Canopy 2026 Issue Home

cross-section of soil layers below a wheat field

closeup cross section of plant roots growing into soil

Market Correction

YSE research scientists are working to close the evidence gap that has undermined nature-based carbon credits.

Bold Thinkers, Dedicated Teachers: Three YSE Educators Retire

After decades of tackling real-world environmental challenges and inspiring students to think boldly, ethically, and collaboratively, Carol Carpenter, senior lecturer in natural resource social science; Marian Chertow, the Manufacturer's Association Professor of Industrial Ecology; and Brad Gentry, the Frederick K. Weyerhaeuser Professor in the Practice of Forest Resources Management and Policy, are retiring.

Also in this issue: A new framework helping cities direct tree planting for maximum heat relief and equity — and how ELTI is bringing its field training program to Rwanda.

Aerial view of a freeway interchange in Los Angeles, California

Rethinking Zoning to Reduce Transportation Emissions

A YSE study using generative AI shows how zoning reform could shrink Americans’ transportation footprint by putting daily errands within walking distance.

Also in this issue: How climate change is reshaping wildfire risk worldwide, decoding the Everglades’ greenhouse gas balance, and why biodegradable plastics need the right infrastructure to deliver on their promise.

People in every region of the country are seeing and feeling the effects of our warming planet — from catastrophic wildfires in California, to more frequent and severe droughts, to sea-level rise and flash flooding in coastal areas, including here in Connecticut. According to a recent survey by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, a majority of Americans are worried that their local area may be harmed by these extreme weather events or related impacts, such as air and water pollution, water shortages, and electricity power outages.

Stories

a grid of images of forest, pasture, nuts and berries

Farming the Forest

A Yale School of the Environment research collaboration is testing how food crops can thrive alongside trees in the nation’s most forested region. By blending Indigenous knowledge with modern science, the project aims to build a more resilient future for farmers and forests alike.

Mass Timber, Mass Impact Curtis Robinhold ’03 MEM/MBA

Connecting People to Power Soraya Walli ’22 MEM

Early 20th century photograph of Marsh Hall

Telling YSE’s Story: A Conversation with Historian James Lewis

A new history of the Yale School of the Environment explores the people, turning points, and debates that shaped the school — and what its evolution reveals about the future of environmental leadership.

Stormwater Management Up Close

A joint volunteer effort brought YSE students into the field to support the upkeep of bioswales, an essential but often overlooked part of the city’s stormwater and climate resilience strategy.

Bookshelf

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The Wreck of the Mentor: A True Story of Death, Despair, and Deliverance in the Age of Sail Eric Jay Dolin

Progress: How One Idea Built Civilization and Now Threatens to Destroy It Samuel Miller McDonald

Diviner Mind: How Organisations Can Learn from the Indigenous Science of Uncertainty Nicola Robins

Disciplined Entrepreneurship for Climate and Energy Ventures Ben Soltoff, et al.

Alumni News

YSE Alumni Association Award Winners

Meet the accomplished alumni who were recognized at YSE Reunion 2025 for their outstanding environmental work — including enacting federal policy to decarbonize the economy, advancing ecological research, and shaping international climate frameworks.

YSE alums in a small boat encounter a gray whale up close

Class Notes

Personal and professional news and updates from YSE's more than 6,000 alumni around the world.

In Memoriam

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Ragnhildur “Raga” Hemmert Sigurdardóttir ’95 MFS, ’00 PhD

(1966 – 2025) A leading expert in nature conservation in Iceland, Raga worked at the intersection of research, policy management, and advocacy. She co-founded the Audlind Nature Heritage Fund, focusing on wetland protection and restoration. Her career included roles in the Environmental Agency of Iceland and the Agricultural University of Iceland.

Cameron H. Sanders ’85 MES

(1932 – 2025) With a focus on international conservation, Cameron served as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. delegation to NATO for18 years. He held leadership roles in the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, where he established its North American regional office, and the Ocean Conservancy.

Charlotte F. Belser ’79 MFS

(1923 – 2025) From urban planning to food chemist, Charlotte was deeply involved in civic life. She was one of the first women to attend St. John’s University in Queens. She served as president of the Westport League of Women of Voters and contributed to local planning efforts after moving to Guilford, Vermont.