The Grand Challenge of Clean Energy Access in the Developing World
Johannes Urpelainen, Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Professor of Energy, Resources and Environment, Johns Hopkins SAIS; Founding Director, Initiative for Sustainable Energy Policy (ISEP)
Coach House, Green College, UBC
Wednesday, February 28, 5-6:30 pm
in the series
Hope in the Anthropocene: Sustainability Solutions and Inspirations
The rapid decrease in the cost of solar power generation has made clean energy a key instrument in the effort to end energy poverty. In this talk, Johannes Urpelainen discusses the evolving role of clean energy sources in developing and emerging economies. Drawing on extensive field research and data collection, he evaluates the potential and challenges to achieving universal energy access with renewables and other low-carbon sources. Although the global market for clean energy is rapidly growing, government policy remains crucial for ensuring that clean energy produces tangible benefits to poor and remote rural communities. Affordability and productive uses of clean energy, such as industry and commerce, remain major challenges for communities that suffer from energy poverty.
Johannes Urpelainen is the award-winning author of four books and over a hundred refereed articles on environmental politics, energy policy, and global governance. He teaches action-oriented classes on energy and environmental policy to equip the next generation of global leaders with deep knowledge, advanced analytical skills — and a passion for transformational social change. As one of the world’s top energy policy experts, Johannes frequently advises governments, international organizations, and the private sector on energy and environment.
Dr. Urpelainen will also be speaking with Rustam Sengupta, renewable energy entrepreneur, on March 1 at 12:30 as part of the IRES Seminar Series - Roundtable on Social Science in the field: Working on Development with NGOs and Social Enterprises.