The COVID-19 recession has profoundly impacted the energy sector. The oil industry faces evaporating demand, while renewables, like solar, project significant job losses. Federal relief packages have excluded clean energy, raising critical questions about the future of both hydrocarbons and renewables.

Join experts Jason Bordoff (Columbia University), Amy Harder (Axios), Scott Jacobs (Generate Capital), and Julia Pyper (Political Climate podcast) for a conversation on these pressing energy impacts and future implications.

Learn more at Climate One. Support our work: Donate Now or text DONATE to 415-329-4231. Watch & Listen: Commonwealth Club.

Join The Commonwealth Club and UC Berkeley’s Townsend Center for "Climate Change and Sacred Groves," part of a series on catastrophe and the present. Scholar Sugata Ray and artist Ranu Mukherjee will discuss the natural world's relationship with the sacred in India, especially in the Anthropocene.

Ray, author of *Climate Change and the Art of Devotion*, examines ecologically grounded theology. Mukherjee's art focuses on ecology and culture, often featuring the banyan tree. Their conversation will prompt reflection on art's role in contemporary climate, health, and sacred concerns.

For more: Subscribe, view events, become a member, or watch & listen. Connect on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Our Coronavirus Live Series continues with a live interview featuring Ray, Senior Economist at the World Bank. The discussion will explore the impact of the coronavirus on commodity prices and how developing countries are particularly vulnerable to this volatility.

The interview will cover a wide range of sectors, including agriculture, food, oil, and industrial commodities such as metals.

Composer Platon Buravickis explores communication through electrical signals in his piece, "Entrance to the Universe." Created for piano, modular synthesizer, and computer electronics, the work examines how signals and waves transmit meaning between diverse entities—human, natural, or electronic—meeting to oscillate, modulate, and form unique characteristics.

A contemporary classical composer, pianist, and improviser, Buravickis studied under Pēteris Vasks and Selga Mence. His diverse output spans traditional symphonic and chamber music, alongside electro-acoustic works utilizing musique concrète and virtual instruments. Notable pieces include "Injector" for the Berlin Philharmonic Sharoun Ensemble and "Aesthetics of Disassembly," which he presented at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Biologist Indriķis Krams, deeply connected to the natural world, highlights our detachment from it and the critical importance of biodiversity. He argues that human influence has long impacted nature, and now it's time for people to develop compassion and change their behavior to prevent further destruction.

A professor at the Universities of Tartu, Daugavpils, and Latvia, Krams specializes in evolutionary and behavioral ecology, biological conservation, and the physiology of various species. A Fulbright recipient, he has conducted research at Harvard and the University of Tennessee, authoring over 120 scientific articles. This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Arnis Sauka, a professor and director at the Stockholm School of Economics in Riga, is a leading expert on the shadow economy. His extensive research, involving methodology development and impact measurement, reveals its profound complexity. Sauka's work highlights the nuanced nature of the shadow economy, challenging negative perceptions by showing it can even have beneficial aspects.

Sauka's applied research includes collaborations with organizations like the OECD and European Commission, with findings published in leading journals and books. He co-authors the annual Shadow Economy Index for the Baltic Countries and authors the FICIL Sentiment Index. He has also held management and consultancy roles and is a frequent media commentator.

This talk was delivered at a TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Despite increased female political involvement, a gender gap in ambition persists. Achieving safe social and political environments requires women's equal voice in government. Muriel Collins, a University of Mississippi law student, is dedicated to this cause.

A summa cum laude Political Science graduate from Mississippi College, Muriel earned numerous honors, including the Outstanding Student in Pre-Law Award. She interned for Congressman Steven Palazzo and worked on a state Attorney General campaign. After law school, Muriel plans to lobby in Washington, D.C., aiming to encourage and propel more women into American politics.

This talk was given at a TEDx event. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Our reliance on unsustainable animal proteins strains the Earth. Insect protein offers a vital, sustainable alternative, rich in essential amino acids and fiber, and free of toxins. Though not a common culinary choice, embracing insect-based diets is crucial for planetary health.

Dr. Ilga Gedrovica, an award-winning food quality expert and associate professor, leads research into this future. She explores how various insects and larvae can meet dietary needs, analyzing global market trends to identify Latvia's potential contributions. Her work challenges traditional food perceptions for a more sustainable future. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

While voting and protesting are crucial, relying solely on governments for environmental solutions is insufficient. Though profit-seeking often causes environmental problems, companies developing new technologies also play a vital and positive role.

This talk was delivered by Soren Shapiro, a senior at Brooklyn Prospect Charter School and a leader of its Environmental Club. A native New Yorker, she is passionate about environmental justice and climate action, with plans to study linguistics and anthropology.

Recorded live on May 1st, 2020, in Brooklyn, NY, this was an independently organized TEDx event. Learn more at ted.com/tedx.

Visit TED.com for a vast library of talks, transcripts, and personalized recommendations. Public policy expert Heather C. McGhee explains how racism harms our economy and fuels bad policymaking, emphasizing, "Our fates are linked." She offers a crucial rethink for creating a more prosperous nation for all.

The TED Talks channel features leading thinkers and doers presenting concise talks (18 minutes or less) on Technology, Entertainment, Design, science, business, and global issues. Feel free to link, embed, and share these ideas. For commercial use, submit a Media Request via media-requests.TED.com.

Fear and anxiety, though unpleasant, are vital evolutionary emotions. Our brains developed ancient threat responses, preparing us for danger. What is the science behind this inherent reaction, and what are its consequences?

Explore this topic further by watching 'How Fear and Anxiety Drove Human Evolution | Nat Geo Explores'. For more world-class science, exploration, and adventure content, subscribe to National Geographic.

National Geographic brings you closer to stories that matter and past the edge of what's possible.

Handwashing effectively combats coronavirus through a two-pronged attack. The virus possesses a weak outer membrane, which proper handwashing technique, especially with soap, breaks apart. Soap's unique hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties allow it to grab onto the virus and then be rinsed away by water, removing the virus from your hands. Washing for at least 20 seconds is crucial for this process.

Dr. Kate Biberdorf, a scientist and professor at the University of Texas, explains this mechanism. Known for her engaging approach to science, Dr. Biberdorf is also the author of *Kate the Chemist: The Big Book of Experiments*, available here.

charity: water is a nonprofit dedicated to bringing clean, safe drinking water to everyone. 100% of public donations directly fund projects, sustained by expert local mechanics like Fred and his team in Uganda, ensuring lasting access to water for years to come.

Join [The Spring](https://charitywater.org/spring) to provide clean water monthly. Watch our story [here](http://cwtr.org/2btdilD) or learn more about our mission at [charitywater.org](https://charitywater.org).

Connect with us: [Instagram](https://instagram.com/charitywater), [Facebook](https://facebook.com/charitywater/), [Twitter](https://twitter.com/charitywater/).

The Garrison Institute presented a live webinar with Jessica Morey, exploring earth-based contemplative practices.

The interactive session guided participants to connect with their belonging, love, and grief for our world. It encouraged reflection on pandemic lessons for the global climate crisis, fostering inner resiliency and compassion to advocate for a livable planet.

Jessica, a lead teacher and co-founder of Inward Bound Mindfulness Education, brings extensive experience in meditation and clean energy policy. Her work integrates contemplative practice with environmental advocacy.

Tink Tinker (Osage Nation) is the Clifford Baldridge Professor of American Indian Cultures and Religious Traditions at Iliff School of Theology in Denver, Colorado. He teaches courses on American Indian cultures, history, religious traditions, and justice studies.

A frequent speaker nationally and internationally, Tinker has authored and co-authored numerous publications. Key works include “American Indian Liberation: A Theology of Sovereignty” (2008) and “Missionary Conquest: The Gospel and Native American Genocide” (1993).

This lecture is made possible by the support of Gerald Facciani ‘13 M.A.R., the Native American Cultural Center, and several university departments and centers.

In Uganda, local partners empower community leaders like Gladys Wamboka to educate on vital sanitation and hygiene practices. You can support these efforts and bring clean, safe water to communities every month by joining The Spring. Learn more: cwtr.org/3aLCS0M.

charity: water is a nonprofit dedicated to providing clean drinking water globally, with 100% of public donations funding projects. Discover our story and mission: charitywater.org. Connect with us on social media: Instagram, Facebook, Twitter.

Drawing from Eastern wisdom and Western science, Peter Russell, with degrees in theoretical physics, experimental psychology, and computer science from Cambridge, applies a sharp, critical mind to self-awakening. He asserts that humanity's next great frontier is inner space – the development of the human mind – addressing profound questions about non-duality, consciousness, and reality.

Russell has authored ten books, including *The Global Brain Awakens* and *From Science to God: A Physicist’s Journey into the Mystery of Consciousness*, synthesizing scientific rationale with intuitive wisdom.

Source: Science and Nonduality

Prime Minister Sanna Marin of Finland visited Columbia for a World Leaders Forum event, offering students and faculty an 'extraordinary experience' with a leading sustainability figure. The event was hosted by Alex Halliday, director of Columbia’s Earth Institute, and moderated by Karenna Gore, director of the Center for Earth Ethics.

Columbia has long tackled climate change through cutting-edge research and grassroots student movements. A new series, 'Columbia on Climate,' now highlights the university’s central focus on climate and sustainability within its community.

"A Plastic Ocean" is an adventure documentary, filmed over four years across more than 20 locations.

Explorers Craig Leeson and Tanya Streeter, with international scientists, reveal the causes and consequences of plastic pollution and propose solutions.

The circular economy offers a compelling business case for product redesign and new operating models. In a live conversation, members of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation team discussed its underlying values and relevant topics.

They explored how the circular economy differs from sustainability or "recycling on steroids," debating whether efficiency or effectiveness matters more, and if a top-down or bottom-up approach is better.

The broadcast featured four experts from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation. Watch the full discussion here: https://youtu.be/HtOV_tGBHz8.