Upcoming: The Social Benefits of Renewable Energy – A Lunch Talk by Sebastian Helgenberger

Join us for a talk by Sebastian Helgenberger from the Institute for Advanced Sustainability Studies (IASS), Potsdam, where he leads the “Multiple Benefits of Renewables” project. Building on experiences with Germany’s Energiewende (transition towards renewable energies), Sebastian and his team in their research activities and international science-policy dialogues are putting particular emphasis on the social and economic benefits of renewable energies as drivers of accelerated transitions towards sustainable energy for all.

The talk will be held on Thursday, February 15 from 12:30 – 2:00 pm (lunch will be available at 12:00 pm) at the Pardee School of Global Studies, 121 Bay State Road, 1st floor.

Abstract: Boosted by impressive technological innovation and cost reductions, renewable energy in a growing number of countries is now primarily considered for its social and economic benefits. Among these benefits are opportunities for local value creation, energy independence and for reducing conflicts over scarce water, which are aggravated by fossil power generation. Allowing for distributed electricity generation, the rapidly expanding renewable energy world is opening up business models for many, including local communities, citizens and citizens’ cooperatives. Experiences from Germany as well as other countries show how domestic energy policy can shape the enabling environment to seizing the social benefits of renewable energy.

Moderator: Cathie Jo Martin, Director of the Boston University Center for the Study of Europe and Professor of Political Science
Discussant: Anthony Janetos, Director of the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future and Professor of Earth and Environment.

RSVP to edamrien@bu.edu.

This program was made possible by a generous grant through the European Recovery Program – Transatlantic Encounters to the American Council on Germany. Co-sponsored by the American Council on Germany, the Center for the Study of Europe at the Pardee School of Global Studies, and the Frederick S. Pardee Center for the Study of the Longer-Range Future.