Global climate change looms over us all, and drives society every so strongly towards creating a truly sustainable energy infrastructure, on which is carbon neutral and does not limit the growth rate in developed and developing nations. The last decade has seen rapid progress in the commercialization of renewable energy sources, such as wind and photovoltaics, with several countries and regions aiming for 20% penetration in the next 10-15 years. Similar progress in the commercialization of exciting technologies such as hybrid and plug-in hybrid electric vehicles holds the promise for dramatically reducing oil imports and carbon emissions. Additionally, energy efficient appliances and industrial processes are beginning to show how economic growth can be achieved while reducing energy consumption. However, the existing energy delivery infrastructure, designed over 50-60 years ago, is aging, inflexible, dumb and under-utilized, and will potentially limit society’s ability to achieve its long-term energy objectives.

There is a tight coupling between energy and the environment. In order to set the energy industry on a sustainable course, it is imperative to adopt a framework that facilitates developing a portfolio of multiple sources and options. This presentation offers a broad overview of the key trends in the supply and demand of energy, dimensions of climate change, impacts of various technology options and policy initiatives, and the large challenges in shaping effective solutions for the energy future.

With China experiencing double-digit energy growth, oil and natural gas prices reaching historic highs, and concern about global warming motivating even the average citizen, the future of energy use in the US and the world is at a critical juncture. In this talk Prof. Ruzic will present the facts on use and availability of energy resources and discuss how future technology and innovation could change the otherwise apparently bleak outlook. In particular, the use of nuclear energy and plug-in gasoline/electric hybrid cars will be highlighted.

Robert Rich is the faculty advisor for the Illinois Law Update and his research focused on health law and policy, federalism and the role of the state, environmental policy, and science policy. He is also appointed in the College of Medicine, the Political Science Department, and the Institute of Communications Research at UIUC.

Uriel Kitron is Co-Director for Zoonoses Research. His teaching interests at UIUC center around the eco-epidemiology of infectious diseases. Kitron teaches a seminar course titled Epidemiology and the Media, wherein he discussed public,state, international health agencies and their communication with the media.

Jan Nederveen Pieterse is a Professor of sociology at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign specializing in transnational sociology (from September 2001). His research interests include globalization, development studies, and cultural studies. He taught at the Institute of Social Studies in the Hague, in Ghana, and United States, was visiting professor in Japan and Indonesia and is faculty of the Graduate School of National College of Arts, Lahore. Co-editor of Review of International Political Economy and advisory editor of Futures, European Journal of Social Theory, Third Text, Ethnicities and Culture & Society. Fellow, World Academy of Art and Science.