A new blog post by John Virdin, Director of the Ocean and Coast Policy Program, in chinadialogue ocean explores the outcomes when poorer coastal African nations and island countries try to make money by selling access to their fish-abundant waters to companies from richer countries with large fishing fleets.

The Rhodium Group, an independent economic and policy research firm, released a report Tuesday estimating that US energy-related CO2 emissions increased by 3.4 percent in 2018. That marks the largest year-over-year emissions increase in more than twenty years. Writing for Forbes, Energy Initiative director Brian Murray analyzes why the increase occurred—and points to options for deep decarbonization concurrent with economic growth. 

"As Jim Rogers underscored, addressing climate change asks us to envision a world we may not live to see. Like building a cathedral, it calls for the steady, skillful work of many over time, secure in the significance of our efforts." - Brian Murray reflects in Forbes on the "cathedral mindset" of Jim Rogers.

On November 29, 2018, RFF Senior Research Associate and former Energy Initiative staffer Daniel Raimi (MPP '12) sat down with Kyle Bradbury of Duke University to discuss the use of new data tools to develop insights about energy. This video is part of a series that explores projects across a range of topics supported by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Expand the description box below to navigate to chapters in this video.

Duke University lost a valued friend, adviser, and visionary with the passing of James E. "Jim" Rogers on Mon., Dec. 17, 2018. 

Rogers, 71, was the former president and CEO of Duke Energy and the author of Lighting the World: Transforming Our Energy Future by Bringing Electricity to Everyone (St. Martin's Press, 2015). A Duke University Senior Fellow, Rogers worked closely with the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and Duke University Energy Initiative to advance educational programming and research on global energy access.

James Borton and the Nicholas Institute's Jackson Ewing say the devastation wrought by island building in the waters, mainly by China, is having a big impact on an already fragile ecosystem. Cooperation on scientific research and environmental management must be encouraged to limit the damage, and as a way to build trust.

Duke students journeyed to Katowice, Poland, to take part in COP24. They heard from experts on the front lines of global climate change. Aashna Aggarwal (T'19) shares her takeaways from the experience in this video.

The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions, and the larger Duke University community, are heartbroken at the loss of our good friend, Jim Rogers. His passing yesterday leaves a void in the Institute’s leadership, on our campus, and across the world of energy and the environment. It is not a void that can ever truly be filled.

This multimedia impact report captures some recent highlights of the lively, university-wide energy community at Duke University. 

New video from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's Global Energy Institute features the intriguing NET Power project by 8 Rivers Capital, a Durham company founded by former Duke Law professor Bill Brown (JD'80). Also involved: Scott Martin (E'14) & David Freed (E'10), both of whom were also recognized as Forbes' 30 Under 30. EI Director Brian Murray also featured in the video.