Penn State student hones passion for environmental policy as state agency intern – Penn State University

Internship Report: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals through Environmental Policy

Executive Summary

A senior from Penn State’s College of Agricultural Sciences, majoring in environmental resource management, completed a summer internship with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP). The placement focused on the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration Division, providing direct experience in environmental policy and its practical application. This report details the internship’s activities and outcomes, with a significant emphasis on its contributions to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The intern’s work directly supported the advancement of several key SDGs through targeted environmental management and multi-stakeholder collaboration. The primary contributions include:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core objective of the internship was to reduce pollution runoff into the Chesapeake Bay. This was advanced by promoting strategies for farmers to implement cleaner agricultural practices, directly contributing to the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: By working to mitigate land-based pollution, the initiative helps prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution, thereby conserving the coastal and marine ecosystems of the Chesapeake Bay.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: Activities included data collection on tree plantings and promoting sustainable land management with agricultural partners. These efforts contribute to the protection of terrestrial ecosystems and the sustainable use of land resources.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The internship represents a partnership between an academic institution and a government agency. Furthermore, the work involved facilitating collaboration between the state (DEP), local county leaders, and farmers to implement environmental policies, embodying the multi-stakeholder approach essential for sustainable development.

Key Activities and Contributions

The intern’s responsibilities were multifaceted, combining policy oversight, fieldwork, and data analysis to support the DEP’s mission. Key activities included:

1. Policy Implementation and Monitoring: Participated in monthly meetings with county leaders to discuss the progress of implementing policies and projects related to the Chesapeake Bay watershed restoration.
2. Field Data Collection: Conducted stream sampling across multiple counties to monitor water quality and traveled with forestry groups to collect data on tree plantings, a crucial element for watershed health.
3. Data Analysis and Reporting: Contributed to the annual data analysis report for the Harrisburg branch, translating field data into actionable insights for environmental management.
4. Program Support: Assisted with the countywide action grant program, which encourages farmers to adopt strategies that reduce pollution runoff.

Outcomes and Future Implications

The internship provided significant outcomes for both the student and the host organization, reinforcing the connection between academic training and public service in achieving sustainability targets.

• The experience provided a practical perspective on the intersection of policy, politics, and environmental science in state-level governance.
• Engagement with government leaders, including Governor Josh Shapiro, highlighted the critical role of public service in safeguarding clean water and preserving public lands, which are foundational to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
• The successful performance led to an extension of the internship into the fall semester, establishing a new precedent for the DEP branch and ensuring continued progress on its environmental objectives.
• The intern plans to pursue a governmental position focused on environmental issues, demonstrating how such experiences build a pipeline of professionals committed to public service and the advancement of the Sustainable Development Goals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core of the article revolves around the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration, which directly aims to improve water quality by reducing pollution.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The Chesapeake Bay is a major estuary connected to the Atlantic Ocean. Efforts to reduce land-based pollution runoff are crucial for protecting the marine and coastal ecosystems within the bay.
• SDG 15: Life on Land: The article mentions activities like tree planting and encouraging farmers to implement better land management strategies to reduce runoff, which contributes to the protection and restoration of terrestrial ecosystems.
• SDG 4: Quality Education: The article focuses on a student’s internship, a form of experiential learning that provides her with valuable technical and policy-related skills for her future career in environmental management.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The work described involves collaboration between a state agency (Department of Environmental Protection), county leaders, and farmers, highlighting the multi-stakeholder partnerships necessary to achieve environmental goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

• Under SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution. The intern’s work to “encourage farmers to implement strategies to reduce pollution runoff into the bay” is a direct action towards this target.
  2. Target 6.5: Implement integrated water resources management. The “monthly meetings with county leaders to discuss the progress of implementing the policies and projects related to the bay” demonstrates a coordinated, multi-level approach to managing the watershed.
  3. Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The entire Chesapeake Bay Watershed Restoration program, including activities like “tree plantings,” is focused on restoring this vital water-related ecosystem.
• Under SDG 14 (Life Below Water):
  1. Target 14.1: Prevent and significantly reduce marine pollution of all kinds, in particular from land-based activities. The effort to reduce pollution runoff from farms is a key example of managing land-based activities to prevent nutrient pollution in a coastal estuary.
• Under SDG 15 (Life on Land):
  1. Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The work with “forestry groups to collect data on tree plantings” is a direct contribution to restoring terrestrial ecosystems that are part of the watershed.
• Under SDG 4 (Quality Education):
  1. Target 4.4: Substantially increase the number of youth and adults who have relevant skills, including technical and vocational skills, for employment. The internship provides the student with practical experience and skills in “environmental policy,” “stream sampling,” and “data analysis,” enhancing her professional qualifications.
• Under SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
  1. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The collaboration between the state DEP (public), county leaders (public), and farmers (private/civil society) on the “countywide action grant program” is a clear example of such a partnership.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

• Implied Indicators for SDG 6 & 14:
  1. The activity of “stream sampling” implies the collection of data on water quality parameters, which can be used to measure the ambient water quality of the bay and its tributaries (related to Indicator 6.3.2).
  2. The creation of an “annual data analysis report” suggests a formal process for tracking progress on pollution reduction and watershed health. The metrics within this report would serve as direct indicators.
• Implied Indicators for SDG 15:
  1. The action to “collect data on tree plantings” implies indicators such as the number of trees planted or the total area reforested, which are used to measure progress in ecosystem restoration (related to Indicator 15.1.1).
• Implied Indicators for SDG 4:
  1. The existence of the internship program and the student’s participation (“join other interns from across all sectors of the Capitol”) can be seen as an indicator. The number of students participating in such work-integrated learning programs would be a quantifiable measure of progress.
• Implied Indicators for SDG 17:
  1. The “countywide action grant program” and the “monthly meetings with county leaders” are indicators of an active and functioning partnership. The number of counties participating or the amount of grant funding disbursed could be used as metrics to measure the scale of the partnership.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: psu.edu