How We Move on: Planning for a Future without Fossil Fuels

As the world faces the urgent need to address climate change, the transition to cleaner and more sustainable energy sources has become a critical priority. We know we need drastic change – and it’s essential we phase out systems that emit greenhouse gases. So, how do we move forward? And what will this process look like?

Dr. Grubert, civil engineer and environmental sociologist, studies exactly these questions. As the 2023 Leeson Lecturer, she’ll discuss how we can navigate this massive, society-wide shift as safely – and quickly – as possible. During the “midtransition” period, where we’re retiring fossil fuel infrastructure while developing new systems, it’s essential to ensure that services are still provided and that our systems remains safe. This will be especially challenging for high-hazard industries that may be difficult to manage. Dr. Grubert will draw on her expertise to describe the challenges and opportunities presented by the clean energy transition, examining the social, economic, and political factors that influence its progress. Attendees can expect a thought-provoking and informative discussion on one of the most pressing issues of our time.

About Dr Grubert

Dr. Emily Grubert is a civil engineer and environmental sociologist who studies how we can make better decisions about large infrastructure systems, particularly related to justice-centering decarbonization of the US energy system. Specifically, she studies life cycle socioenvironmental impacts associated with future policy and infrastructure and how community and societal priorities can be better incorporated into multicriteria policy and project decisions. Her major methods include scenario analysis, life cycle assessment, survey and interview research, and text mining. Dr. Grubert is currently Associate Professor of Sustainable Energy Policy and, concurrently, of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences at the University of Notre Dame.

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About the Leeson Lecture

The Leeson Lecture, to be held this year on Thursday, June 15, was established in 2019 thanks to the generous support of donors. It honors Metcalf Institute’s longest serving Advisory Board member, Robert Leeson, Jr.

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2023 public lecture series