Conference Vision

The 6th National Conference on Science, Policy and the Environment identified opportunities for science and technology to improve the decisions that define our energy future.  This conference explored the central issues relating to energy and society at the intersection of science, policy and the environment.  

Conference participants addressed the many essential roles energy plays in our lives today – promoting overall economic prosperity, producing an ample food supply, maintaining human health and survival, and providing long-term security of individuals and nations.  Participants also addressed potential environmental consequences of energy production and use that may have far-reaching consequences for society and the environment. 

Recognizing the needs, motivations, and limitations of decisionmakers at many levels, participants discussed opportunities for communities to come together and use science to gain more from energy sources, power generation, and efficient applications. The conference:

• Engaged diverse stakeholder groups – scientists, engineers, managers, planners, policymakers at the local, state, national and international levels, leaders from the business community and non-governmental organizations, educators, and concerned citizens;
      
• Heard from decisionmakers and scientific and technological leaders to identify current trends and the potential for transformative changes;
      
• Explored integrated solutions to energy-related issues, including “soft path” approaches, while at the same time allowing participants to discover shared concerns and common ground for addressing energy issues at the local, national, and international levels;
      
• Addressed major issues, such as increasing energy efficiency and conservation; reducing dependence on imported oil; energy and climate change; carbon sequestration; the role of renewable energy and nuclear power; improving energy distribution systems; reducing vulnerabilities to terrorism; and the trends toward decarbonization and declining energy intensity in the U.S. economy;
      
• Assessed renewable and nonrenewable energy resources – including conventional fossil fuels, gas hydrates, tar sands, oil shale, biofuel, solar, wind, hydropower, and hydrogen – and the environmental consequences of their production and use; 
      
• Drew upon themes from broad-based commissions, reports, and legislation, such as the National Commission on Energy Policy, Energy Future Coalition, Energy Policy Act, and National Energy Strategy; 
      
• Developed a series of specific, achievable strategies to achieve energy-related goals and objectives.

Motivated by a deeper understanding of energy for a sustainable and secure future, conference participants forged new partnerships and developed new science-based solutions.  Strategies developed at the conference will be widely publicized and presented at briefings to U.S. Congress, federal, state, and local governments, bilateral and multilateral agencies, international governmental and non-governmental organizations, educational and academic institutions, and the general public.