GEMS Looks at Oyster Reef Restoration
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The Gulf of Mexico Ecosystem Service Logic Models & Socioeconomic Indicators (GEMS) program, a part of the Nicholas Institute’s Ecosystem Services Program, will focus on
oyster reef restoration
over the next year. Oyster harvesting is a significant economic and cultural activity in the Gulf region, and oyster reefs are a key part of healthy coastal ecosystems. A major goal of the GEMS project is to identify socioeconomic metrics that will help to fill the gap between understanding the biophysical or ecological outcomes from oyster restoration and understanding the benefits that people receive from these projects.
The program selected
five focal estuaries
—one each in Alabama, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Texas—
to capture the range of ecological and social conditions as well as data availability found across the region. Each site will be visited twice to conduct workshops on the various restoration approaches.
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Electrification & Development: The Energy Access Project in DC
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Duke University’s
Energy Access Project
and Oxfam America brought together researchers, development partners, advocates, and relevant businesses and practitioners in Washington, DC, on February 21 for a workshop on electrification and development.
Universal access to electricity has gained increasing prominence as a global ambition, underscored by the establishment of
U.N. Sustainable Development Goal 7
"to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all." Embedded within the logic of this goal is the anticipated impact of electrification on productivity—and thus on incomes—among households and businesses that gain access to electricity or improved reliability. Research considering the impacts of electrification, however, suggests that the relationship between electrification and productive use may be complex, raising questions for policymakers, advocates, and practitioners who are focused on achieving universal electrification.
The workshop in Washington aimed to establish the state of knowledge regarding the impacts of electrification on productive use and local economic development. Based on discussions at the workshop, the Energy Access Project will publish a research roadmap to identify and meet the most important and urgent needs of energy access stakeholders and affected communities.
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A Nicholas Institute Policy Brief
Over a billion people around the world continue to lack access to basic electricity, many of them unlikely to be connected to the grid for years or decades. Pay-as-you-go solar home systems (SHS)—kits that consumers can frequently purchase on credit that include a small solar panel, battery, light bulbs and wires, phone charging equipment, and sometimes televisions and other appliances—have quickly become a viable, private sector-driven solution that empowers consumers to take control of their energy future.
Many low- and middle-income governments look to import duties and value-added taxes (VAT) to fund critical government services and the bulk of SHS equipment is produced in China. As sales of systems have grown, the question of how these systems should be treated under border taxation regimes has become a prominent issue.
To better understand the trade-offs at stake, actual sales data for 700,000 units of solar home systems was collected from Uganda and Kenya, countries with vibrant SHS markets and where the border tariff debate looms large. The data was analyzed to measure the price sensitivity of consumers of two different SHS product lines in order to better understand the impact of tariffs on system sales as well as broader ramifications for households, electrification goals, and government revenue.
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Jackson Ewing authored the blog post, “Stalemate in Poland Revealed Central Tension of Paris Agreement,” Feb. 12, published by
Climate Home News.
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Professional Opportunities
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Energy Access Project Student Opportunities
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The EAP invites proposals for student projects in Summer 2019 related to energy access in less-developed countries, with a focus on either modern technologies and fuels for cooking, or access to reliable, affordable, safe, and sustainable electricity.
Deadline: March 17.
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Internships at the Nicholas Institute
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From Our Partners at Duke Energy Initiative
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Across the energy sector, women make up less than 30% of the workforce, but that’s changing. What's it like to be a woman working in energy? What can both male and female executives do to
encourage sector diversity? And what skills make any young professional well prepared for
an energy career? All are welcome at the
Women in Energy
panel discussion featuring four industry innovators on March 22 from 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m. in Ahmadieh Family Auditorium (Gross 107). Students can also sign up for breakout lunch sessions from 1-2 p.m.
Learn more & RSVP:
http://bit.ly/wie2019
. Organized by the Duke University Energy Initiative and the EDGE Center at the Fuqua School of Business.
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