This September, faculty, staff, students and alumni from the Duke community will join thousands of leaders from business, government, and civil society for Climate Week NYC. Billed as “the largest annual climate event of its kind,” Climate Week NYC comprises hundreds of official and unofficial events each year, all geared toward spurring and accelerating climate action at every level of society.

As climate change intensifies, many low- and middle-income countries face a precarious balancing act between addressing urgent climate adaptation and development needs and pursuing clean energy transitions. While these two objectives can be complementary, they also create challenging choices around meeting human development imperatives and decommissioning or avoiding fossil development. This panel will unpack these choices, and present energy transition strategies that put human flourishing at the center. This event is organized by Duke University and will be presented on the Main Stage of the Nest Climate Campus during Climate Week NYC.

Fall 2024 virtual Southeast Electric Transportation Regional Initiative (SETRI) Meeting focused on regional transportation electrification updates and informational resources.

Are you a Duke University alum with plans (or potential plans) to attend Climate Week NYC (September 22-29) or the UNFCCC’s Conference of Parties (COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan (November 11-22)? Duke University experts will again take part in these important convenings alongside climate thought leaders and decision-makers from across the world—and we are eager to connect with other Duke community members who will be there.

Join this virtual town hall to hear about the Duke community’s plans for these events. Hosted by the Office of Climate and Sustainability and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability.

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).

Energy Pathways USA, convened by the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability at Duke University, will host a briefing on the US Environmental Protection Agency’s newly released power sector regulations. Nicholas Institute expert Tim Profeta, former EPA special counsel for the power sector and senior advisor, will explain the new standards for existing coal and new gas-fired power plants, outline the key implications and questions for US decarbonization, and answer attendee questions.

In this one-day summit, public officials, business leaders, and Duke University faculty will share insights on how the influx of federal funding from the Inflation Reduction Act, CHIPS Act, and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law will impact and stimulate private green investment. The event is organized at Duke University by the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and the Fuqua School of Business.

Decarbonizing the electric power system and electrifying transportation, cooking, heating, and other energy uses will require massive infrastructure development. Reducing carbon dioxide emissions will lower the chances of catastrophic climate change, reduce air pollution, and create other valuable co-benefits. But, at the same time, this transition will require significant land-use changes with the potential to disrupt numerous landscapes, ecosystems, and ways of thinking and living.