Going Green

Transitioning to new and cleaner forms of energy is imperative to the planet's future — and is something the Energy and Environment Program has been exploring for decades. Energy Week, formerly the Energy Policy Forum, is the program's longest-running annual event.

Over the years, this forum has brought together more than 2,000 industry leaders, including former EPA Administrators Lisa Jackson and Gina McCarthy. Last year, Energy Week hosted over 60 experts to discuss electricity markets, technology, decarbonization, and cybersecurity. The program also held a Winter Energy Roundtable with a broad swath of experts to take a deep look at the innovation necessary to achieve net-zero energy use by 2050. Their report Unlocking Mid-Century Deep Decarbonization envisions a climate strategy that invests in energy innovation and economy-wide decarbonization.

In addition to its energy-specific work, the Energy and Environment Program also focused on climate change more broadly. When the pandemic hit, the program went digital, launching with a discussion about continuing climate activism while sheltering in place. Bill McKibben of 350.org hosted the talk with young activists Alexandria Villaseñor and the American Conservation Coalition’s Benji Backer. The program also launched its new Innovators Series where rising stars in the environmental movement offer a fresh take on the nexus of climate change and critical issues like food, health, and social justice.

All Clean

As of June 1, 2020, the Aspen Meadows campus is running on 100 percent clean electricity–thanks to the Institute’s Green Team and with support from the Energy and Environment Program. This milestone received recognition in Forbes and Hotel Business Week.