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Objective:
To facilitate a dialogue to address the realities of current energy consumption and the creation of a sustainable
energy future by helping the leaders of today act before the window of opportunity closes.
Background:
We depend on hydrocarbons for more than 85% of our energy needs. While hydrocarbon use has led to enormous
benefits to human civilization, we now recognize that supplies of this critical resource are ultimately finite,
and its use has impacted human health and the environment. As supplies of natural gas, petroleum, and coal become
more expensive, as environmental degradation increases, and as the possibility of regulatory limits on carbon
emissions looms larger, we will be forced to transition into a new era of energy use.
In order to move toward a sustainable global society, we must address both the finite supply of hydrocarbons
and the repercussions of their use. Today’s leaders have a closing window of opportunity in which to direct
our transition to a sustainable energy future.
Forum:
Leaders from business, politics, environmental NGOs, and academia will come together at “Creating a Sustainable
Energy Future: A Duke University Leadership Forum” to open a dialogue about the challenges and opportunities
the energy sector faces and the closing window of opportunity that exists to address those issues. Duke University
will play a key role in facilitating this cross-sectoral dialogue, and in training the next generation of energy
leaders. Specifically, the Forum will address the following:
Realities of Energy Production and Use
- Will our current energy sources be able to meet world demand during the next decades? When will hydrocarbon
production peak?
Transitions: Drivers
- What motivates business, politicians, and environmental NGOs in their energy decisions?
Transitions: Strategies
- What are our options for creating a sustainable energy future? How can we meet both our energy and environmental
needs?
Sustainability in Action
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