Dr. Jim Williams is a professor in the Energy Systems Management program at the University of San Francisco and a global thought leader on low-carbon energy systems. He also directs the Deep Decarbonization Pathways Project for the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, and is a senior research fellow with Evolved Energy Research. He was recently featured as one of the guests on the Threshold’s recent podcast episode “Time to 1.5” – a look at some models for how we can realistically limit temperature rise to 1.5°C goal over pre-industrial levels, and get to net zero by 2050.
Threshold is a Peabody Award-winning independent, non-profit production that aims to deepen understanding of human relationships with each other and the natural world. In this episode, Dr. Williams talks about how the United States can become carbon-neutral with current technology to electrify everything via clean energy, and do it in such a way that Americans will have no disruption in the way we live our lives – a solution that is affordable and not a burden on the U.S. economy.
The talk references his research article ‘Carbon Neutral Pathways for the United States’, which outlines eight different pathways for the United States to be carbon neutral by 2050, and the six highest priority technological benchmarks that we need hit in the current decade to get us well on our way to a full decarbonization in the decades to follow – all in the context of societal and institutional understanding and efforts to preventing climate catastrophe, and putting in the work and planning to hit these imminently reachable goals.
Catch the full episode of this very interesting and insightful discussion here!