News from the Nicholas Institute
Subject line: News from the Nicholas Institute
NI Update June 12, 2008
A brief roundup of news and information about the Nicholas Institute
for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University
1. CLIMATE CHANGE LEGISLATION: WHAT’S NEXT? The U.S. Senate’s
48-35 vote on June 6 to move forward with debate on the merits
of the Boxer-Lieberman-Warner climate security act fell 12 votes
shy of the 60 needed to proceed – but signaled growing support
for climate change legislation in the coming year. “From this vote
emerged a clear leadership coalition – a Senate majority and both
possible Presidents – that is interested in a solution to climate
change,” says Nicholas Institute Director Tim Profeta. “This debate
provides the road map forward. Now, all of us need to roll up our
sleeves and get it done in the next Congress.” Profeta said the
Institute will continue to work closely with Congressional leaders
from both sides of the political aisle to help draft climate change
legislation that will achieve critical environmental goals while
minimizing adverse economic effects on consumers or industry. To
read more about the Institute’s efforts, go here
> and here >.
2. AUTHOR, AUTHOR. Two books by Nicholas Institute staff members
are currently making waves in policy, science and literary circles
nationwide. “The Carbon Age,” by senior associate Eric Roston,
is earning universal praise for its thought-provoking exploration
of the pivotal role carbon has played throughout history, both
as a building block of life and, now, as one of the greatest threats
to it. The Boston Globe calls Roston’s work one of the “most anticipated”
books of the year, and Kirkus Reviews praises it as “lucid and
occasionally disturbing.” Also earning accolades is “Natural Security:
A Darwinian Approach to a Dangerous World,” co-edited by Rafe Sagarin,
associate director for ocean and coastal policy. Sagarin and his
co-authors apply lessons learned from nature to mankind’s own toughest
security problems, such as global terrorism and the spread of infectious
diseases. The journal Nature calls the book “a stimulating read”
and “an exciting merger between political science and evolutionary
theory.” To learn more about “The Carbon Age,” go to ericroston.com.
To learn more about “Natural Security,” go
here >.
3. PARTNERSHIP TARGETS HOG WASTE, GREENHOUSE GAS. The Nicholas
Institute is partnering with Google Inc., Duke Energy and Cavanaugh & Associates
to develop a model process for capturing methane emissions from
hog farms and converting them into clean energy. “Instead of letting
these gases rise into the atmosphere where they hurt our environment,
we’re working to identify an economically sound method for capturing
hog waste biogas and using it as a future source of green power,”
says Bill Holman, the Institute’s director of state policy. Earlier
this year, the partners created a model to evaluate methane inputs
and outputs on farms of various sizes and types. They’re now working
with farmers and state agencies to assess the feasibility of various
biogas-to-electricity technologies in the field. You can read more
about the initiative here >.
