Duke juniors Fisher Mallon and Michael Sakellakis are among the 55 scholars chosen from more than 400 applicants nationwide to receive the Udall Scholarship. Both Mallon and Sakellakis have completed energy internships through the Nicholas Institute's Energy Internship Program.

Duke formally announced its Climate Commitment on September 29, 2022. That day also marked a minor milestone for the undergraduate Class of 2026: the completion of their first full month of classes. Over the next four years, many of these students would take advantage of the opportunities Duke offers to study and tackle real-world climate and energy challenges.

These profiles highlight six graduating seniors whose journeys in climate and sustainability have unfolded in especially memorable ways:

"The Duke Energy Carolinas/Duke Energy Progress merger, approved by North and South Carolina regulators on May 1, may appear to be routine corporate restructuring. In practice, it could shape the future of electricity in the region," writes Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing in a commentary at NC Newsline.

A native of New Orleans, high school student Ben Verlander knew quite well the challenges that climate change poses for frontline communities, and he wanted to do something about it. He wrote about this desire in his application for Duke’s Alumni Endowed Scholars Program, and it came up in his interview process.

The Office of the Provost has awarded Intellectual Community Planning Grants to 10 projects from Duke faculty members based in eight schools, along with faculty colleagues at UNC-Chapel Hill, NC Central and NC State. Nicholas Institute expert John Virdin is a core team member of a project that will lay the groundwork for sustained Duke leadership in marine carbon dioxide removal, advancing both fundamental knowledge and actionable solutions to support global climate goals.

Emissions allowances in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative hit a record high this week as Virginia prepares to rejoin the regional program, but the worldwide spike in fossil fuel prices caused by the ongoing Iran war is also affecting energy affordability in member states, reports Energywire. “The price of natural gas is going to have much more of an impact on the electricity price than RGGI,” said Nicholas Institute Director Brian Murray.

Chloe Young will graduate from Duke this spring with a bachelor's degree in environmental sciences and policy. This profile highlights the mentors who encouraged her exploration, the leadership opportunities she seized, and the experiences that shaped her climate journey.

In a Q&A with The News & Observer, Nicholas Institute expert Jackson Ewing said the announced merger of Duke Energy Progress and Duke Energy Carolinas could create efficiencies that may lead to customer savings. But Ewing explained the merger will also reduce competition between the two systems, which could have long-term consequences for corporate and regulatory decision-making.

An international research team, including Nicholas Institute expert Lydia Olander, has developed a roadmap for an emerging field of technology called ecotech, which draws inspiration from nature to create scalable solutions to urgent environmental, social and economic challenges. The team described this field, providing a comprehensive framework for its adoption and expansion, in the journal Science Advances.

Duke University has named the latest recipients of its Climate and Health Big Idea Grants, a program aimed at accelerating bold, interdisciplinary research into the growing health impacts of climate change and helping to deliver real solutions for communities across North Carolina, South Carolina and beyond. The Heat Policy Innovation Hub is part of one project that will establish the Rural Carolinas Observatory for Heat Early Warning and Health Resilience.

The four projects unite academic, industry and government partners to generate actionable insights for climate resilience, risk management and infrastructure decision-making. Projects are led by joint, interdisciplinary teams spanning Duke University and the University of Georgia.

The recently published Built to Endure smart guide maps a path for smaller and mid-sized municipalities to build more resilient infrastructure systems. Two of the guide's authors—Rory Linehan (Bentley Systems) and Elizabeth Losos (Nicholas Institute)—talked with the ASCE Plot Points podcast about the new technology making resilient infrastructure more accessible than ever.

Professional students at the Nicholas School of the Environment elected master's student Ananya Aggarwal as their peer speaker at this year's recognition ceremony. Aggarwal worked as a research assistant at the James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability, supporting research and thought leadership initiatives on international climate finance and energy partnerships, as well as work on international energy transitions.

Ongoing uncertainty around liquid natural gas exports is affecting fossil fuel production around the world. Nicholas Institute expert Sandeep Pai told BBC World Business Report (starting at 19:09) that the current crisis nonetheless does not spell a comeback for coal in India and other countries. “I think the long-term trajectory is set,” Pai said. “All the investments are going in renewables. However, you will see some rise, maybe for a year or two until the whole crisis is settled.”

A new initiative—led by Lancaster University and funded by Lloyd’s Register Foundation—will create the first corporate‑focused reporting and accountability toolkit designed specifically for ocean‑related sectors. The project will help corporations improve safety, protect workers and strengthen their social and environmental impact.

Nicholas Institute expert John Virdin is working on the project with colleagues from Lancaster University and the Stockholm Resilience Centre.