2012 was the warmest year on record for the United States and was one of the most damaging in terms of natural disasters. The year brought record storms and devastation, costing the economy over $100 billion in damages. Newly appointed Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz recently said that “The science is clear – certainly clear for the level that one needs for policymaking – in terms of the real and urgent threat of climate change”.

On September 11^th, a panel will convene to discuss the current state of the energy infrastructure and what steps are being made to reduce carbon emissions and promote clean energy. Panelists will discuss green initiatives and the direction of energy policy in the United States as well as implications for our global energy infrastructure.

The “Managing Our Planet” seminar series is developed jointly by George Mason University, the Environmental Change and Security Program and the Brazil Institute. It is based on the premise that the impacts of humanity on the environment (including natural resources) are at a planetary scale. The seminar addresses planetary scale problems and solutions.