EPIC

Throughout history, access to energy has been critical for economic growth. This trend is expected to continue in the years to come—global energy demand is set to grow by almost 40 percent over the next two decades. All of this growth will occur in emerging economies, where 1.4 billion people currently lack access to reliable electricity, and nearly half of it will occur in China and India alone.

Yet for all of its benefits, today’s energy system comes with significant social costs. A changing climate is beginning to affect our lives in profound ways. High pollution levels are shortening lifespans, especially in emerging economies. And all of these impacts can hold back economic progress, often in areas where people are living on incomes that are too low.

This is the global energy challenge: How can we ensure that people around the world, today and in the future, have access to reliable, affordable energy needed for human development without putting our health, environment and climate at risk?

EPIC is confronting this challenge using a cross-cutting approach that links the University of Chicago’s renowned economists with leading thinkers in policy and law, business, big data, engineering and natural and physical sciences throughout the University and at partner institutes such as the Marine Biological Lab and Argonne National Lab. By leveraging these University partners and harnessing top talent with varied expertise, EPIC is tackling the world’s toughest energy problems. At the same time, the Institute is working directly with global leaders to help them make important decisions about our future, while also educating and mentoring the energy leaders of tomorrow.

Associated Working Papers

BFI Working Paper Aug 29, 2023

Does the Squeaky Wheel Get More Grease? The Direct and Indirect Effects of Citizen Participation on Environmental Governance in China

Mark Buntaine, Michael Greenstone, Guojun He, Mengdi Liu, Shaoda Wang, Bing Zhang
Topics:  Energy & Environment
BFI Working Paper Jun 22, 2023

Carbon Prices and Forest Preservation Over Space and Time in the Brazilian Amazon

Juliano J. Assunção, Lars Peter Hansen, Todd Munson, José A. Scheinkman
Topics:  Energy & Environment, Financial Markets
BFI Working Paper Jun 15, 2023

Finance and Climate Resilience: Evidence from the Long 1950s US Drought

Raghuram Rajan, Rodney Ramcharan
Topics:  Energy & Environment, Financial Markets

Associated Insights

Associated News

Media Mention Sep 17, 2023

Wildfires in Canada led to dangerous air quality in parts of the US for the first time. See the affected areas

CNN; Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago, Air Quality Index
Media Mention Sep 11, 2023

If the world reduced PM2.5 to meet the WHO’s guideline, people would live 2.3 years longer

Air Quality News; Michael Greenstone
Media Mention Aug 31, 2023

Indians lose 5 years’ life to air pollution, Delhi worst at 12 years: Chicago university study

Times of India; Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago