There aren't many things in life more enriching than being surrounded by like-minded folks who are all dedicating their lives to making the world a better place. That's why New York Climate Week is so great each year. If you've ever wanted to get caught up on the latest recycling practices, how data is being used to figure out where different walking bridges can improve the environment and the lives of people, or how we are going to meet our energy needs globally, then this is the place for you.
This year NEI was proud to be a lounge sponsor of Heatmap House for a day of thoughtful conversation with experts across the climate realm. There were folks like news anchor Chris Hayes, New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, Al Gore, and so many more brilliant people. They covered things like energy policy, climate tech, reindustrialization, and more.
A prominent topic this year, whether at Heatmap House or elsewhere, was AI and data centers. Everyone wants to know if we can meet the surging demand for energy while also steering away from fossil fuels. All of this is occurring with the backdrop that the costs of oil and gas are skyrocketing globally, making the cost of energy top of mind for everyone.
One way we can combat climate change, bring down energy prices, and meet our energy needs is by doing what Governor Sherrill did: she ended the state's 50-year moratorium on nuclear. As she discussed at Heatmap House, nuclear checks a lot of boxes. We need more leaders in government willing to make these bold moves.
Elsewhere at Climate Week were events like the Nuclear Symposium where folks discussed the importance of communication, how local decision makers should work with their communities' members, and how to be clear about community benefits of nuclear.
A fascinating part of the conversation around nuclear this weekend wasn't actually about how clean it is. Folks know it's clean, and more and more people are talking about that. The conversation was largely around affordability and the massive amounts of energy that a single nuclear plant can produce. With energy prices rising and demand expected to rise greatly, folks are worried about their wallets. A stretched energy grid isn't just going to impact the cost of heating in the winter, it would mean increased costs at hospitals, at grocery stores, at the pump, and everywhere else.
We can't rely on things like oil or gas to get us out of this dilemma. Using fossil fuels will only exacerbate the problem that we find ourselves in. The more we use fossil fuels, the more carbon we put into the air and the more catastrophic climate change will get. This will mean worse storms, worse draughts, worse heat waves. For example: The heat this past summer caused an energy crisis in Europe. It's a vicious cycle. The more emissions, the worse our energy crisis gets.
To get out of this jam, nuclear can work in tandem with other clean energy sources like wind and solar. If we can take bold action to achieve a clean energy future, all aspects of life will improve. We might not have a perfect plan to get there yet, but the brilliant folks meeting and collaborating at Climate Week are working on it.
