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President’s Column

Feb 10, 2021 | Energy, Environment

As the Institute celebrates its 40th anniversary, we’re working pro-actively to respond to the emerging challenges faced across the Hemisphere through our programmatic initiatives, research and public programs.

Here, the Institute recently published a 2021 Western Hemisphere Energy Landscape & Outlook co-authored by our team of Non-Resident Fellows. Given our commitment to expanded thought leadership on the issue of energy transition we’re actively working key public, private and civil society stakeholders across Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) to move towards more inclusive, sustainable, affordable and secure energy systems to improve the quality of life in communities across the region. In Mexico’s State of Baja California this is accomplished through our Energy Ambassadors program now in its third year and current research on energy inclusion and access.

Due to COVID-19, our 30th the annual La Jolla energy conference will be held virtually in May along with our 3rd annual Madrid conference in the Fall. That said, you can look forward to the same quality keynote speakers and break-out sessions from our traditional live conferences.  We’ve also actively partnered with Rice University’s Baker Institute on a webinar series on  renewable energy, rare earth minerals and hydrogen energy in the Americas.

As with last year, the Institute plans to continue offering its STEAM programs in a virtual format offering professional teachers training in project-based design and STEAM Labs for middle and high school students from across the Americas. This year, the Institute will offer its first bilingual, bicultural STEAM Lab for students from Southern California to Baja California.

The Institute has also recently launched its new Environment & Climate Change program with the following strategic priorities: sustainable finance, responsible tourism, circular economy, and coastal climate resiliency. Work is now also underway on promoting blue carbon focused nature-based solutions in the Californias.