Qualities like amazing tensile strength and electrical conductivity offer a huge range of uses for carbon nanotubes. In a new policy brief, fellow Rachel A. Meidl and her co-authors Dana Goerzen and Daniel A. Heller explain that to ensure carbon nanotubes’ role in a circular, sustainable economy, a coordinated system for classifying, testing, and identifying CNTs and a life cycle approach to risk assessments are needed to better understand impacts to facilitate consistent communication among researchers, industries, and policymakers.
Dana Goerzen, Daniel A. Heller, Rachel A. MeidlFebruary 28, 2024
With the 2024 presidential election, Taiwan faces a major decision about its energy future. A potential phaseout of nuclear power could put the island’s energy security and decarbonization efforts at risk, writes the Center for Energy Studies’ Shih Yu (Elsie) Hung.
Are our views of sustainability becoming distorted by the often unsubstantiated “green” actions of companies and organizations? This brief explores why we urgently need a new framework for sustainability — one that relies on a holistic, cross-disciplinary, and multidimensional life cycle approach.
Rachel A. Meidl, Kenneth B. Medlock IIINovember 8, 2023
Economic security has become a top priority for the West following the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the Russia-Ukraine war and the growing threat of China. Could investing in brain capital help build more resilient economies?
William Hynes, Paweł Świeboda, Patrick Love, Jo-An Occhipinti, Harris A. EyreAugust 2, 2023
With the 45V tax credit, the U.S. is well poised to compete for the growing pipeline of clean hydrogen projects globally, writes fellow Rachel Meidl. But if the Treasury adds restrictions to the new tax credit, the U.S. could lose its advantage and a key opportunity for large-scale decarbonization.
How can advocates move the needle on immigration reform? Engaging policymakers through storytelling and combating misinformation are key, according to the American Psychological Association's Katherine B. McGuire.
Tony Payan, Roselyn Ovalle, Sanjana JainJune 27, 2023
Precision psychiatry promises to more accurately diagnose and treat patients. Brain health experts call for European researchers, policymakers and industry to work together to advance the field and give Europe a competitive edge.
Marion Leboyer, Paweł Świeboda, Harris A. Eyre, Veronique Briquet-LaugierJune 5, 2023
Carbon nanotubes are critical components for future decarbonization strategies and a clean energy revolution. If the U.S. is to reestablish climate leadership, advanced nanotechnology solutions must be a national priority, argues the author.
Integrating a life-cycle dimension into future policies to assess the social, environmental and economic implications of various products across their life cycle and throughout their value chain is critical to achieving sustainability and a circular economy, writes Rachel A. Meidl, fellow in energy and environment.
Energy fellow Rachel A. Meidl writes that it is imperative to consider and assess innovative recycling technologies that could have enormous economic value in transforming waste plastics into the building blocks for new, higher-value products.