Environment
Green Technology
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.
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...
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
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...
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.
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...
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?
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.
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.
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...
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.
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.
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...
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...
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...
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...
The word city is not exactly synonymous with nature. Yet increasingly, urban landscapes offer innovative canvases for designers and artists who use ecology and horticulture as their medium. As the bustling field of landscape architecture makes its way into everything from infrastructure projects like the High Line to commercial stores lining Fifth Avenue, how are these des...
In the 23 years since the final episode of “Bill Nye the Science Guy” aired, natural disasters such as hurricanes, heat waves, and floods have significantly increased in frequency and intensity. Climate science indicates a strong correlation between greenhouse gas emissions and these rapid changes in complex weather systems. Renowned science educator Bill Nye will discuss...
Our coffee makers, phone chargers, washing machines — our lives — are powered by the humble flip of a switch or press of a button. And it’s easy to lose sight of where the energy that powers our everyday conveniences comes from. Fossil fuels, predominantly through transportation and electricity, account for roughly 74 percent of US greenhouse gas emissions. As the principa...
President Biden entered office identifying climate change as one of four historic crises facing the United States. Nearly two years later, detractors claim that a lack of urgency, the divisive state of Congress, and a combative Supreme Court could stifle his agenda. This conversation between Michael Regan, administrator of the EPA, and Gina McCarthy, the White House nation...