Speaker Series: Critical Issues in Climate Change

Critical Issues in Climate Change
The Green Economy and Clean Energy: Implications from the Gulf Oil Spill

-Thursday, June 17, 9:00 a.m., Columbus Room, Union Station-

Oil in the Gulf of Mexico (Photo: Reuters)

Over the past two months, millions of gallons of oil have flowed into the Gulf of Mexico – the most catastrophic oil spill ever. The extent of the damage it has created is still unclear, but a severe impact has already been seen in wildlife populations, polluted shorelines and illnesses experience by local residents and clean-up workers.

In light of this ongoing crisis, the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies chose to focus the first Critical Issues in Climate Change Speaker Series around the oil spill and its implications to the growing green economy and movement toward clean energy.

According to the Joint Center’s official statement on the Gulf oil spill, “Without addressing energy sovereignty in the U.S., our coasts will continue to bear the brunt of our collective addiction to oil.” The move toward clean, renewable energy, and the subsequent development of a green economy, is a key to environmental and economic sustainability and success.

Joining host and Joint Center President and CEO Ralph B. Everett at the inaugural speaker series are:

• Leslie G. Fields, Esq., National Environmental Justice Director for the Sierra Club and member of the Commission to Engage African Americans on Climate Change;

• Dr. Arjun Makhijani, author and President of the Institute for Energy and Environmental Research;

• Dr. Michael K. Dorsey, assistant professor of environmental studies at Dartmouth College and visiting scholar at the Joint Center;

• Daniel J. Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress.

See the full invitation after the jump.