The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University accelerates solutions to critical energy and environmental challenges, advancing a more just, resilient, and sustainable world.
The Nicholas Institute conducts and supports actionable research and undertakes sustained engagement with policymakers, businesses, and communities—in addition to delivering transformative educational experiences to empower future leaders. The Nicholas Institute’s work is aligned with the Duke Climate Commitment, which unites the university’s education, research, operations, and external engagement missions to address climate challenges.
Lydia Olander is a program director at the Nicholas Institute for Energy Environment & Sustainability and adjunct professor at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University. She works on improving evidence-based policy and accelerating implementation of climate resilience, nature-based solutions, natural capital accounting, and environmental markets. She leads the National Ecosystem Services Partnership and sits on Duke’s Climate Commitment action team. Olander recently spent two years with the Biden administration at the Council on Environmental Quality as director of nature-based resilience and before that spent five years on the Environmental Advisory Board for the US Army Corps of Engineers.
