Energy Solutions (Video)

The American energy system is in transition away from coal and toward less carbon intensive fuels, such as natural gas and wind. Energy produced by renewables and gas is projected to grow by 10 quadrillion BTUs over the next two decades, while other sources will remain constant or decline. Such a rapid transition requires construction of new facilities for generating and transmitting energy. Stephen Ansolabehere, Professor of Government at Harvard, tells the story of recent energy development efforts across the United States and the lessons for the transition toward a less carbon intensive energy system. Series: "Bren School of Environmental Science & Management" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 34563]

California reached its goal of reducing emissions to 1990 levels four years ahead of the 2020 target date. Robert Epstein, co-founder of Environmental Entrepreneurs, takes a look at what is and is not working as we plan for an additional 40% reduction by 2030. He also examines California's role in reducing worldwide emissions in both developing and developed countries. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 34463]

Premature births, unexplained human and livestock sicknesses, flammable water faucets, toxic wells and the onset of hundreds of earthquakes: the impacts of fracking are far-reaching and deeply felt. Professor Sara Wylie (Northeastern University) describes the fossil fuel connection between climate change and endocrine disruption and how the fossil fuel and petrochemical industries twin toxicities might be resisted together. Wylie also explores the need, and potential, to build alternative public interest databases and environmental health research tools. Series: "Ethics, Religion and Public Life: Walter H. Capps Center Series" [Public Affairs] [Health and Medicine] [Show ID: 34344]

Seaweed may be the super food dairy cattle need to reduce the amount of methane they burp into the atmosphere. Early results from research at the University of California, Davis, indicate that just a touch of the ocean algae in cattle feed could dramatically cut greenhouse gas emissions from Californias 1.8 million dairy cows. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Agriculture] [Show ID: 34105]

Undoubtedly solar energy will be part of the solution in regards to the affects of climate change, but is siting solar energy installations on public lands, such as in the Mojave Desert, the best place to do so? UC Davis researchers are looking at the effects of human development in the Mojave Desert and where other locations may be to site solar energy other than undisturbed landscapes and agriculture fields. Series: "UCTV Prime" [Science] [Show ID: 34099]

Today, we need to make intelligent management decisions about how we are going to manage our planet. Fortunately, powerful computing technologies now allows us to see with clarity what lies ahead, and to make informed choices about what path to take. We forecast a 20 percent decline in global income by the end of the century. And the most intense economic losses will be experienced in places where it is already hot and economies are already stressed. The vast brunt of the global economic burden will be borne by the poorest 60 percent of people around the world, widening global economic inequality. Our challenge is to use our unprecedented access to data analysis and information technologies to make truly informed decisions about the world we want to live in and leave for Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 33084]

Bending the threatening trajectory of global climate change surely seems daunting. Max Auffhammer argues that a single powerful tool can generate major change worldwide: price incentives. His focus is the social cost of carbon -- an estimate, expressed in dollars and cents, of the damage that one ton of CO2 emitted into the atmosphere has on the entire globe. This is a number that governments should use to evaluate the benefits and costs of new regulations that affect greenhouse gas emissions. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Public Affairs] [Show ID: 33073]

Our homes and buildings consume huge amounts of energy – up to 40 percent of all energy use in the US. Research at Berkeley Lab has greatly boosted energy efficiency in buildings but the challenge now is not just how much energy we use, but when we use it. We need to shift loads to times when there are plenty of renewables in our electric system, and reduce load at other times of the day. New technologies will get our energy production and our energy consumption talking to each other. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Science] [Show ID: 33078]

We are on a straight-line trajectory that connects increased emissions to a much warmer and much stranger climate. Are there pathways for escaping from the up-escalator of climate change? UC Berkeley Professor Bill Collins examines the key culprits, carbon dioxide and “black carbon” from ordinary diesel combustion. Series: "Cal Future Forum: Our Changing World" [Science] [Show ID: 33068]

Dan Kammen’s Berkeley research group has revealed the need for a dramatic shift to electricity and away from both fossil and biofuels. Meanwhile, 1.3 billion people – 15 percent of the world population – still lack electricity, and their growing demand for it would raise – not lower – global temperatures. The solution, Kammen says, must be local. He sees great promise in efforts to bring together new technologies with best practices to electrify those who don’t have power and to “green it” for everybody else. Series: "UC Public Policy Channel" [Public Affairs] [Science] [Show ID: 33072]