The one-two punch of climate change and COVID-19 has rattled the world, derailing life as we know it and magnifying environmental injustices. As we collectively grapple with what the future holds, what will the pandemic mean for this “climate decade” and beyond: How will it influence climate action urgency? Will the pandemic-induced shakeup in global markets spur accelerated long-term growth in clean energy? Will new trade dynamics ignite clean manufacturing innovation in the U.S.?
The Institute for Sustainable Energy (ISE) (now the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability, IGS) in partnership with the Northeast Clean Energy Council (NECEC) has tackled these pressing questions in our Energy of the Future webinar series. Stay tuned for our spring webinar schedule as our series continues.
Recordings
Energy of the Future: Enhancing Social Equity in City Climate Action and Sustainability Planning (September 25, 2020)
Based on a synthesis of expertise and analysis of local climate-action options and current research, we will address: Why local climate action needs more urgency, not less. How the pandemic response creates opportunities and risks for local climate action. How socially vulnerable populations can benefit from purposeful responses to the pandemic and climate change.
Moderator: Jacquie Ashmore, ISE Executive Director
Panelists:
Cutler Cleveland, ISE Associate Director and Professor, Earth & Environment at Boston University
Jon Levy, ISE Affiliated Faculty and Professor, Environmental Health, Boston University School of Public Health
Shalanda Baker, Professor of Law, Public Policy and Urban Affairs, Northeastern University School of Law
Leah Bamberger, Director of Sustainability, City of Providence
Energy of the Future: Clean Energy Markets in the Wake of COVID-19 (October 23, 2020)
The devastating impact of COVID-19 is unprecedented—spanning the globe, disrupting daily life, and taking a substantial toll on every sector of the economy. The U.S. energy sector was further roiled by a combination of COVID-19 supply chain challenges and demand reductions, as well as geopolitical tensions between oil-producing countries, sending the price of U.S. crude oil negative in late April. This panel will discuss the dynamics that will shape the clean energy markets in 2021 and beyond.
Moderator: Peter Fox-Penner, ISE Director and Professor of Practice, Boston University Questrom School of Business
Panelists:
Robert Kaufmann, ISE Affiliated Faculty and Professor, Earth & Environment at Boston University
Daniel Kammen, Professor of Energy at the University of California, Berkeley
Amy Myers Jaffe, Research Professor and Managing Director of the Climate Policy Lab, The Fletcher School, Tufts University
Energy of the Future: Integrating Advanced Manufacturing and Climate Change Policies (November 20, 2020)
Amidst the largest economic downturn since the Great Depression and escalating trade and security controversies with China and other nations, the need to rebuild the U.S. manufacturing sector and increase its competitiveness has never been greater. At the same time, the threat of climate change will ultimately force this diverse sector to transition to much cleaner production processes. This panel will discuss underappreciated opportunities for bringing clean manufacturing innovation to greater prominence with the goal of shaping the climate and manufacturing policy agenda.
Moderator: Andre Sharon, ISE Affiliated Faculty and Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Boston University, Executive Director, Fraunhofer USA CMI
Panelists:
Colin Cunliff, Senior Policy Analyst, Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF)
Henry Kelly, ISE Senior Fellow and Energy Technology Expert
Zoe Lipman, Director, Manufacturing and Advanced Transportation, BlueGreen Alliance
