Hurricane Helene didn't just tear apart homes and infrastructure—it also affected rare and sensitive species and habitats. Duke research—in partnership with North Carolina's Natural Heritage Program—is already helping state agencies prioritize field visits and guide recovery efforts, writes the Nicholas Institute's Katie Warnell in a LinkedIn article.

Decarbonizing the global economy will require trillions of dollars, largely from private sector investors. What could help accelerate the mobilization of private capital to advance climate solutions? Leaders from finance, government, industry, and academia exchanged ideas about this at the second annual “From Billions to Trillions” summit at Duke University on April 9, 2025. 

A team of Duke University students won the $20,000 Geothermal Technologies Office Bonus Prize during the 2025 EnergyTech University Prize Competition organized by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Technology Commercialization.

Duke University researchers have launched a public dashboard tracking the progress and impact of nature-based solutions efforts along the East Coast. The new resource will provide updates on projects led by the Atlantic Conservation Coalition, which includes state governments in Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Virginia, in addition to The Nature Conservancy. Eighteen additional organizations are also partners in the effort.

The richness of Duke’s intellectual communities and its deep commitment to interdisciplinarity are major draws for leading scholars, including Marc Jeuland and Kyle Bradbury, whose reach on campus includes appointments with the Nicholas Institute. 

Want to learn more about debt-for-nature swaps, how the new generation of swaps is different, and what policy changes might enhance their impact? Watch this National Ecosystem Services Partnership webinar, presented in June 2025 by Elizabeth Losos, executive in residence at the Nicholas Institute and coauthor of a recent Science article on maximizing debt-for-nature swaps’ effectiveness. 

Extreme heat endangers human health, the economy, national security, and more. In a commentary published by The New York Times, Ashley Ward (director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub) examines the risks posed by heat--and how to build resilience. 

During extreme heat events, people should prioritize creating a cool space in their bedroom because sleeping in stifling temperatures comes with “some of the worst health outcomes from heat,” Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub, explained to Homes.com. Ward and other experts offer tips for controlling your shade, water and space.

The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and Duke University have renewed their commitment to advancing sustainable fisheries and food security by signing an agreement to establish a five-year framework for joint initiatives to support small-scale fisheries worldwide. John Virdin will lead Duke University's work on the new effort, which will build on the Illuminating Hidden Harvests initiative.   

"When temperatures reach certain levels outside, the only way to be safe is to seek out air conditioning,” Ashley Ward, director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub told National Geographic. If you’re not in an air-conditioned space, Ward recommends making a heat action plan.