TEC 2020: Climate Emergency- Solutions for a Clean Energy Transition
Saturday, February, 29th, 2020
Friday, February 28 - Saturday, February 29, 2020
In the wake of global climate protests, record-setting fires, and increased polarization on the existence of climate change, it is clear that the status quo of how we power and govern our world must evolve. A global transition to renewable energy is vital in the battle against climate change. In this year's Tufts Energy Conference, we sought to answer key questions around energy policy, technology in financing necessary for such a transition to take place. That's why this year's theme is Climate Emergency: Solutions for a Clean Energy Transition.
In the conference’s 15th year, Tufts Energy Conference’s 2020 event was a great success. The event occurred over two days, the evening of Friday February 28th and the morning and afternoon of Saturday February 29th. The Friday event was held at the Tufts Science and Engineering Center, while the Saturday event was held in the Cabot Intercultural Center. The Friday event featured an Energy Employer showcase with 22 local companies and organizations, along with the Hitachi Energy Exchange speaker series. The Saturday event featured six panel discussions, and two keynote speaker sessions.
Data Bites
- 2 Days
- 235 total attendees
- 3 Keynote Speakers
- 5 Showcase Speakers
- 6 Panels
- 36 total speakers
- 12 Colleges & Universities Represented
Keynote Speakers
Gina McCarthy
CEO - Natural Resources Defense Council
Gina McCarthy became the president and chief executive officer of NRDC in January 2020, leading more than 700 attorneys, scientists, advocates, and policy experts that make NRDC one of the country’s most effective environmental action organizations. McCarthy has been a leading advocate for smart, successful strategies to protect public health and the environment for more than 30 years.
McCarthy served as the 13th administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and as assistant administrator for the Office of Air and Radiation under President Obama. Her leadership led to significant federal, state, and local actions on critical issues related to the environment, economy, energy, and transportation. McCarthy ushered in a paradigm shift in national environmental policy, which expressly linked it to global public health. She led initiatives that cut air pollution, protected water resources, strengthened chemical safety, and reduced greenhouse gases to protect more communities from negative health impacts. McCarthy signed the Clean Power Plan, which set the first national standards for reducing carbon emissions from existing power plants, underscoring the country’s commitment to domestic climate action and spurring international efforts that helped secure the Paris Agreement.
McCarthy holds a master's degree in environmental health engineering and planning and policy from Tufts University and a bachelor's in social anthropology from University of Massachusetts at Boston.
Durwood Zaelke
President - Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development
Durwood Zaelke is founder and President of the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) in Washington, DC and Paris, where he focuses on fast mitigation strategies to protect the climate, including reducing short-lived climate pollutants (HFCs, black carbon, methane, and tropospheric ozone), in the context of the need for speed to limit anthropogenic warming to 1.5°C. He also supervises the Center for Climate Integrity, an initiative at IGSD supporting meritorious climate litigation throughout the world to implement the polluter pays principle. In addition, he is “Of Counsel” at Furth, Salem, Mason, & Li. Prior to IGSD, he was the co-founder and President of the Center for International Environmental Law (CIEL) in Washington, DC and Geneva (1989-2003), and in London (1989-90). Mr. Zaelke has taught at various universities, including Yale Law School, Duke Law School’s Brussels’s program, American University’s Washington College of Law, and Johns Hopkins.
He co-founded the Program on Governance for Sustainable Development at the Bren School of Environmental Science & Management, University of California, Santa Barbara, where he occasionally teaches a course on climate justice with Ms. Romina Picolotti, Argentina’s former Environment Minister. He is the author, co-author, or editor of various publications, including the leading law school textbook on International Environmental Law & Policy (with Hunter & Salzman) (5th ed. 2015). He is a graduate of Duke Law School (1972) and UCLA (1969). Some of his honors include the UN Ozone Political Leadership Award and the Scientific Leadership Award (2017), the CIEL International Environmental Law Award (2009), and the EPA Climate Protection Award (2008).
Dean Rachel Kyte
Dean - The Fletcher School
Rachel Kyte is the 14th dean of The Fletcher School at Tufts University. A 2002 graduate of Fletcher’s Global Master of Arts Program (GMAP) and a professor of practice at the school since 2012, Kyte is the first woman to lead the nation’s oldest graduate-only school of international affairs, which attracts students from all corners of the globe and at all stages of their careers.
Prior to joining Fletcher, Kyte served as special representative of the UN secretary-general and chief executive officer of Sustainable Energy for All (SEforALL). She previously was the World Bank Group vice president and special envoy for climate change, leading the Bank Group’s efforts to shift its operations and campaign for the Paris Agreement.
In her UN role and as CEO of SEforAll, a nonprofit public/private platform created from an initiative of the UN secretary-general, Kyte led efforts to promote and finance clean, affordable energy and low-carbon growth as part of the UN Sustainable Development Goals in the context of the Paris Agreement. She grew SEforALL into an organization that employs more than forty staff and has partnerships with companies, governments, and civil society organizations. She continues to serves as co-chair of UN Energy.
Kyte grew up in eastern England and has a deep appreciation for the value of apprenticeship, mentoring, sponsorship, and skills learned on the job in addition to in the classroom. She earned her undergraduate degree in history and politics from the University of London. Kyte is married to Dr. Ilyse Zable and they have two children.