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TotalEnergies has placed sustainable development in all its dimensions at the heart of its strategy, projects and operations, in order to contribute to the well-being of the populations.
TotalEnergies has structured its sustainable development approach for conducting its activities so as to contribute to the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), to which TotalEnergies committed its support in 2016.
TotalEnergies actively works on each of its sustainability pillars in order to make its development a vehicle of progress that benefits as many people as possible and to be a factor of positive change for the societies and regions where it is present.
TotalEnergies is committed to various international initiatives such as the fight against climate change, promotion of social dialogue, preservation of biodiversity, transparency in the conduct of business.
TotalEnergies abides by the principles of the United Nations Global Compact. TotalEnergies is committed to respecting internationally recognized human rights wherever it operates, especially the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Fundamental Conventions of the International Labor Organization (ILO), the U.N. Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises and the Voluntary Principles on Security and Human Rights (VPSHR).
The Company believes that transparency is an essential principle of action in building a trust-based relationship with its stakeholders and enables a path of continuous improvement.
Pending the adoption of an international, standardized non-financial reporting framework, TotalEnergies ensures it is accountable for its performance on the basis of the various commonly used ESG reporting frameworks. As such, TotalEnergies refers to the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) standards and those of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board (SASB), for which detailed tables of correspondence are available on its website. TotalEnergies’ reporting includes the World Economic Forum’s core indicators⁽¹⁾ (please refer to chapter 11). Furthermore, the Company follows the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) for its climate reporting. TotalEnergies provides additional information on its website in pages specifically dedicated to its sustainability development approach.
(1) Measuring Stakeholder Capitalism: Towards Common Metrics and Consistent Reporting of Sustainable Value Creation, white paper, September 2020.
TotalEnergies has been present since 2001 in the FTSE4Good index series (London Stock Exchange) and was reintegrated into the DJSI World and DJSI Europe indices in December 2022.
In 2022, TotalEnergies obtained a score of A- on the CDP questionnaire on climate change.
In 2022, TotalEnergies obtained Platinum status for its commercial entities listed on the EcoVadis platform for TotalEnergies Electricité et Gaz France and Greenflex, the Gold status for TotalEnergies Marketing & Service, TotalEnergies Gas & Power Limited and Saft Groupe and the Silver status for TotalEnergies Refining & Chemicals.
 

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March 29, 2024
This article has been reviewed according to Science X’s editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content’s credibility:
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by DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)
DGIST’s Physics and Chemistry Professor Park Jin-hee and her research team have developed a technology that allows easy detection of hazardous chemicals. Allowing one to detect harmful substances by analyzing color changes using a mobile phone camera, the technology is expected to be utilized for various purposes, such as the detection of environmental pollution and prevention of gas leakage.
“Volatile organic compounds” are harmful chemicals that are widely present in the environment. They enter the environment through factory gases, indoor air, and other sources and cause pollution and sometimes even illnesses. Therefore, it is vital to detect them quickly. Traditional detection methods are either expensive or can detect only a limited number of chemicals.
To solve this problem, Prof. Jin-hee Park and her team have developed a sensor that uses a material called “metal-organic framework” to induce color changes. The sensor has been created using six different solvents, which can distinguish between 14 volatile organic compounds and water. To enable the observation of color changes with the naked eye, the team has developed large-area films that can be easily produced at a low cost.
By analyzing color changes using a mobile phone, it is possible to detect, qualitatively and quantitatively, low concentrations of harmful compounds that are difficult to detect with the human nose. The sensors may be used for various purposes, such as environmental pollution detection and gas leakage prevention, as they perform well even in high-humidity environments.
“The sensors we have developed have great commercial potential because they are operable without power and implementable at low costs,” said Prof. Lee. “With these sensors, we look forward to securing source technologies to develop sensors for various purposes, such as environmental pollution detection, terrorism prevention, and safety accident prevention.”
The research is published in the journal Advanced Materials.
More information: Kangwoo Jin et al, Comprehensive Qualitative and Quantitative Colorimetric Sensing of Volatile Organic Compounds Using Monolayered Metal–Organic Framework Films, Advanced Materials (2023). DOI: 10.1002/adma.202309570

Journal information: Advanced Materials
Provided by DGIST (Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology)
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PUBLISHED Apr. 6 2022, 12:18 p.m. ET
If you strive to live a zero-waste, sustainable, or vegan lifestyle, there’s no need to ignore those values when it comes to buying sports gear. It’s true that a lot of athletic equipment is made from unsustainable materials, but there are a number of brands making animal-free and eco-friendly sports equipment, from balls to boxing gloves.
Keep reading for a look into just a few sustainable sporting brands changing the game!
Sporting goods company Eco Sports was founded in 2021 with a goal of making sustainable, vegan, and high-quality sporting equipment that is otherwise made from leather. Currently, the company produces basketballs, footballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, and baseball gloves (prices start at around $24.99), which are all composed of a biodegradable, recyclable, and vegan material called TPU.
Eco Sports believes that its TPU products are just as durable as leather-based professional balls and gloves, as well as far more durable than other, cheaper, leather-free equipment on the market. The company also packages its products plastic-free, and donates 10 percent of profits toward planting trees. According to Eco Sports, 35,000 cows’ hides are used to make NFL footballs every year — so opting for cruelty-free balls can make a big difference.
Sporting goods company Waboba has a line called the REWILD Eco-Friendly Series, which includes footballs, soccer balls and volleyballs, all made from natural jute and rubber. The collection also features a set of two paddles that are made with a blend of pinewood and basswood, which come with oak cork balls. The REWILD products range from $14.99 to $19.99.
Waboba also uses completely plastic-free shipping materials across its entire product line, which includes fun and unique products like Moon Balls, Wingman Discs, and Water Gloves.
Sanabul is a completely vegan company that specializes in vegan boxing and jiu-jitsu gloves and other accessories. Though boxing gloves are typically made from animal-based leather (a notoriously pollutive industry), Sanabul has perfected the recipe for professional-level vegan boxing gloves.
The company makes most gloves using Performance Engineered Synthetic Leather, but also offers a few styles made from two different kinds of sustainable, partially biodegradable plant-based leather: cactus leather and grape leather.
A post shared by Biodegradable Golf Balls (@biodegradablegolfballs)
When golf balls wind up anywhere other than a hole, they run the risk of becoming litter, as they are typically made from plastic surrounding a rubber core. Fortunately, a number of companies are making golf balls out of biodegradable materials like corn starch and wood. There’s even one company that has fish food in the center of its wooden golf balls, in case the ball winds up in a pond. Check out our guide to biodegradable golf balls here.
If you are struggling to find eco-friendly or vegan versions of the sports equipment you need, consider shopping for the gear secondhand. There are a number of stores and websites that sell used sports gear, such as Play It Again Sports or SidelineSwap. This is an eco-friendly option, it allows you to avoid directly purchasing unsustainable or animal-based gear, and it can save you money.
Renting sports equipment is another fantastic option, especially for items you just need for one trip, or for items that a child will quickly outgrow. Many local sports stores offer rental programs, so make sure to check with yours. We’re also fans of REI’s gear rental program, which offers gear rentals for a number of outdoor sports, such as skiing and rock climbing, at many stores across the country.
Green Matters’ new book, Green Living, is the perfect guide to living an eco-friendly lifestyle for people at every stage of the process. You can order Green Living here.
Biodegradable Golf Balls for a Low-Impact Hole-In-One
The Ultimate Guide to Recycling and Reselling Sports Equipment
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This example has a greater focus on comfort but is still powered by a race-derived 2.0-liter four-cylinder
Cyan Racing has just unveiled the latest Volvo P1800 Cyan, its wild $700,000 recreation of the classic Swedish sports car and this one is a little bit special. This P1800 is finished in a beautiful shade of metallic green and is a new GT version of the car that’s slightly more comfortable and road-focused than the original unveiled a few years ago.
The company says that one of the biggest changes comes with the suspension. While the GT model still has fully-adjustable suspension, it has been tuned for “winding country roads” and long distance driving. In addition, Cyan Racing has fettled with the 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine to improve driveability.
The green car is one of the first GT versions of the P1800 and is heading to a client in the U.S. Contrasting the metallic green paint is a chrome front grille and chrome accents on the front bumper and around the headlights. The chrome continues onto the wing mirrors, door handles, window surrounds, and the rear fascia. Beautifully complimenting the green paint are a set of stunning gold-painted wheels sitting over brake calipers with a bronze finish.
Watch: Jay Leno Is Bound To Love The Volvo P1800 Cyan, Right?
Found inside the cabin is sand-colored leather and fabrics, a three-spoke Momo Prototipo steering wheel, and a titanium roll cage wrapped in plush leather.
“The new version highlights the versatility and almost endless tailoring options of the Volvo P1800 Cyan, adding another dimension to our interpretation of the original model,” Cyan chief executive Christian Dahl said. “The joint journey of tailoring a car from start to finish with a client is a thoroughly rewarding process for the entire team, just as it is to see two further cars being shipped to the US.”
The 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder of the P1800 Cyan is based on the unit found in the Volvo S60 TC1 race car and in flagship guise, pumps out 413 hp and 335 lb-ft (455 Nm). Cyan allows buyers to choose how much power they want, starting from 350 hp. All examples are rear-wheel drive and use a dog-leg five-speed manual transmission.
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The agency says the move will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The Environmental Protection Agency announced its new emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles on Friday, which the agency claims will avoid 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions.
The move comes in an election year when the Biden-Harris campaign is working to demonstrate achievements in their climate agenda.
The new standards impact vehicles such as freight trucks and buses manufactured for model years 2027-2032. This follows last week's announcement of updated standards for light and medium-duty vehicles.

"In finalizing these emissions standards for heavy-duty vehicles like trucks and buses, EPA is significantly cutting pollution from the hardest working vehicles on the road," EPA Administrator Michael Regan said in a news release. "Building on our recently finalized rule for light- and medium-duty vehicles, EPA's strong and durable vehicle standards respond to the urgency of the climate crisis by making deep cuts in emissions from the transportation sector."
The new performance-based standards reduce the allowed emissions across manufacturer fleets, but are technology-neutral, according to the EPA. This means manufacturers can utilize different combinations of emissions control technologies in order to meet the emissions requirements, including advanced internal combustion engines, hybrids, battery electric vehicles and others.
Over the period covered by the new standards, model years 2027-2032, the required emissions reductions will gradually increase each year.
The administration noted in its announcement of the new rules that heavy-duty vehicles are "vital to the United States economy," but said that they do create about 25% of greenhouse gas emissions from the transportation sector.
"The 1 billion tons of greenhouse gas emissions avoided by these standards is equivalent to the emissions from more than 13 million tanker trucks' worth of gasoline," the EPA said in the release. "With this action, the Biden-Harris Administration is continuing to deliver on the most ambitious climate agenda in history while advancing a historic commitment to environmental justice."
American Lung Association President and CEO Harold Wimmer celebrated the announcement in a statement on Friday.
"Transportation is the largest source of pollution driving climate change. These strong standards that will help drive toward a zero-emission future for trucks, buses and other heavy-duty vehicles are a critical part of the solution The American Lung Association celebrates this new rule, which will improve the health of people across the U.S.," Wimmer wrote.
The administration estimates the new standards will also provide $13 billion in net societal benefits via savings related to public health, the climate and for truck owners and operators.
"EPA's clean truck standards will cut one billion metric tons of climate pollution by 2055. They'll also reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxides by 53,000 tons in 2055," the Environmental Defense Fund noted. "And they'll save our country money — $3.5 billion in average annual savings for fleets, $300 million in average annual health benefits and $13 billion in total annual societal benefits."

The Heavy-Duty Leadership Group, a self-described "informal alliance of the nation's leading heavy-duty manufacturers and supply companies," responded to the new standards Friday, emphasizing their own commitment to reducing emissions from their products. The companies also credited the EPA's prior rules for "accelerating the industry's adoption of advanced technologies while minimizing market disruption."
Cynthia Williams, Ford Motor Company's global director of sustainability, homologation and compliance, said the EPA's new rule is "challenging," but that "Ford is working aggressively to meet the moment."
"Our industry is making important progress to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in both light- and heavy-duty vehicles," Williams said in a statement. "We also need policymakers to pair emission standards with incentives and public investment so that we can continue to deliver on the next generation of vehicles and for our nation to lead the future of this industry."
But some in the trucking world are expressing more opposition to the announcement.
The American Trucking Association released a statement Friday saying the standards set "unachievable targets" that will create consequences across the U.S. supply chain and economy.
"ATA opposes this rule in its current form because the post-2030 targets remain entirely unachievable given the current state of zero-emission technology, the lack of charging infrastructure and restrictions on the power grid," ATA President and CEO Chris Spear said. "Given the wide range of operations required of our industry to keep the economy running, a successful emission regulation must be technology neutral and cannot be one-size-fits-all. Any regulation that fails to account for the operational realities of trucking will set the industry and America's supply chain up for failure."
The ATA objects to restrictions in the later years covered by this new set of standards, saying, "forced zero-emission vehicle penetration rates in the later years will drive only battery-electric and hydrogen investment, limiting fleets' choices with early-stage technology that is still unproven."
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Watch CBS News
By Li Cohen
March 27, 2024 / 11:43 AM EDT / CBS News
Your favorite wines may soon cease to exist. Some of the world’s traditional wine regions, from Europe to Southern California, are at risk of almost completely disappearing within decades, researchers found, as the conditions necessary to produce their grapes grow more unfruitful due to climate change. 
As humans continue to burn fossil fuels, the planet is getting warmer. And those increasing temperatures — which impact everything from the water cycle to locations where people can safely live — are fueling more extreme weather. In a new literature review published in Nature Reviews Earth & Environment on Tuesday, scientists found that climate change’s impact in the coastal and lowland regions of Spain, Italy, Greece and Southern California — all home to some of the world’s most traditional wine producers — is significant. 
By the end of the century — just 76 years — they found roughly 90% of these specific regions “could be at risk of disappearing.” Specifically, they found that excessive drought and more frequent heat waves fueled by climate change are responsible for the threat. An area’s temperature, precipitation, humidity, radiation and carbon dioxide levels are also vital components of wine production, and are all altered by climate change. 
Overall, the study says, “We estimate a substantial risk of unsuitability (ranging from moderate to high) for 49-70% of existing wine regions, contingent on the degree of global warming.”
Southern California, for example, has a moderate risk of being unsuitable for producing wine with 2 degrees Celsius of global warming, compared to pre-industrial levels. if average temperatures rise between 2 and 4 degrees, however, the region faces a “high risk of unsuitability.” This could pose a major problem for the U.S. West Coast, which produces most of the wine in North America and 10% of the global supply. 
“Overall, the net suitable ara for wine production in California could decline by up to 50% by the end of the 21st century,” researchers said. “Similar risks exist for Mexico, the southwestern United States and those regions of the east coast south of New Jersey.” 
That shift is seen across much of southern Europe as well. 
But all hope isn’t lost for wine itself. The rising temperatures may make other regions more suitable for growing the grapes, such as Washington State, Oregon, Tasmania and Northern France. That suitability, however, will “strongly” depend on how much temperatures rise, the researchers say, and there may be risks to environmental preservation. And even though it could bring a new form of economic growth to those areas, people will still be facing extreme weather and its costly impacts. 
A changing climate also brings the risk of areas experiencing new pathogens and insects that can impact agriculture and overall environmental and human health. Drier conditions would make some grapevine issues, like downy mildew, less likely, but when it does happen, the outbreak would likely occur earlier and spread faster, the study found.
As with all elements of climate change, adaptation is “mandatory,” researchers said. Wine producers will need to consider grape varieties that are better suited for their changing regions and harvest times. It’s not just essential for global supply, but for overall wine quality. 
For example, climate factors affect the levels of pH, alcohol content and acidity, researchers found. While the alcohol and pH levels are increasing in wines, the acidity levels are decreasing, which makes the microbiology within the beverage more unstable. That can lead to “increased risk of microbiological spoilage,” researchers said, and lead to an “overripe and/or cooked fruit aroma.” 
Scientists have warned that current global efforts to slow global warming are not enough. Last year was the warmest on record, and the beginning of 2024 has already seen record-breaking heat as well as weather extremes ranging from unusually large blizzards to out-of-season warmth. 
Already, global temperatures are 1.35 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average overall. And the world just recently surpassed for the first time 12 consecutive months where the global average was 2 degrees Celsius above the pre-industrial average — a fact that doesn’t mean we’ve permanently crossed the critical 2-degree Celsius threshold that experts warn could have disastrous implications, but means we are well on the way there. 
“One thing is certain,” researchers say in the end of their analysis, “climate change will drive major changes in global wine production in the near future. Having the flexibility to adapt to these changes will be essential.” 
Li Cohen is a social media producer and trending content writer for CBS News.
First published on March 27, 2024 / 11:43 AM EDT
© 2024 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Copyright ©2024 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved.

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Natural resources-environmental sustainability-socio-economic drivers nexus: Insights from panel quantile regression …  ScienceDirect.com
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Verdigris Ensemble has been using its music to raise awareness about environmental justice and for the final concert of its seventh season, the Dallas-based choral ensemble is turning its focus on home. Mis-Lead is a 60-minute multi-media musical work about the residents of West Dallas who have suffered chronic diseases and death due to abnormally high levels of lead from local industry for several decades. Verdigris Ensemble will present Mis-Lead at Kalita Humphreys Theater in Dallas April 5-7.
The development of the piece began in 2020 when Sam Brukhman, Verdigris Ensemble’s artistic director, met Keri Mitchell, the executive director of Dallas Free Press. While she was working on a story about the Verdigris Ensemble, Brukhman discovered her passion for Dallas history and proposed this project.
“Verdigris’ mission is to transform the world through immersive storytelling and with West Dallas, we are doing just that. Every city has a mixed history that provides context into its character. The good and bad about a city builds characteristic elements amongst its residents. I would argue that West Dallas is one of the most representative communities of the city, particularly in terms of resilience, courage, bravery, and never backing down. In my opinion, on a human level, we must tell these stories to everyone because people not only need to know the history of this area but also their people. Hopefully, it will spark people into action,” Brukhman said.
Brukhman commissioned Kirsten Soriano to compose the music.
“I am not from the Dallas area originally; I am from Minnesota where the first house I remember living in was a log home my father built himself in a pristine forest. As a result, I developed a deep connection to nature from an early age. I have now lived in the DFW area for the past eleven years and while here, learning that children in West Dallas were growing up playing in yards contaminated by lead and breathing unsafe air deeply saddened me. It impacted me to the extent that I wanted to be a part of this project,” Soriano said.
“Not being originally from the region, I felt that this was not my story to tell. I wanted to hear this story from West Dallas residents themselves, so I contacted a documentary film director, Michael Flanagan, with whom I have collaborated before on the feature film, Breaking the Code, to see if he would film interviews with residents of West Dallas who had been impacted by heavy industry, in some cases, for generations. In the Mis-Lead production, the audience will have the opportunity to hear from inspirational heroes such as Luis Sepulveda, who has dedicated his life to the West Dallas community through activism, advocacy, and community outreach, and Janie Cisneros, who is the leader of the West Dallas community group Singleton United/Unidos. The narrative for the production is largely chronological and the narrative and texts that the choir sings come from a wide range of sources including lyrics that were inspired by Luis Sepulveda’s testimony in Washington D.C., articles, dissertations, air sensor readings, interviews with people in the film, and poetry that I found with similar themes and concepts that help provide context and expression to the narrative.”

Flanagan was intrigued about the concept of Mis-Lead.
“The story of environmental justice in Dallas is powerful and resonates more broadly as an issue that people around the world can relate to. The proactive examples of activists like Luis Sepulveda serve as an inspiration and reminder that perseverance does in fact yield results even when you are up against daunting odds. Verdigris Ensemble is tackling these issues in a uniquely creative way that incorporates a variety of technologies while involving the local community,” Flanagan said.
Flanagan’s process of creating the film aspect of Mis-Lead started much like his previous projects but resulted in being part of a unique team effort.
“The process consists of immersing myself in a subject through research and beginning to make connections with individuals in the community. The Dallas Free Press has done a lot of great work writing about the history of environmental issues in Dallas and these writings were a particularly valuable resource. The research component of working on this film is very similar to the work that went into Breaking the Code. The most significant difference is that I am collaborating with Kirsten on the narrative and guided by the fact that the film is only one part of a live multi-media performance,” Flanagan said. 
Musically, Soriano focused on the community’s determination.
“The conceptual themes for Mis-Lead are about enduring hardships, facing seemingly insurmountable challenges, resilience, advocacy, and ultimately coming together as a community to solve problems. There are musical motives and themes associated with these ideas that are presented and return later in the production but are transformed and ultimately transcend by the end of the show,” Soriano said.
The spirit of the West Dallas community inspires Brukhman, Flanagan and Soriano.
“West Dallas has had one of the most toxic environments in the United States which has largely not been publicized. It took many decades to even acknowledge that there was a problem in that area. The citizens in that area have displayed an inordinate amount of perseverance and resilience amidst literally having poisonous lead in their bodies. Additionally, families in that area have to check air quality every day to make sure whether they need to wear masks or not. This is eerily similar to our storytelling of Dust Bowl,” Brukhman said.
“I was struck by the fact that West Dallas residents are dealing with a history that spans more than a century in their struggle for environmental justice. The fact that blatantly racist decisions regarding zoning and city planning made by individuals decades ago continue to affect present-day communities in clearly tangible ways is especially concerning. It’s one thing to read about these issues, but they really struck a chord when I visited the Singleton neighborhood and realized just how close in proximity it is to the GAF shingle manufacturing plant,” Flanagan said.
“I feel incredibly honored to have had the opportunity to meet and collaborate with West Dallas residents on this production and found so much passion, dedication, commitment, and good-will with the people we collaborated with on this project,” Soriano said.
Through music, people can connect to a darker chapter of Dallas’s history and start a conversation.
“Music, by design, is a medium that allows for a meditative and deep space, much deeper than just speaking about an issue. The inherent spirituality of the poetry we are using, both by Octavio Paz and Maya Angelou, lend themselves to be interpreted with deeper meaning when combined with music. Music can both serve as relief but also as a reflection space, and using these two major emotional pillars, it allows the story to hit deeper into the heart. Our goal is not political, it is human. No one can argue with the human experience because it transcends the political left and right, the democrat and republican,” Brukhman said. 
Learn more: Verdigris Ensemble

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India is terribly unprepared for the next climate disaster  Deccan Herald
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Apr 1, 2024, 7:58 AM
Vanderbilt University will harness its global expertise in scientific discovery, technological innovation, public policy, law and education to launch the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy and Climate (VSEC).
The multimillion-dollar investment follows a recommendation by an interdisciplinary working group to address the crucial societal challenge of ensuring a sustainable world. It is the latest center to be launched through Discovery Vanderbilt, an initiative of the Office of the Provost and one of three pathways in the university’s Dare to Grow campaign to support and extend the resources underpinning Vanderbilt’s most innovative research and education.
Previously announced centers include the Vanderbilt Center for Addiction Research, the Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator, and the Vanderbilt Center for Research on Inequality and Health.
“One of the defining hallmarks of Vanderbilt is our spirit of ‘radical collaboration’ where researchers across a wide range of disciplines join together with local and global partners to tackle some the most urgent issues of our time,” Provost C. Cybele Raver. “VSEC exemplifies this spirit, where this group of brilliant faculty members are taking on and solving complex and pressing challenges for climate, energy, and sustainability. It makes me so proud to see Vanderbilt so powerfully positioned to make tremendous contributions in these areas.”
Raver added that the university is embarking on a global search for an accomplished researcher and administrative leader to direct the center.
VSEC’s primary mission will focus on advancing multidisciplinary research that includes partnerships with communities, government, industry, national laboratories and other research universities. The center will also engage Vanderbilt’s world-class engineering, science, law, policy and education expertise to investigate areas such as:
“Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering is the ideal setting for this forward-thinking cross-disciplinary center,” said Hiba Baroud, who co-led the strategic planning committee that recommended the creation of VSEC and who is serving as its interim director, said the center is unique because it tackles complex challenges that require advances in basic science as well as broad interdisciplinary applied research.
“We are taking a holistic approach to achieve sustainable development by examining how different aspects of climate change mitigation and adaptation affect each other,” said Baroud, who is the A. James and Alice B. Clark Foundation Faculty Fellow and Associate Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering. “We envision the center doing this not just in terms of making advances in different focus areas, but by pairing scientific discoveries and transformative technologies with implementation and policy adoption.”
Jonathan Gilligan, who was vice chair of the strategic planning committee and is director of the Vanderbilt Climate and Society Grand Challenge Initiative, said it is imperative for VSEC to view sustainability solutions through a wide lens, engaging all the schools and disciplines of the university on equal footing, as well as connecting with community, industry, and government partners.
“VSEC’s success will be measured by how deeply it engages the expertise of the entire university, including engineering, natural and social sciences, humanities, and professional disciplines such as law, management, and healthcare,” said Gilligan, professor of Earth and Environmental Sciences whose work explores the intersection of the natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, and public policy. “Its success will not be measured solely by the number of academic papers published or the amount of grant money it attracts, but on its ability to draw upon Vanderbilt’s distinctive strengths in trans-institutional and trans-disciplinary collaboration in order to advance the frontiers of transdisciplinary research on sustainability, to provide students with a world-class holistic education on climate change and environmental sustainability, and to apply the results of its research to delivering tangible benefits to society.”
Already, the center’s strategic planning committee has identified opportunities to perform rigorous testing of novel concepts and technologies by leveraging existing testbeds at Vanderbilt and developing new ones that address sustainable transportation, materials science, microgrid energy development and biomanufacturing.
The university seeks to hire a permanent director. Interested candidates should contact hiba.baroud@vanderbilt.edu.
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