The global race to net zero is usually told as a story of green start-ups, private investors and bold climate pledges from multinational corporations.

Sandeep Pai (Duke University) and Jennifer Broadhurst (University of Cape Town) researched how India, South Africa and the United States are repurposing their coal assets. They write in The Conversation that South Africa moving away from burning coal to generate electricity and describe what the research suggests about how coal infrastructure could be turned into new agricultural and renewable energy hubs.

India needs a mix of all kinds of strategies to fight climate change—reducing emissions through decreases in fossil fuel use, while also implementing carbon dioxide removal and carbon capture methods, Duke University expert Sandeep Pai told The Wire. “There is no way to reach net zero without some level of carbon removal and carbon capture technology,” he said.

Duke expert Sandeep Pai joined FORESIGHT Climate & Energy's The Jolt podcast to discuss why repurposing old coal infrastructure needs better planning. Pai explained findings from a new study he co-authored that revealed insights on the topic from South Africa, India, and the United States.

This month the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability and James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University welcomed Sandeep Pai as an executive in residence and senior lead for international energy transitions. Pai brings more than a decade of leadership experience at the intersection of research, program strategy and policy to the role.