STS 25th Anniversary Conference | Keynote, "Inside-Out Earth"

New energy systems accumulate on top of old ones. So do their wastes. Today, massive increases in discarded matter remain invisible in scenarios outlining how "renewable” sources will “replace" fossil fuels. Meanwhile, the world currently consumes more fossil fuels—and generates more waste products—than ever before. Wood alone supplies more energy than nuclear power plants or than the combination of hydroelectric dams, and solar and wind power.


How do communities live and breathe at the front lines of these dynamics in times of transition? What could it mean—what should it mean—to respond to our planetary crisis in ways that respect and incorporate local environmental justice priorities? This talk explores such questions, and the ongoing accumulation of wastes from energy, in three parts of the world: Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire; Mpumalanga province, South Africa; and Chile’s Atacama Desert.

Followed by catered dinner for guests who RSVP