Global and Local Perspectives on a Just Energy Transition

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Join Pratt Institute’s MS in Sustainable Environmental Systems program and The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India) for an exciting Climate Week NYC 2025 fireside chat on important energy justice topics. This will be a dynamic discussion on global and local just energy challenges, solutions, and perspectives with key voices in the just energy transition policy and planning spaces.

Experts working on local and global energy issues will come together to discuss new policy dynamics, systemic and historic barriers in realizing a true Just Transition. This timely discussion will happen during the UN General Assembly and NYC Climate Week 2025, where key climate and energy transition issues will be at the center of next steps for the sustainable development goals and the broader theme of this year’s Climate Week.

Faculty Coordinators & Moderators:

Martha Molfetas

Summer Sandoval

Panelists:

Kaushik Deb

Executive Director,

Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC India)

Kaushik Deb leads the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago’s India team (EPIC India) as the Executive Director. As an applied economist with over 25 years of experience, he has a distinguished career as a strategic advisor to governments and corporates on policy, markets, equity, access, and technology developments. Prior to joining EPIC India, he directed the India Program at Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy. His previous roles include serving as Program Director at the King Abdullah Petroleum Studies and Research Center, where he managed research on global oil, natural gas, hydrogen, and petrochemicals markets. Additionally, he has led research on low carbon fuels and climate issues in Group Economics in bp plc., the Policy Group in IDFC and at TERI. He also established sustainability-focused management leadership programs at TERI University (now TERI SAS). He holds a D.Sc. from ETH Zürich and a master’s degree in economics from the Delhi School of Economics.

Madison Hertzog

NYC Public Utility Advocate & Policy Advisor,

NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice

Madison Hertzog is a Clean Energy Policy Advisor and the Head of the Office of the Utility Advocate at the Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice. Her work focuses on developing regulatory, market-based, and legal solutions to overcome systemic barriers and challenges to community clean energy development in New York City. Madison oversees the City’s regulatory portfolio and uses it to advance policy that directs investments and resources to Environmental Justice and Disadvantaged Communities, reduce energy cost burden, and center long term utility planning around impacts to City ratepayers. Madison graduated from Vermont Law School in 2022 with a J.D. and concentration in energy law. Prior to law school, she received a M.A. in Environmental Resource Policy from The George Washington University Trachtenberg School of Public Policy & Public Administration. Madison graduated from The George Washington University in 2018 with a B.A. in International Affairs, a B.A. in Environmental Studies, and a minor in sustainability.

Martha Molfetas

Visiting Assistant Professor, Pratt Institute GCPE

Senior Policy Consultant and Writer

Martha Molfetas

Martha Molfetas is a Visiting Assistant Professor at Pratt Institute’s Graduate Center for Planning and the Environment, where she teaches Environmental Economics. Martha is a senior climate and energy policy consultant, writer, and strategist with over 15-years of experience helping NGOs, think tanks, and businesses unpack climate, environmental justice, resource conflict, sustainable development, and global policy issues – most recently as a Senior Fellow at New America. Her work has been published in Current Affairs, The World Politics Review, The Global Policy Journal, Policy Mic, Common Dreams, and others. Martha holds a BA in International Comparative Politics from the University of Central Florida, a French Language Certificate from Université Paris Sorbonne-Paris IV, and an MSc in Comparative Politics (Conflict Studies) from the London School of Economics. She’s also a Chatham House Member.

You can follow her on BlueSky and LinkedIn.

Summer Sandoval

Visiting Assistant Professor, Pratt Institute GCPE

Community Investment and Implementation Director, Urban Sustainability Directors Network (USDN)

Summer Sandoval

Summer leads USDN’s work on the EPA Environmental Justice Thriving Communities Technical Assistance Center (TCTAC). She supports local governments and communities navigate the maze of federal funding opportunities to win grants and realize their projects to advance equitable climate action. She has experience building alignment with diverse public, private and community stakeholders. She has held roles as the Energy Democracy Coordinator at UPROSE where she worked with diverse partners to pass and implement climate and energy policies such as New York State’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, NYC’s Climate Mobilization Act, and the Federal government’s Justice40 Initiative. Summer has also served in roles with NYC Mayor’s Office of Climate and Environmental Justice as a Policy Advisor, Clean Energy and Equity, and as a Senior Advisor, Environmental Justice and Clean Energy. Summer holds Masters of Science in Sustainable Environmental Systems from the Pratt Institute and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Environmental Science from New York University.

This event is co-sponsored by:

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The Master of Science in Sustainable Environmental Systems (SES) is one of the nation’s most innovative, interdisciplinary, systems-based sustainability programs. This STEM certified degree program is designed to meet today’s increasing demand for environmental professionals, uniquely combining environmental science, sustainable design, and climate policy. Students learn the interdisciplinary skills and systems-thinking approach needed to assess contemporary environmental issues; catalyze innovative environmental problem-solving; uphold environmental and social justice; and engage diverse stakeholders in designing and developing sustainable communities.

We also offer an Advanced Certificate (9 credits)!

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The Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) is confronting the global energy challenge by working to ensure that energy markets provide access to reliable, affordable energy, while limiting environmental and social damages. We do this using a unique interdisciplinary approach that translates robust, data-driven research into real-world impacts through strategic outreach and training for the next generation of global energy leaders.

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Faced with climate change, systemic racism, and growing inequity, communities need forward-thinking approaches to urbanism now more than ever. Practice-based and rooted deeply in the network of communities we serve, our alliance of four graduate-level programs works to address these evolving threats, working in partnership to build asset-based solutions at the intersection of environment, equity, culture, and economy.

We see the design, planning, and management of the built environment as tools for addressing the critical issues of our time—from social justice to the climate crisis. As a student at the School of Architecture, you’ll build the skills and knowledge you need to respond to these complex and evolving challenges in a uniquely versatile, innovative, and ethical way. As you do, our goal is to prepare you to lead a life of consequence within each discipline, both today and beyond.

Cover image by Kasturi Salvi & Leonel L. Ponce, with original photograph by: Summer Sandoval