Is blended finance delivering on its promise to mobilize private capital for sustainable development at sclae? Or is it time to rethink the approach? This Impact for Breakfast event will feature an interactive session featuring two of Washington D.C.'s prominent thought leaders on blended finance: Joan Larrea (CEO of Convergence) and Kusi Hornberger (Partner at Dalberg and Founder of Scaling Impact Capital). While not a traditional debate, this conversation will include moments of debate-style dialogue, as the speakers engage with differing perspectives on some of the open questions surrounding blended finance today. Nicholas Institute expert Alix Zwane is co-chapter lead of the Impact for Breakfast D.C. chapter.

Debt-for-nature swaps were first introduced in 1984 to reduce the debt burden of low-income countries in exchange for their commitment to environmental protection. The swaps fell out of favor--but now a new generation of swaps has emerged. Join us for a National Ecosystem Services Partnership (NESP) webinar to learn all about it from Nicholas Institute expert Elizabeth Losos.

The College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences (CFAES) Department of Agricultural, Environmental, and Development Economics (AEDE) is holding a webinar on "Navigating the Future: Clean Energy, AI, and Grid Expansion Amid Policy Shifts" featuring Nicholas Institute Director Brian Murray.

Join Nicholas Institute expert Ashley Ward and Moms Clean Air Force for a virtual community event on protecting kids from extreme heat in sports and play. The webinar will provide guidance on protecting children during extreme heat, including recognizing warning signs, understanding safety protocols for high school athletics and other organizations, and advocating for safer practices in your community. It will also explore how federal, state, and local policies shape youth safety standards—and how parents can push for stronger protections.

This is the first event in a three-part webinar series from Moms Clean Air Force titled "Extreme Heat Expert Answers Your Burning Questions."

Over the past two years, The Southeast Climate Adaptation Science Center (CASC) has collaborated with the Department of Interior's Nature-based Solutions (NBS) Working Group to develop the DOI NBS Roadmap – a comprehensive resource designed to help integrate NBS throughout DOI’s work (but also relevant to a broad audience interested in NBS). In this webinar, you'll hear updates on the Roadmap’s development, including new components in progress, such as a tools and resources assessment to help users find relevant materials for NBS project planning, design, implementation, monitoring, and benefits assessment.

Duke University is a Southeast CASC consortium partner.

How is rising heat impacting NC's outdoor workforce? WUNC News invites you to a community conversation about the recent Scorched Workers project. Hear behind-the-scenes details about the reporting process and an in-person panel discussion about the impact of extreme heat on our state’s outdoor workforce. This special event features: free drinks and snacks from 6-7 p.m., time to mingle with WUNC reporters and staff, a panel discussion with guest experts at 6:30 p.m. and an audience Q&A. Featured panelists include Ashley Ward (Director, Heat Policy Innovation Hub). Space is limited and registration is required. Save your seat now!

As the global push for decarbonization accelerates, access to affordable and reliable energy remains a critical challenge for developing economies. Join the online conversation on Tuesday, May 6 on how international collaboration, policy innovation, and scalable clean energy solutions can shape a more inclusive and resilient energy future. Jackson Ewing included among featured speakers. Hosted by World Salon and Columbia Global Dialogue.

The Duke Global Health Institute’s (DGHI) new Climate Change and Global Health Initiative will serve as a hub for interdisciplinary and global collaborative partnerships that connects health, life, social, physical, and human scholars. This launch event aims to generate momentum around the new initiative, and to consider how to best support the research goals of the Climate and Health Observatories – in the Southeast US, Amazon Region, Eastern and Southern Africa, and Southeast Asia – that are at the core of the initiative’s vision for impact. Marc Jeuland, faculty director of the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke, will be presenting. Registration is strongly encouraged.

Attend the next Impact for Breakfast event, co-hosted in part by Alix Peterson Zwane (Nicholas Institute). In an era of heightened scrutiny and debate about the effectiveness and accountability of foreign aid, the practice of linking payments explicitly to development outcomes is gaining traction. Join others for a light breakfast and coffee and explore the timely and provocative topic: "What's the Role for Outcome Payments in the Future of Development Assistance?" Registration is required.

The State Energy Conference provides actionable insight into the business of energy, connecting technical innovation, diverse resources and industry opportunities to help drive North Carolina's regional energy economy forward with national impact. Advance registration closes April 23. Walk-in registrations are welcome.

Catch the 4/29 talk, "Case Study: Duke University’s Perkins Library Energy Improvement Project" from 3:30-4:15 p.m. in Room 8 with Duke experts Tom Young and Beth Doyle.

All Duke students (including those seeking undergraduate, masters, professional, and doctoral degrees) are invited to attend an information session about a unique Duke practicum course that examines the negotiation of international climate change agreements under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Featured speakers will include Jackson Ewing (Nicholas Institute expert and practicum faculty sponsor) and Gabriela Nagle Alverio (Duke J.D. – Ph.D. candidate and practicum teaching assistant).

Share your thoughts on how Duke University can maximize its external climate impact!

Attend the Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Showcase to celebrate the accomplishments of our 2024-2025 Bass Connections project teams. This annual event features a poster session, interactive displays, awards and a reception. Provost Alec Gallimore and Vice Provost for Interdisciplinary Studies Ed Balleisen will give short remarks and announce the winners of this year’s poster awards, mentorship and leadership awards, and student research grants from 4:30-4:45 p.m.

The India Conference at Duke 2025 aspires to bridge two dynamic worlds—India and Duke University—by fostering meaningful dialogue and collaboration on pressing global challenges and opportunities. The conference plans to establish a vibrant platform for insightful discussions, creative idea-sharing, and cross-cultural engagement. This initiative aims to strengthen the bond between Duke and India, creating a robust network of scholars, professionals, and students dedicated to driving transformative impact. The Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability is a co-sponsor of the conference.

Join Duke's undergraduate urban studies club, Our Urban Future (OUF), for a thoughtful conversation with Jonathan Pacheco Bell on integrating communities in urban design through "embedded planning." Bell is a practicing urban planner leading new forms of street-level planning. All are welcome—come curious and ready to learn!

Decarbonizing the global economy and increasing climate resilience worldwide will require trillions of dollars, largely from private sector investors. What novel mechanisms, collaborative efforts, and policies can accelerate the mobilization of private capital? International and domestic thought leaders will exchange ideas at the second annual “From Billions to Trillions” summit at Duke University.

The Energy and Climate Ventures event at Duke University will bring together leading investors and entrepreneurs (many of whom are Duke alumni) the day before Duke's second annual From Billions to Trillions summit (April 9). The April 8 event will feature a networking reception and a series of exciting lightning talks - space is limited, so RSVP now!

The landscape of development and development finance is undergoing dramatic shifts, with important ramifications for energy transitions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Supporting equitable and investable approaches requires strategies and evidence that respond to these shifting dynamics. This event will bring together thought leaders, Duke alumni, students, and practitioners to discuss how impact-driven businesses, private sector capital, and concessional finance can adapt and thrive in this evolving environment.