Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability

🌎⚡️ Have you joined the Nicholas Institute’s email list yet? http://bit.ly/niemail

Alumni, are you interested in Duke University’s plans for #ClimateWeekNYC (September 22-29) or the UNFCCC’s Conference of Parties (#COP29) in Baku, Azerbaijan (November 11-22)?      Duke experts will again take part in these important convenings alongside climate thought leaders and decisionmakers from across the world—and we are eager to connect with Duke alumni who will also be joining. Whether you plan to attend these convenings or are just curious, please register for occasional email updates! SIGN UP HERE: https://lnkd.in/eeva6X7Q We’ll keep you informed about our plans, learn about yours (and how we can amplify any public events you’re involved in), and identify opportunities for Blue Devils to gather at receptions in New York and Baku.  The Office of Climate and Sustainability and the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability will also host a virtual Town Hall on Monday, August 26, from 3-4 p.m. ET to discuss the Duke community’s presence at these two climate convenings.   Please share with other #DukeAlumni who might be interested!      LEARN MORE: https://lnkd.in/ertAu_pt Duke Alumni Engagement and Development, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, Duke University School of Law, Duke University Graduate School, Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke Divinity School, Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University School of Nursing

Both public and private investment in EV charging infrastructure is surging to meet rising demand in the Southeast. Yet the region still lags the rest of the U.S. in charging availability, according to a new report from the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability. https://lnkd.in/eNis4AUq Co-authored by Nicholas Sommer, LFA (graduate student with Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment and Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business) and Trey M. G. (research analyst at the Nicholas Institute), the report analyzes growth patterns of two types of EV charging infrastructure—direct current fast charging (DCFC) stations and Level 2 stations—in a dozen Southeastern states during 2023. Featuring interactive data visualizations, the report also shows imbalances per capita in charging ports between the states in the study. #EVs #ElectricVehicles #TransportationElectrification #SoutheastUS

As high temperatures blanket much of North Carolina again today, hear Duke University expert Ashley Ward talk to North Carolina Public Radio-WUNC about ways to cool down and prevent heat-related illnesses. https://lnkd.in/eNfnyzZS #ExtremeHeat #HeatWave #NorthCarolina #HeatHealth

Join us in celebrating the accomplished student assistants who worked at the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability during the 2023-2024 academic year. https://bit.ly/2024assists These Duke University students showed incredible dedication and passion for their projects at the Nicholas Institute, and we want to acknowledge their bright ideas and willingness to contribute. The experts and staff they worked alongside shared just how much their work matters and how grateful we are to have welcomed them through our doors. Here are some of the things they had to say: *From Michelle Talal, PhD: Sadie Horner, MF '25, assisted our meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of timber harvesting on biodiversity outcomes across North America. Her great organization and efficiency helped the team to review thousands of scientific articles. *From Bryan Koen and the Student Experience Team: Rosalind Hu, MEM ’25, made a diverse array of contributions to the Nicholas Institute’s Student Experience team. She provided support for large-scale events; researched and wrote blogs on the energy industry for the Duke University Career Center’s Energy, Environment & Sustainability career community hub; conducted electricity rate simulation and financial modeling for a competition prompt focused on energy storage siting optimization; and more. *From Jackson Ewing, PhD: Cara Kuuskvere, MEM ’25, has helped the The James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke and Nicholas Institute Energy and Climate Program build the analytical foundation of our work on just energy transitions in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Cara has deftly and creatively compiled and analyzed data that show the wide range of energy systems, development characteristics, and climate assets across LMICs that must take center stage in future transition strategies. *From Kyle Bradbury: Over the past year, the students working with the Energy Data Analytics Lab (Pablo Salazar Armella, Ya-Yun Huang, MD, Julia Kourelakos, Paul J. Markakis, Pragya Raghuvanshi, Nicholas Sommer, LFA, Yuanjing Zhu) have been contributing to Climate TRACE, a project focused on creating open, transparent greenhouse gas emissions tracking by sector. These students spent the past year collecting, processing, and analyzing data and combed through dozens of papers and reports on building greenhouse gas emissions estimates. IF THIS POST IS ABOUT YOU, COMMENT BELOW on what you’ve been up to so far this summer! We know you will be doing some incredible things at Duke and beyond.

The recent U.S. heat wave's death toll is rising. Due to how deaths are reported and classified, the final toll will likely be an undercount. Duke University expert Ashley Ward told The Washington Post that there are signs these practices are beginning to improve. "Awareness plays a critical role in this equation," she said. https://lnkd.in/eXFNfNrK #extremeheat #heatwave #climatehealth

The National Weather Service warns of excessive heat in the western and southern US over the July 4 holiday. Unusually hot conditions increase the risk of heat-related illness, so please stay safe and hydrated during outside activities. Learn 10 quick ways to cool off with or without A/C from Ashley Ward, director of Duke University's Heat Policy Innovation Hub. #ExcessiveHeat #ExtremeHeat #Heat #HeatHealth #IndependenceDay #FourthOfJuly Duke University School of Medicine, Duke University School of Nursing, Duke University Health System, Duke Climate Commitment, Duke University Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University Sanford School of Public Policy, Duke University - The Fuqua School of Business, Duke Divinity School, Duke University School of Law, Duke University Pratt School of Engineering, Duke Trinity College of Arts & Sciences, Duke University Graduate School, Duke Alumni Engagement and Development

Last week, the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment & Sustainability had the honor of welcoming 100+ thought-leaders from across the country to Duke University for the HeatWise Policy Partnership Summit. Read more from the summit: https://lnkd.in/eeCZGV9c Extreme heat is a rapidly evolving threat to human health that requires urgent action to make communities more resilient. The summit fostered three days of conversations between the public sector, private sector, philanthropy and academia, as well as community groups, to share insights and lessons learned and map out evidence-based solutions. Throughout the summit, participants emphasized that solutions should be centered on communities. They also stressed that communities need the right tools and knowledge to be empowered to implement those solutions. The cross-sectoral collaboration will continue as part of the HeatWise Policy Partnership, which is described as a “heat policy brain trust” by Ashley Ward, director of the Nicholas Institute’s Heat Policy Innovation Hub. Thank you to the HeatWise Policy Partnership Summit sponsors, without which the event would not have been possible: Americares, Duke Office of Climate & Sustainability, Hagerty Consulting, The Cynthia and George Mitchell Foundation, Museum of Life and Science, Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), North Carolina Biotechnology Center (NCBiotech), RWJF, Swiss Re, and Trane Technologies. #extremeheat #heatpolicy #climateresiliency

Ashley Ward, director of Duke University's Heat Policy Innovation Hub, took part in this congressional briefing organized by NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration last week.

This has been dubbed the ‘Woodstock of Heat Policy’ and is living up to the colloquial branding. Fantastic to be here and contribute a perspective from the finance sector on this important topic. I encourage everyone to read The Heat Will Kiill You First by Jeff Goodell as a primer on why this is such an important topic for society to grapple with.