Venture and private equity investors are pouring money into climate tech startups and large-scale renewable energy projects. Where capital is not flowing: emerging markets, low-income communities and projects aimed at climate adaptation and climate justice. Join ImpactAlpha and special guests to explore the new Climate Finance Tracker and effective strategies for bridging the gaps.

What are the right measurements to capture the co-benefits and impacts of clean cooking? How do we get that data in front of the right people to leverage investment? This interactive session will bring together multiple initiatives currently improving how we measure impact and build data streams for cross-sector knowledge sharing and new financing options
 
Lead Organizers: Nexleaf Analytics, Duke University

Rural households in low- and middle-income countries working in the agriculture sector feed much of the world, bear little responsibility for driving climate change, and are being disproportionately impacted by climate-related shocks. Climate finance represents a critical opportunity to bring investment and innovations to agricultural settings to improve resilience and low-carbon development.

Duke students are invited to join a lunch with Riccardo Ridolfi, CEO & co-founder of Equatorial Power and board director at African utility Umeme.

The second seminar in the Gilman Climate Leaders Seminar Series will kick off with reflections by Eric Ndayaho Mvukiyehe (Duke University), a political science professor with deep experience in development and gender issues from his tenure at the World Bank. He will then be joined by Victoria Plutshack (Duke University), who works on energy access and decarbonized, off-grid energy systems in Africa. The two will hold an engaging conversation about tackling climate change and electrification, embedded within this varied, complex context—and explore the role of women-centered solutions in meeting development, political stability and climate goals on the African continent.

Jonathan Phillips, director of the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke, will share insights on how climate change is impacting investment in energy systems in low- and middle-income countries and what it means for economic development. Participants will explore how climate finance is being mobilized to support climate mitigation and adaptation goals, get to know key institutional actors, and learn about ramifications for policy.

During a session at COP26, Jonathan Phillips will moderate a discussion with top off-grid sector experts and players exploring the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on provision of decentralized clean energy access in Sub-Saharan Africa and the Global South more broadly.

Come join the Global Energy Access Network and the Energy Access Project to learn more about the energy access work happening at Duke, and how students can get involved! Featuring presentations from students who did access-related projects last summer through the Energy Internship Program.

Join the Health and Energy Platform of Action, the Clean Cooking Alliance, and the World Health Organization for the second session in our webinar series, Transitioning to Clean Cooking.

Join the 2021 Fortin Foundation Bass Connections Virtual Showcase to celebrate the accomplishments of 2020–2021 Bass Connections project teams. The Virtual Showcase will be divided into three synchronous sessions over two days.

Duke students, are you curious about careers related to energy access and transitions in low- and middle-income countries? The Duke University Energy Initiative and the Energy Access Project invite all Duke undergraduate and graduate students to come hear from professionals (including several Duke alumni!) about their orgs, roles, career journeys, and advice.

What can we learn from countries trying to scale mini-grid deployment? Sign up to hear early lessons from Africa in the latest report from the Energy Access Project at Duke – Balancing Competition and Subsidy: Mini-grid Incentive Programs in Africa.

Duke students, are you curious about careers related to energy access and transitions in low- and middle-income countries? The Duke University Energy Initiative and the Energy Access Project invite all Duke undergraduate and graduate students to come hear from professionals (including several Duke alumni!) about their orgs, roles, career journeys, and advice.

Save the dates for the 5th annual Energy Week at Duke: November 9-12, 2020. This free online event series—which will focus on the theme of “Upheaval and Resilience” this year—is open to students, faculty, and professionals across the world. Featured events include the Duke University Energy Conference (November 11), the Energy in Emerging Markets Case Competition (November 10), and the Spark Career Fair (November 10). More information coming soon.

According to ESMAP, on the current trajectory, 230 million people will not have access to electricity by 2030. Out of this figure, 112 million will be left behind due to affordability constraints. Yet, 2030 is fast-approaching, and some of the gains made through off-grid electrification are being eroded by the COVID-19 pandemic. A survey done during these unprecedented times shows that some households are cutting back on food to make payments for their pay-as-you-go solar systems.

In this virtual event organized by the Duke University Energy Initiative, get insights from Duke experts on topics like energy access, electrification and automation of transportation, diversification of energy sources and technologies, and pursuit of decarbonization policy goals.

Latin America has developed one of the world’s most formidable renewable energy sectors. Learn more about the region’s lessons learned & its future role in the global energy transition at “Power Players: Fueling Latin America’s Future” on Monday, June 29, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Panelists include Duke University cultural anthropologist Dr. Christine Folch (author of Hydropolitics: The Itaipu Dam, Sovereignty, and the Engineering of Modern South America, Princeton University Press) and Duke alumnae Dr. Stephanie Friede (Wake Forest) and Odette Rouvet.

This webinar will bring together leading experts, including Duke Energy Access Project Director Jonathan Phillips, to explore business models for integrated electrification that are being deployed across Sub-Saharan Africa, their projected impacts for consumers and the African economy, and what is needed to galvanize action for accelerating access at scale. The virtual event is hosted by Power for All and sponsored by the Applied Research Programme on Energy and Economic Growth (EEG).