Michael Menser

Michael Menser is a Professor at the City University of New York with cross-institutional appointments: in Earth and Environmental Sciences at the CUNY Graduate Center, Philosophy and Urban Sustainability Studies at Brooklyn College, and Community Ownership and Workplace Democracy at the CUNY School for Labor and Urban Studies. He serves as NYC Climate Justice Hub Co-Director, CUNY Research Teams Lead, and Associate Director of Public Engagement for the Science and Resilience Institute at Jamaica Bay.

Education:

• PhD in Philosophy, CUNY Graduate Center

His research pioneers community-driven climate justice frameworks, focusing on democratizing public utilities like water and energy systems through participatory governance. He examines how frontline communities of color can reshape infrastructure management amid climate breakdown, integrating urban sustainability with workplace democracy and environmental justice principles.

His 2022 publication "Democratizing Public Services" analyzes Parisian water utility reforms and U.S. energy democracy movements, revealing cross-continental strategies for community-controlled public goods. This work anchors broader investigations into resilient urban systems and equitable climate adaptation.

Dr. Menser co-founded the Participatory Budgeting Project and actively shapes policy through the PSC-CUNY Environmental Justice Working Group. He regularly leads public forums with institutions like the Rosa Luxemburg Stiftung, addressing topics from offshore wind crises to decolonizing conservation.