Dr. Shakila Merchant Participates in Earth Day 2026 Panel on Climate and Environmental Justice in NYC
Dr. Shakila Merchant, CUNY CREST Deputy Director and CUNY CREST HIRES Director, served as a panelist in the Earth Day 2026: Climate and Environmental Justice in New York City event hosted by the Columbia Climate School in partnership with the Greater Harlem Chamber of Commerce.
The event, held at Columbia University Faculty House, brought together leading researchers, policymakers, and community advocates to explore solutions to climate-driven challenges impacting underserved communities across NYC.
Now in its fifth year, the annual Earth Day gathering focuses on advancing climate action by addressing issues related to environmental justice, public health, housing, and education. The program emphasized cross-sector collaboration among government, academia, and community stakeholders to build a more inclusive urban future.
As a panelist, Dr. Merchant joined leaders from academia, government, and environmental justice organizations to discuss strategies for making climate solutions more accessible, community-informed, and responsive to the needs of historically marginalized populations.
Reflecting on the event, she said, “Earth Day week at Columbia Climate School brought together researchers, advocates, and community leaders to confront one of the defining challenges of our time: ensuring that climate progress reaches every neighborhood, not just a privileged few. I was honored to represent CCNY and CUNY CREST at the panel session and left energized by the collaborations ahead and proud of CUNY CREST’s contribution to our students, our community and the city of New York.”
Through her engagement in these conversations, Dr. Merchant continues to advance the CREST mission of strengthening partnerships between academic institutions and community organizations, helping ensure that environmental inequities are addressed and that climate action benefits all communities.
Learn more about WE ACT for Environmental Justice here.
