Events

At this event, we explored Voluntary Carbon Markets (VCMs) and how they have emerged as a mechanism for organizations and individuals to offset their carbon emissions by purchasing carbon credits. While they hold promise to contribute to global carbon reduction efforts, they face several challenges that hinder their effectiveness and credibility.

As electricity demand rises and many companies and organizations commit to using more clean energy, robust emissions-accounting rules could help determine the pace of decarbonization. This conference explored best practices for measuring the clean energy content or carbon dioxide emissions linked to a particular unit of electricity consumption. The conference brought together a wide array of stakeholders to discuss different approaches to carbon-dioxide-emissions accounting and their potential to make clean energy procurement policies and corporate commitments more effective, in the U.S. and internationally.

Climate change is increasing the frequency and severity of grid-threatening weather events, including storms and wildfires, at a time when the grid itself is undergoing significant changes. These challenges require decisionmakers to understand the impacts of energy system failures, how to mitigate them, and how to increase overall grid resilience. At this event, several researchers discussed their ongoing projects aimed at these issues and shared their initial findings. We also heard from the Deputy Executive Director for Energy and Climate Policy at the California Public Services Commission about the Commission's efforts to promote reliable and resilient energy in California. 

The energy transition is an economy-wide undertaking, and it will have wide-ranging impacts on supply chains, energy prices, and the job market. Researchers are currently working to better understand the distributional impacts of our changing energy system and how we can avoid placing disproportionate burdens on certain communities already bearing the brunt of harmful pollution and climate change. At this event, several researchers discussed their ongoing projects in this area and their initial findings. We also heard from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s Deputy Commissioner for Climate Change, Air Resources, and Energy about his current work and his views on what kind of equity-focused research is most helpful and necessary for policymakers at this moment.

In partnership with the Initiative on Climate Risk and Resilience Law, the Institute for Policy Integrity hosted this webinar to explore the potential role of federal regulation in voluntary carbon markets. The webinar covered topics like the appropriateness and timing of federal regulation given the current level of market maturity as well as potential types and targets of federal regulation. The webinar also included a discussion of recent federal guidance on voluntary carbon credit-based derivatives.

Panelists shared preliminary findings from their research and policy work focusing on efforts to model various aspects of the energy transition. The discussion addressed how models can help inform energy policy as well as the role of academic research in the policymaking process. Our hope is that the audience and panelists alike benefited from participating in a dialogue that brought together cutting edge modeling researchers and the government officials charged with managing the energy transition in the United States.

Panelists shared preliminary findings from their research and policy work focusing on efforts to decarbonize various industrial processes, including steel and chemicals manufacturing. The discussion addressed the technological and policy changes needed to achieve this shift as well as the role of academic research in the policymaking process. Our hope is that the audience and panelists alike benefited from participating in a dialogue that brought together cutting edge decarbonization researchers and the government officials charged with achieving decarbonization goals in the United States.

The Institute for Policy Integrity’s annual conference focused on policies and programs that can help speed the shift to a clean and equitable energy future in the United States.

Panelists will share takeaways from their research and policy work at the nexus of energy insecurity and energy transitions. After a discussion of how to identify and measure energy insecurity, panelists will share their findings on how the energy security of low-income populations might be affected by different aspects of the energy transition. Panelists will also examine possible solutions, such as energy cost assistance programs and post-crisis opportunities. Finally, panelists will reflect on their research design strategies for ensuring that their research processes and results serve and benefit the communities they are engaging. The recording is available here.

In this webinar, panelists will share preliminary findings from their research and policy work, focusing on both the local economic impacts energy transitions have on Indigenous tribes as well as the opportunities that energy transitions might create for these communities. The discussion will address the technological and policy changes needed to make the most of these shifts. Panelists will also reflect on their research design strategies for ensuring that their processes and results serve and benefit the communities they are engaging. This webinar is part of an ongoing series highlighting energy equity research funded by the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation. Stay tuned for upcoming events! The recording is available here.