Cambridge Festival 2022 - Ethics of Energy

Speakers:
Dr Shaun Fitzgerald, Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge
Dr Mette High, Director of the Centre for Energy Ethics, St Andrews University
Professor Jorge E. Viñuales, 1. Chair of the Compliance Committee, United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2. University of Cambridge

Register at: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ethics-of-energy-a-panel-discussion-online-tickets-274274040037

With the focus on cutting emissions rapidly and the acceleration to NetZero, what are the ethical implication for what is billed as the next global revolution? There are ethical and practical issues. What are the financial costs and how would this compare with inaction? What are the ethics of not making investments and changes now? What systems can help the transition?

The session will explore some of the differences in timescales of impact and who might pick up the environmental tab. Join us for conversations which will shape our future.

The event is organised by Energy IRC and co-badged with Cambridge Zero.

Part of the Cambridge Zero Series, Cambridge Festival.

Dr Shaun Fitzgerald is Director of the Centre for Climate Repair at Cambridge. He is also a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering, who works at the interface of academic research, business, government policy and public engagement. He has worked extensively in the commercialisation of new intellectual property arising from university research, and supported the UK government in the re-writing of policy documents for building standards. Prior to joining the Centre for Climate Change Shaun was Director of the Royal Institution, overseeing the programme for engaging the public with science and engineering.

Dr Mette High is Director of the Centre for Energy Ethics at St Andrews, which is a privately funded and fast-growing research centre that brings together scholars across all disciplines and all levels of seniority. Concerned with issues of energy and climate change, the Centre offers a creative and dynamic research environment in which to push debates further and asks new questions in order to create a better energy future for us all.

Mette's research background is in social anthropology. Her field research has focused on the United States, specifically the state of Colorado, where fieldwork has taken her out on the rigs in Weld County, and to the executive headquarters in Denver. 

Professor Jorge E. Viñuales is the founder and former Director of the Cambridge Centre for Environment, Energy and Natural Resource Governance (C-EENRG). He is also a Member (Associé) of the Institut de Droit International, the Chairman of the Compliance Committee of the UN-ECE/WHO-Europe Protocol on Water and Health, the co-General Editor of the ICSID Reports (CUP), the General-Editor of the Cambridge Studies on Environment, Energy and Natural Resources Governance (CUP), a member of the Panel of Arbitrators of the Shanghai International Arbitration Centre and the Director-General of the Latin American Society of International Law. 

Prior to joining Cambridge, he was the Pictet Chair of International Environmental Law at the Graduate Institute, Geneva, where he keeps a limited affiliation as Adjunct Professor of Public International Law. At Cambridge, he has served as head of research, director of the PhD programme, director of three MPhil programmes, and centre director.