By Anne Levin

Concerns about a rapidly changing climate are the focus of “Accelerating Climate Action in the United States,” a conference taking place at Princeton University’s Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment Thursday and Friday, September 20 and 21.

Tammy Snyder Murphy, New Jersey’s first lady and an advocate for clean energy in New Jersey, will give the keynote address on Friday. Debbie Mans, deputy commissioner of New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, delivers the public lecture on Thursday.

The two-day event is designed to explore what government, individuals, industry, and other stakeholders can do to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The conference examines what actions are being taken, with a focus on the power and transportation sectors, the two largest sources of U.S. emissions, and how to facilitate a shift toward a low-carbon economy.

“Climate action can and must come from every level — individuals, businesses, government. Our goal at the Andlinger Center is to broaden and deepen the dialogue on how to reduce carbon emissions and leave people with the knowledge and motivation to act in whatever capacity they can- as a parent, communicator, researcher, policymaker. Everyone can affect change,” said Yueh-Lin (Lynn) Loo, director of the Andlinger Center and the Theodora D. ’78 and William H. Walton III ’74 Professor in Engineering. 

A mix of researchers, policymakers, and business and nonprofit leaders will discuss how the interplay of technology innovation, public policy, markets, and human behavior affect climate change and its solutions. Judi Greenwald, former deputy director for climate, environment, and energy efficiency in the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Policy and Systems Analysis and the Andlinger Center’s inaugural Gerhard R. Andlinger Visiting Fellow in Energy and the Environment, organized the conference to spark discussion among national and local stakeholders about the opportunity for climate action today.

“This is a conference for specific policy, technology, market, and behavioral solutions,” said Greenwald. “It’s about what we can do, with industry, government, and individuals in the room. It’s action-oriented.”

Speakers will include representatives from Uber, Volvo, Citi, Siemens, NRG, Regional Plan Association, The Brookings Institute, Rutgers University, the University of Maryland, Stanford University, Princeton University, and the New Jersey State Legislature.

The conference is being held at Maeder Hall Auditorium in the Andlinger Center, on Olden Street. For more information and a full agenda, visit https://acee.princeton.edu/accelerating-climate-action-in-the-united-states/agenda.