There is a tremendous opportunity for us to create a more equitable society as we address the climate crisis.
Dr. Christian Braneon has a broad background in Earth science and civil engineering, with a further focus on climate and environmental justice. He has served as faculty at Barnard College, Georgia Tech, Huston-Tillotson University, and Columbia Climate School.
Dr. Braneon previously served as as Head of Climate Justice at Carbon Direct, Inc and as Co-Director of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s inaugural Environmental Justice Academy for community leaders. With SciSpace LLC, he developed novel applications of satellite data that aim to enhance resilience to urban heat stress. His work on urban heat islands and environmental justice has been featured in broadcast and print media outlets such as CNN, CNBC, and Science.
Dr. Braneon is particularly known for integrating satellite data and climate science into urban planning and civil engineering practice. In 2013, he developed an approach for integrating climate change projections into the Dallas Long Range Water Supply Plan. In recent years, he has advised the New York City Council’s Data Operations Unit on their data science strategy as they integrated Landsat 8 satellite imagery into their temperature mapping initiatives.
In 2020 he co-authored America's Zero-Carbon Action Plan (ZCAP), a comprehensive policy report by the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN) that presents a strategic plan to create a carbon-neutral economy for the United States by 2050. He received an AXA Award for Climate Science in 2021 for his contributions to the understanding of climate change and related adaptation strategies. He holds a B.S. in applied physics from Morehouse College as well as B.S., M.S., and PhD degrees in civil engineering from Georgia Tech.
It’s not chance that some communities are taking on a disproportionate burden when extreme weather happens.
What would it look like for us to now put as much effort into creating racial equity as we have put into constructing and maintaining racial hierarchy?
PRESS
ADDRESSING THE NEED FOR CHANGE
“… often the key to community engagement is simply putting yourself in the community’s shoes. That is to say, one needs to take the necessary steps to see things from the community’s perspective. Sometimes that requires personal growth and self-work.”
MEDIA
EXPLORING CRITICAL CLIMATE CONVERSATIONS
"Never limit yourself because of others' limited imagination; never limit others because of your own limited imagination." - Dr. Mae Jemison
“The size of your dreams must always exceed your current capacity to achieve them.” - Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
This AIA New York event presented the 2020 NYC Environmental Justice Alliance’s Climate Justice Agenda, followed by a response from climate scientists, designers, and urban planning experts. Discussions focused on key challenges and opportunities to protect vulnerable communities against the upcoming 2020 hurricane and heat wave season, as New York deals with successive waves of the COVID-19.
