Retired Shell Oil President Shares Thoughts; ASU’s Global Institute of Sustainability Hosts Event

(ST. PAUL, Minn.) June 15, 2011– American Public Media’s Marketplace™ and The Gary Comer Global Agenda, in partnership with Arizona State University’s Global Institute of Sustainability, will present Moving By Degrees – The Future Energy Abyss, Thursday, June 16 at 5:30 p.m. at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, First Amendment Forum Room, Downtown Campus.

The program will be an intimate conversation between David Brancaccio, senior correspondent, Marketplace’s Economy 4.0 and retired Shell Oil President John Hofmeister, one of the world’s foremost experts on energy and climate. They will discuss everything from climate change and energy independence to global energy leadership and the unrest currently remaking the Middle East.

“We’re proud to bring someone of John’s prominence and experience to our public forum to share his story,” said JJ Yore, general manager, Marketplace. “Storytelling is a vital way to share what is happening, and for the last five years, our Marketplace programs have been reporting on sustainability topics from around the world and showcasing how they affect people, business, politics and daily life.”

As Shell President, Hofmeister launched an extensive outreach program, unprecedented in the energy industry, to discuss critical global energy challenges. The program included an 18 month, 50-city tour across the country during which Hofmeister led 250 other Shell leaders to meet with more than 15,000 business, community and civic leaders, policymakers, and academics to discuss what must be done to ensure affordable, available energy for the future.

Hofmeister retired from Shell Oil in 2008, and building on his outreach program, he founded the non profit, nationwide membership association and public policy education firm, Citizens for Affordable Energy (CAE). He’s also authored a book “Why We Hate The Oil Companies: Straight Talk From an Energy Insider” (Palgrave Macmillan 2010). Hofmeister also serves as distinguished sustainability scholar, Global Institute of Sustainability and the Julie A. Wrigley Private Sector Executive-in-Residence, School of Sustainability at Arizona State University.

“Our efforts at the Global Institute of Sustainability are to advance knowledge for applied and practical solutions, engage decision-makers, span boundaries, treat science and social context equally and lead by example,” said Rob Melnick, executive dean, Global Institute of Sustainability, School of Sustainability. “I believe John Hofmeister’s experience and latest efforts embody all of those guiding principles and I look forward to hearing his story.”

With both international and domestic energy and climate policy at a crossroads, the need for public understanding around energy, climate and the economy has never been greater. Over the past several years, Marketplace has brought together top scientists, business leaders and experts in policy, journalists and students to assess and discuss the prospects for a sustainable future.

Parties interested in attending the event in-person, must make a reservation. The video is available at sustainability.asu.edu/events/rsvp/apm.

 

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About Marketplace

Marketplace reports on business, the economy and money as they affect people every day. The portfolio reaches 9.3 million listeners each week on more than 500 public radio stations through its award-winning news shows: Marketplace Morning Report; Marketplace; Marketplace Money; and Marketplace Tech Report. Moving by Degrees is an initiative from the Marketplace sustainability desk to provide noteworthy environmental and sustainability coverage. For more information on Marketplace, please visit marketplace.publicradio.org.

About The Comer Education & Science Foundation

The Comer Education & Science Foundation is a private, family foundation (a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity) dedicated to supporting innovative programs making a positive impact on the lives of individuals and communities. The Foundation was incorporated on June 29, 1998. The Foundation provides funding for organizations in an array of fields including education, environment, health and social services as well as neighborhood rehabilitation. For more information on The Comer Education and Science Foundation, please visit www.cs-ef.org/.

About The Global Institute of Sustainability

The Global Institute of Sustainability is the hub of Arizona State University’s sustainability initiatives. The Institute advances research, education, and business practices for an urbanizing world. Its School of Sustainability, the first of its kind in the U.S., offers transdisciplinary degree programs focused on finding practical solutions to environmental, economic, and social challenges. For more information on The Global Institute of Sustainability, please visit sustainability.asu.edu.