A new report released Wednesday by the Rhodium Group estimated that U.S. greenhouse gas emissions fell 1.9 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year—even as the economy grew. Nicholas Institute experts Jackson Ewing and Brian Murray are available to speak on the policy implications of the report.

Modeling from Energy Pathways USA finds the two policies can combine to move the country closer to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, but complementary action is needed to reach the goal by 2050.

Returning for a second year and open to all Duke faculty and research staff, the Nicholas Institute is now accepting proposals for the 2024 round of Climate Research Innovation Seed Program (CRISP) grants. A virtual information session will be held on Dec. 12 for anyone interested in learning more about CRISP and the application process. Grant proposals are due by Feb. 26, 2024.

Toddi Steelman, Duke’s vice president and vice provost for climate and sustainability, will travel to Singapore and China from Nov. 6–18 to meet with Duke partners to discuss climate and sustainability efforts. Duke representatives joining Steelman for the Duke International Forum on Nov. 17 include Nicholas Institute experts Brian Murray, Jackson Ewing, Jonathan Phillips and Elizabeth Losos.

The new Office of Climate and Sustainability brings together several of Duke University's climate, energy, and environmental assets—including the Nicholas Institute—to help advance the mission of the Duke Climate Commitment.

Duke University's Office of Climate and Sustainability hosted a virtual town hall Tuesday evening to discuss the university's progress on the Duke Climate Commitment, which recently marked its one-year anniversary. The Chronicle rounded up comments from the speakers, including Brian Murray, interim director of the Nicholas Institute.

In the coming years, the shift to a clean energy economy in the United States will require major public and private investments in new infrastructure. The batteries, solar panels, wind turbines and electrical grid upgrades that will power the energy transition all require access to massive amounts of raw materials.

The Climate and Sustainability Summer Institute saw DC-area professionals learn from Duke faculty and researchers about climate and sustainability issues. The Nicholas Institute, Duke Continuing Studies, the Office of Climate & Sustainability, and Duke in DC collaborated on the two-week course, and Nicholas Institute experts Brian Murray and Liz Losos each led sessions.

Utilities in the Carolinas have turned to fossil fuels to meet a surge in energy demand as temperatures have soared this summer. “The key really is which resources are dispatchable," Brian Murray, interim director of the Nicholas Institute, told The News & Observer. In the future, solar and battery storage could fill the role that fossil fuels now play in meeting that need, he said.

The United States’ clean energy transition calls for formidable infrastructure shifts—but the processes for permitting low-carbon energy generation and transmission are complex and time-consuming. US Rep. Scott Peters (D-CA) discussed how to advance this transition via permitting reforms at Duke in DC in a conversation with Brian Murray, interim director of the Nicholas Institute.