sustainably 
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Opinion Piece Says Smaller Family Size Would Help Combat Climate Change 
This Controversial Way to Combat Climate Change Might Be the Most Effective 
Brandon Resident Hosts Student Video Competition 
