The Challenges in Getting to Net-Zero Global Greenhouse Emissions

The Institute for Policy Research (IPR) is an interdisciplinary public policy research institute founded in 1968 at Northwestern University. Our mission is to stimulate and support excellent social science research on significant public policy issues and to disseminate the findings widely—to students, scholars, policymakers, and the public.

Institute for Policy Research at Northwestern University

Join Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu for a lecture at Northwestern.

Ryan Family Auditorium

Throughout human history, multiple industrial and agricultural revolutions have profoundly transformed the world. The unintended consequence of these revolutions is that greenhouse gas emissions are changing the Earth’s climate. Most of our energy and many of the materials we use are sourced from fossil fuels. The challenges of how to provide clean energy, water, air, and food in a world of over 8 billion people—likely to grow to 11 billion by 2100—are formidable.Join us for an enlightening lecture by Nobel laureate and former U.S. Secretary of Energy <a href="https://biox.stanford.edu/people/steve-chu" title="https://biox.stanford.edu/people/steve-chu" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Steven Chu</a> on the challenging path to net-zero emissions. Hosted by the Institute for Policy Research and Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy, this in-person event will happen on Wednesday, April 2, 2025 at 3:30 p.m. CT at Northwestern University.After a brief summary of our current trajectory, Chu will discuss the current progress, opportunities, and challenges we must face to achieve net-zero greenhouse emissions, including food production and carbon (CO₂) capture.

This event is jointly sponsored by Northwestern’s <a href="https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/" title="https://www.ipr.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Institute for Policy Research</a> and the <a href="https://trienens-institute.northwestern.edu/" title="https://trienens-institute.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Paula M. Trienens Institute for Sustainability and Energy</a>, with support from the <a href="https://physics.northwestern.edu/" title="https://physics.northwestern.edu/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Department of Physics and Astronomy</a>.

Steven Chu is the William R. Kenan, Jr. Professor of Physics, Professor of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, and Professor of Energy Science and Engineering at Stanford University; Nobel Laureate; and Former U.S. Secretary of Energy.

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The Challenges in Getting to Net-Zero Global Greenhouse Emissions

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The Challenges in Getting to Net-Zero Global Greenhouse Emissions

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