Global warming, air pollution, and energy insecurity are three of the most significant problems facing the world today. This talk discusses the development of technical and economic roadmaps to solve these problems in the 50 United States and worldwide. The solution is to electrify buildings, transport, and industry and provide the electricity with 100% clean, renewable wind, water, and sunlight (WWS) and storage. Results indicate the grid can remain stable at low cost in all 50 states and each of 29 world regions encompassing 150 countries examined. Aside from mitigating global warming, these roadmaps have the potential to eliminate over seven million air pollution deaths annually, reduce international conflict over energy, stabilize energy prices, reduce catastrophic risk, and create jobs. The talk also discusses why we do not need "miracle" technologies such as carbon capture, direct air capture, blue hydrogen, small modular nuclear reactors, or bioenergy.

About the speaker

Mark Z. Jacobson is a Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Director of the Atmosphere/Energy Program at Stanford University. He has been a professor at Stanford since 1994. His career focuses on better understanding air pollution and global warming problems and developing clean, renewable energy solutions to them. He has published seven books, including his latest, "Still No Miracles Needed," and 190 journal articles.

In 2022, he was ranked as the #1 most impactful scientist in the world in Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences and #6 in Energy among those first publishing past 1985. In 2018, he received the Judi Friedman Lifetime Achievement Award "For a distinguished career dedicated to finding solutions to air pollution and climate problems." In 2023, he was named one of the top 100 globally "who have made an impact on the world this year" by Worth magazine. In 2025, he was named one of 10 "clean energy leaders to know and follow" worldwide by Climate Insider.

He has served on a committee to the U.S. Secretary of Energy, appeared in a TED talk and on the David Letterman Show, and co-founded The Solutions Project nonprofit. He served as an expert witness in the first U.S. climate trial to win and be upheld, Held v. Montana, and the world's first climate case to reach a settlement, Navahine v. Hawai'i. His work is the scientific basis of the U.S. Green New Deal and laws to go to 100% renewable energy worldwide.

Explore the journey of Sarah Cassidy, Terra.do alumni and currently a Clean Energy Product Owner supporting Con Edison’s Clean Heat and Energy Efficiency programs. 

With a background in sociology and urban studies, Sarah has successfully blended her passion for urban dynamics with her expertise in digital product management to make an impact in the climate space.

In this session, Sarah will share her career transition story & insights on building a climate-forward career. 

With over 25 years of experience in renewable energy, Lawrence Neuman has played a pivotal role in developing solar and wind projects globally. From evaluating potential sites to navigating complex financing and regulatory landscapes, he has previously led teams to successfully develop over 120MW of solar PV projects.

Join us for an insightful conversation on Lawrence’s transition from marine geophysics to commercial renewable energy development, the challenges and opportunities in scaling solar and wind projects, and the evolving global landscape of clean energy.

Whether you're interested in project development, international energy markets, or the future of renewables, this discussion promises to offer valuable lessons and sectoral insights.