Environment
Green Technology
![There’s an Energy Transition Happening in Your Backyard](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/038a9839-e479-49fe-ab58-0fbb6194b7d8/energytransition.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
Every transition comes with tradeoffs, and even clean energy carries negative consequences. As they mine for critical minerals or build solar arrays on sensitive land, clean energy developers must build consensus with tribal leaders, environmental activists, and politicians.
![Presented by GE Vernova: It’s Electrifying! Tech and Climate Reshape Everything, Everywhere, All at Once](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/a3e37e2c-0596-4e40-ac71-5a6f22b8749d/240626_electrifying_006.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=806%2C0%2C2667%2C2667&w=290)
Even as the clean energy transition is underway, AI and global development are demanding more energy than ever. What’s the best plan to bring massive amounts of zero- and low-carbon solutions online — and is it possible to electrify and decarbonize at the same time?
![Climate of Hope](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/7a778d45-9072-483d-bc15-ec7c61ffac34/53817220503_5fae6aa65a_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1413%2C0%2C3101%2C3101&w=290)
Amid the stark realities of our planet's degradation, there are bright glimmers of hope in conservation efforts around the world. Paul Nicklen and Cristina Mittermeier use masterful storytelling and breathtaking imagery to show audiences a future in which humanity works in harmony with nature to preserve our planet for coming generations.
![From Ideas to Action, Highlights From Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/7ffc06f5-6eb8-43e6-95a7-f6a5f35b50c5/53583708572_5f6331b3ff_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=389%2C0%2C4630%2C4629&w=290)
At Aspen Ideas: Climate 2024, the world's most ambitious climate problem solvers came together in Miami Beach to address our collective future on this planet. Watch highlights from this year's event, which brought together global and local policy makers, innovators, scientists, artists, young leaders, and many others to forge solutions to climate change. These sessions wil...
![Highlights from Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/7b7e030a-a344-438b-aa7a-659395bba232/52735838620_431bba6bdc_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1220%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
At Aspen Ideas: Climate 2023, we dug into some of the biggest environmental issues of our time, from sea level rise and deforestation to food insecurity and energy policy, and explored the most cutting-edge solutions from inspiring global leaders.
![Economic Realities of the Energy Transition](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/aebf03f7-ae31-4daa-9c0e-85566bf34080/53012153655_ec50d42093_o1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
How fast can the world really move off hydrocarbons, and are we underestimating deep macroeconomic analyses of the energy transition in our policymaking? Two financiers delve into the complex dynamics surrounding the global shift toward more sustainable energy, including why Middle East economies that invest in renewable energy continue to depend on a robust oil trade, and...
![Designing Decarbonization](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/0194c6f0-e6ce-429e-bf65-b6da426193f0/230628_design_decarbonization_004.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=666%2C0%2C2667%2C2667&w=290)
Despite the worthy intentions of government and corporate leaders, the Paris Agreement targets of holding global warming to near 1.5°C may not be met, and many organizations say they don’t have plans and data to actually reach climate goals. This session will discuss strategies needed to design a net-zero future. Presented by Deloitte
![Hard-Hat Environmentalism: Can We Build in America Again?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/15574cbb-d00a-46c8-ba56-28577a1ba2e1/53009614714_26a24e608a_o1.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
With the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden-Harris administration has committed a record amount of federal funds to encourage the advancement of clean energy, but myriad regulatory, political, and practical challenges remain to meet our climate goals. White House clean energy advisor John Podesta shares how the administration is implementing the IRA and work...
![Ideas at the Cutting Edge of Energy](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/f55780aa-91db-4a0d-a9d2-0eaf848e0f1f/53009874135_885a6b8569_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
In this series of short talks, leaders of energy start-ups pitch their big ideas: using A.I. to find critical minerals under the Earth’s surface, installing geothermal systems in your home, ensuring the safety of clean tech, and storing clean energy in the grid when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining.
![Is the Energy Transition Moving Too Fast?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/d97719b2-95c6-455b-a57e-451c07ef7439/53010504504_0c627c3fbb_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=735%2C0%2C2901%2C2901&w=290)
How do we balance demand for a speedy transition to clean energy with the needs of those who depend so heavily on fossil fuels, especially in the developing world? Based on today’s climate science, how fast do we need to move, and what unintended consequences should be considered? In this conversation, two scientists go behind the headlines to weigh the pros and cons of th...
![What Does the Future Hold for Oil and Gas? Chevron’s Top Exec on the Clean Energy Transition](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/17622489-19b2-49ba-92c4-0f3655ff7510/53004242775_43c235133f_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=911%2C0%2C3554%2C3554&w=290)
Chevron’s top executive shared that the company “intends to be a leader in advancing a lower carbon future” through investments in renewables, hydrogen, and carbon capture. How do these efforts stand in the context of global climate goals, and what role will fossil fuels play in our future?
![The Road to Carbon Neutrality](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/53d1b92f-04de-4348-b97b-09849007a01b/53004482808_404d4dd750_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1000%2C0%2C4000%2C4000&w=290)
Across corporate America, companies are making changes to lower their carbon footprint and still maintain profitability. Leaders at two of the largest American companies — Amazon and GM — share the kinds of initiatives the private sector can apply to accelerate to net zero. The road to carbon neutrality is paved with expertise, challenges and promise.
![Hydrogen: What’s All the Hype?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/12cd5ba0-67e6-483e-a9a6-ff94c3bc32b2/53004439806_d4c787876a_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
All eyes are on clean hydrogen thanks to its potential as a versatile, low-carbon energy source that could help decarbonize sectors like transportation and power generation. In this session, get the lay of the land behind the hydrogen hype.
![In Conversation with Mary Barra](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/5704dc84-dcc1-41a3-be28-47dd16ecc981/53003843082_4b5f36568b_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=0%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
Known for her groundbreaking initiatives and bold leadership, GM Chair and CEO Mary Barra was the first leader of a legacy U.S. automaker to pledge to make all cars and SUVs electric by 2035, laying down the gauntlet for her competitors. With partnerships recently announced with Tesla to provide access to more EV chargers across the country, what does the future hold for c...
![From Mining to Moscow, How Geopolitics Shape the Energy Transition](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/86e5930f-5ba2-4520-b793-c23fe6976b30/53001362294_8971d99b8d_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=915%2C0%2C3492%2C3492&w=290)
Does going electric mean buying lithium from Russia and Venezuela? What happens if the United States takes carbon action while competitors don’t? Experts weigh in on the geopolitical implications — and opportunities — of a global transition to cleaner energy.
![Temperature Check: Where Do We Stand in the Energy Transition?](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/b6aff6cd-2e45-496b-977c-b1707350cef7/53000409457_f0b09a4e1c_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1000%2C0%2C4000%2C4000&w=290)
Policy, business practices, and profound breakthroughs in technology might be the raw ingredients for building a clean energy future, but can these solutions be deployed at the unprecedented scale needed? A top energy expert sets the scene by describing the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead.
![Charging Forward: Transportation, Electrification, and Resilience](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/bc021ff5-9e33-49f5-a099-ac837e549d2c/52735747334_d09bdbf992_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1376%2C0%2C5504%2C5504&w=290)
To really have a shot at stopping climate change, we need to work toward carbon-free energy delivery and a clean air future. That means not only making a lot of electricity cleanly, but finding ways to store it efficiently. We must also directly measure where emissions and climate pollutants are coming from and understand who they’re impacting so we can effectively target...
![Highlights from Aspen Ideas: Climate 2022](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/93bd47c2-0092-4826-99ee-bf47bb079f3d/DSC_1968.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=500%2C0%2C2000%2C2000&w=290)
In May 2022, the world's most ambitious climate problem solvers came together in Miami Beach to address our collective future. Watch highlights from the inaugural Aspen Ideas: Climate, which brought together global and local policy makers, experts, artists, young leaders, and many others for a series of conversations aimed at educating and inspiring action to combat climat...
![It's Getting Hot in Here](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/7fb902d7-6cf8-4368-9539-987b306bc7a7/AIFStockHeroImages.png?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=1260%2C0%2C3240%2C3240&w=290)
A couple of degrees makes a world of difference — megafires, rising seas, failing infrastructure, and food systems require our immediate attention. Demands on dwindling natural resources continue to mount, but the roadmap to a healthy relationship with our planet exists. We can turn carbon into meat and apply Indigenous knowledge of forests and fire. We can decarbonize the...
![Coming to Grips with Climate Change](https://aspenideasfestival.imgix.net/null6c4e693f-aa40-4e0f-8a94-b388f01b9dcf/48153163662_9b20bc7f59_o.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=min&fm=jpg&h=290&q=80&rect=752%2C0%2C2495%2C2495&w=290)
A 2018 UN report on climate change urged swift and unprecedented action to curb the rise of the planet’s temperature. Experts argue that avoiding a crisis will require significant breakthroughs in technology, a full stop on fossil fuel projects, fundamental changes to the way we feed the world, and ubiquitous carbon policies. Who will lead the charge towards a multilateral...