Garnett S. Stokes, President - The University of New Mexico Board of Regents | University of New Mexico
Garnett S. Stokes, President - The University of New Mexico Board of Regents | University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico's Just Transition Grand Challenge recently featured Dr. Noah Kaufman, co-chair of the Resilient Energy Economies Initiative, in a lecture. The initiative funds research projects aimed at aiding fossil fuel-dependent communities during economic transitions.
Dr. Kaufman has served as an economic advisor on climate issues in both the Biden and Obama administrations and is currently a Senior Research Scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy.
During his talk, Kaufman explained how the initiative supports interdisciplinary teams researching place-based policies to assist these communities. He noted that each locality is unique, making tailored transformative policies ideal. He highlighted potential long-term adverse effects on local economies, such as impacts on school funding tied to fossil fuels, when transitioning to low-carbon energy.
Some funded projects focus on economists and social scientists identifying thriving yet at-risk communities, encouraging them to diversify and implement large-scale changes. The research evaluates data on workers, public opinion, business behavior, and public finances in sustainable economies.
Kaufman also discussed international examples of place-based policies in Germany and Spain and domestic efforts like the Appalachian Regional Council. He acknowledged unprecedented federal support for green energy transitions but pointed out challenges with existing measures: limited scale, difficult access to funds, coal-focused policies, lack of economic diversification emphasis, and changing federal policies with different administrations. The Resilient Energy Economies Initiative aims to address these gaps through its funded projects.
The UNM Just Transition to Green Energy Grand Challenge is supported by UNM’s Office of Vice President for Research as a "Level 2" Grand Challenge. This interdisciplinary project seeks to identify opportunities and challenges for an inclusive transition focusing on creating economic opportunities for disadvantaged communities—particularly Hispanic, Native American, Black communities, and fossil fuel worker communities.
For more information about this initiative, visit Just Transition to Green Energy.
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