Clement Chung

Senior Associate, Hazen and Sawyer

Years in current role: Less than 1

What sustainability initiative or environmental goal has your organization made the most progress on in the past year?

Our motto is “All Things Water.” While I have not been at Hazen and Sawyer long, I was attracted by its reputation in solving complex problems in the water sector. I was excited to bring my experience of overseeing a wastewater utility and sustainability program at Monroe County and help other municipalities learn how to best organize and use the resources at their disposal to protect the water environment. In particular, a growing understanding of principles such as infrastructure asset management will enable us to efficiently plan and invest in systems to prevent pollutants such as lead and PFAS entering our drinking water and address the impacts of climate change. That’s something that we’ve seen growing demand for around the country in the past year and over the past few years.

What gives you confidence about how Rochester businesses and institutions are addressing environmental challenges?

Monroe County has a history of addressing environmental challenges and developing innovative solutions from which other communities around the country look to learn, such as the ecopark partnership with WM to provide an outlet for hard-to-recycle items and tackling emerging issues such as vape and lithium battery waste. From a planning perspective, the collaborative approach employed in developing the county’s first-ever Climate Action Plan and current Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan brings together business, nonprofit, municipal and individual stakeholders to vocalize the challenges they face and bring diverse expertise to co-designing solutions.

What area do you think needs more attention or collaboration to strengthen Rochester’s environmental future?

Often, our focus on environmental issues can be skewed toward new and future problems. However, even in areas where we have made significant advances toward eradicating pollution, there is a need for a skilled workforce to maintain a clean and healthy environment. When we advertise jobs in environmental protection, we need to educate the public about how valuable these hands-on roles are (even though they may not be as glamorous and visible as desk-based positions) and fairly compensate the people who fulfill them.

What advice would you offer to individuals or organizations that want to start making a measurable environmental difference?

As a society, we often strip complex problems down to binary decisions, which can lead to polarization, even within groups who advocate for the same general position. Opinions on how to address environmental challenges are no different. However, the ecological systems that sustain life are interdependent, and addressing holistic issues requires us to sometimes take a step back and learn how to work within these systems. This also means learning how to work with, rather than against, one another, especially when facing urgent problems. The adage of “don’t let perfect be the enemy of good” is prudent to remember.

What’s your favorite way to enjoy the natural beauty of the Rochester area?

Hike or run the multitude of parks and trails! It’s easy to overlook how much we have to offer in our region. My local favorites are Durand Eastman Park and Tryon Park, the Crescent Trail and Finger Lakes Trail, and of course, Letchworth State Park, the “Grand Canyon of the East.”