According to our liaison librarian for environmental science, Carrie Pirmann, environmental data can be challenging to find because data isn't typically centrally located. She offers these suggestions for approaching environmental research.
(1) When picking environmental indicators, think about what you know about the location of the business and the surrounding area. Is it close to a major body of water (e.g., river, lake, bay, etc.)? Is it in a region that is predominantly agricultural? Are there large factories nearby? Thinking about what you know about the surrounding environment can help you determine what environmental indicators to hone in on.
(2) Environmental data may not be collected on a regular schedule, and it's entirely possible you won't be able to find data across as wide a time period (15-20 years) as you can for census data. This is okay and to be expected.
(3) Data may refer to varying scales (e.g., regional or state). Depending on the size of the relevant town(s), it's very possible you may not be able to find data for the specific town(s), but may need to look at a nearby, larger size town.
What does company and industry research tell you about:
Are there ways your company partner can contribute to positive environmental impacts?
What are environmental issues impacting the region?
What do other businesses like theirs do to mitigate impact, to facilitate sustainability, and/or to make a positive contribution?