Elizabeth Wilson Co-Authors Chapter in New Book About Climate

Elizabeth J. Wilson, director of the Arthur L. Irving Institute for Energy and Society and professor of Environmental Studies at Dartmouth College, has co-authored a chapter in the forthcoming book, Earth 2020: An Insider's Guide to a Rapidly Changing Planet, edited by Philippe D. Tortell. The book is slated for open access release during the week of April 20, to coincide with the 50th anniversary of Earth Day.

Wilson's chapter, co-written with Elias Grove Nielsen, is titled "Energy," and looks at how energy fits into the larger picture of climate change and planetary well-being. Providing an overview of the disparities in energy access and impact across the globe, Wilson and Nielsen examine how the energy transitions happening today will shape our planetary future. "Whether we like it or not," they write, "our energy systems are changing. It remains to be seen how they can be adapted to support our collective futures on Earth."  

Earth 2020 is a collection of essays that brings together a diverse set of expert voices to examine how the Earth's environment has changed over the past half century, and what lies in store for our planet over the coming 50 years. The book responds to a public increasingly concerned about the deterioration of Earth's natural systems, offering readers a wealth of perspectives on our shared ecological past, and on the future trajectory of planet Earth.

Written by world-leading thinkers on the front-lines of global change research and policy, this multi-disciplinary collection maintains a dual focus: some essays investigate specific facets of the physical Earth system, while others explore the social, legal and political dimensions shaping the human environmental footprint. In doing so, the essays collectively highlight the urgent need for collaboration and diverse expertise in addressing many of the most significant challenges facing us today.

This book is available to for free download. Hard copies can be ordered at the publisher's website.

Wilson will discuss her chapter at an upcoming Dartmouth Energy Collaborative Energy Seminar on Tuesday, April 21 from 12:15 - 1:15 p.m. (EDT).