How Trump could undo portions of Biden’s climate legacy
Biden's most recent climate initiatives are all but certain to be short-lived, mostly thanks to an obscure law that tends to come into play every four years.
Energy Explained
Get the latest as our experts share their insights on global energy policy.
Trade Policy Disputes at COP Are Here to Stay
This year’s Conference of the Parties (COP-29) broke new ground with the Baku Initiative for Climate Finance, Investment, and Trade (BICFIT)—the first high-profile COP initiative to place trade...
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Hear in-depth conversations with the world’s top energy and climate leaders from government, business, academia, and civil society.
Transforming America’s Power System
This week host Jason Bordoff talks with Cheryl LaFleur and David Hill about the incoming Trump administration, its impact on FERC, and the status of permitting reform measures.
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January 30, 2025
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Can AI Help Reduce Emissions of Greenhouse Gases?
Please join the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs for a special webinar "Can AI Help Reduce Emissions of...
Webinar
• Zoom Webinar
October 30, 2024
Daniela Bushiri, a chemical engineer pursuing her PhD at Columbia University, is on a mission to drive sustainable solutions in our evolving energy landscape. With a background in STEM research, Bushiri said her participation in the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program has been a key part of her development and ambition to become a leader in energy, focused on leveraging her technical skills to address energy access and infrastructure needs.
Her journey in energy started when after receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she worked as an intern at several oil and gas companies. Witnessing the environmental impact of traditional energy sources motivated Bushiri to shift her focus toward clean energy solutions.
Now at Columbia, her research focuses on green hydrogen production, where she develops robust electrocatalysts that can survive harsh environments, such as seawater, as highlighted in her recent publication on selective oxygen evolution — guided by her advisors, Dr. Daniel Esposito and Dr. Jingguang Chen. This is crucial for advancing hydrogen as a reliable clean energy source, making it more accessible and effective in reducing carbon emissions globally. Her goal is to contribute to innovative technologies that can help solve global energy challenges.
The Global Energy Fellows program, Bushiri said, has significantly shaped her understanding of the crucial link between technology and policy. “Without policy, technology doesn’t reach the people who need it,” she said.
The program has offered her opportunities to engage with key thought leaders, including Jason Bordoff, CGEP Founding Director, and Dr. Tony Reames, CGEP Visiting Faculty and Director of the SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan, in monthly lunch discussions about pressing energy issues. This exposure has given her a well-rounded perspective on topics like equitable energy access and the role of policy in emerging markets, all while strengthening her ability to navigate the complexities of energy and climate solutions.
Daniela Bushiri and the 2024 Global Energy Fellows at the welcome reception in March 2024.
A standout aspect of the program for Bushiri has been the emphasis on communication and professional growth. “I’ve learned how to approach conversations about energy with a more holistic view of how policy influences technological deployment,” she said.
Networking has also played an important role in her career growth. Through the fellowship, she connected with the Africa Finance Corporation, which invests heavily in energy infrastructure in Africa. “I met the President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, at CGEP’s Global Energy Summit,” she said, “and through my engagement with him and his team, I’ve been able to learn how energy investments take place in Africa and other emerging markets.”
One of the highlights of her fellowship was the summer internship, which is supported by the fellows program. Bushiri worked with the NGO Groupe Utalii Kwaetu (GUK) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on sustainable energy access solutions in off-grid communities. Her work, which centered on a feasibility study for hydroelectric mini-grids in a rural village in eastern Congo, helped strengthen her interest in addressing Africa’s energy crisis.
Looking ahead, Bushiri sees diversity as a critical component of the future of energy leadership. She emphasizes the importance of women’s voices in shaping cleaner energy solutions, especially in Africa. “Women have the power to shift the narrative in energy policy,” she said, underscoring the need for greater representation in the field.
Bushiri has also served as a moderator for several Women In Energy events, highlighting her commitment to empowering women in the energy sector.
Bushiri moderates a Women In Energy panel in “Careers in the Energy Transition” in November 2023.
For Bushiri, the Global Energy Fellows program has her with the skills, network, and perspective to make a meaningful impact in the energy transition.
Find more information and apply for the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program by November 7, 2024, here.
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Fossil Fuel Provisions of the Energy Permitting Reform Act of 2024 and Their Effects on Climate Goals
A bipartisan permitting-reform proposal in the US Senate includes provisions that reduce barriers to an improved electricity transmission system, which would help fortify the country’s energy system and accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels.
Fact Sheet
by Noah Kaufman • December 20, 2024
The Key to a Successful Trump Energy Agenda Is Electricity
Rather than drill, baby, drill, it should be build, baby, build.
2024 Aspen-Columbia Global Energy Forum Report
This report captures diverse perspectives and offers a comprehensive look at the challenges and pathways toward a sustainable energy future.
External Publications
by Jason Bordoff, Mari Elka Pangestu & Luisa Palacios •
The Aspen Institute Energy and Environment Program
• November 11, 2024
