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Benjamin Sovacool

Benjamin Sovacool

@sovacool.bsky.social

670 followers 45 following 15 posts

Professor of Energy Policy, Professor of Earth and Environment, Passionate About Energy and Climate Justice

Benjamin K. Sovacool is an American and British academic who is director of the Institute for Global Sustainability at Boston University as well as Professor of Earth and Environment at Boston University. He was formerly Director of the Danish Center for Energy Technology at the Department of Business Development and Technology and a professor of social sciences at Aarhus University. He is also professor of energy policy at the University of Sussex, where he formerly directed the Center on Innovation and Energy Demand and the Sussex Energy Group. He has written on energy policy, environmental issues, and science and technology policy. Sovacool is also the editor-in-chief of Energy Research & Social Science. .. more

Energy 27%

Environmental science 25%

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Posts Replies Media Videos

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Jan Rosenow @janrosenow.bsky.social · 7d

Many people assume solar PV degrades quickly. Long-term evidence suggests otherwise.

This paper in EES Solar uses rare multi-decade field data to show that PV systems can retain a high share of their initial performance after 30 years, with lower degradation than often assumed.

Link in comments.

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Bennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration @bennett-innovate.bsky.social · 7d

'Bridging academia & practice showed me how policy research can drive real-world impact' 🌍 MSc in Sustainable Development student Rafael joined us as a Research Assistant whilst at @sussexunibusiness.bsky.social - a highlight of his degree & defining chapter of his journey tinyurl.com/w3wte9jk

Stories - The Bennett Institute

Award-winning SPRU MSc student Rafael Lopez joined the Bennett for a dissertation on sustainable macroeconomic strategies in small island economies.

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Bennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration @bennett-innovate.bsky.social · 10d

@sovacool.bsky.social breaks down what the latest @ipcc.bsky.social findings really mean: energy transition is achievable, but only if we tackle political barriers & centre communities. Brighton & Hove Energy Services Co-op shows how local action can accelerate climate goals.
tinyurl.com/2s46tmby

Stories - The Bennett Institute

bennettinstitutesussex.org

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Katharine Hayhoe @katharinehayhoe.com · 13d

In this new analysis, Ben Leffel + @sovacool.bsky.social argue that, "as national-focused orthodoxy in climate policy has proven insufficient to address the climate crisis, a shift is needed, centering cities as pivotal actors in global climate mitigation" -- and I COULD NOT AGREE MORE.

Read here:

Accelerating global city commitments and actions on climate change

As national-focused orthodoxy in climate policy has proven insufficient to address the climate crisis, a shift to a multilevel framework is needed, ce…

www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · 13d

FREE webinar Thursday 🐦 Discover strategies to develop wind energy with birds in mind. IGS Director @sovacool.bsky.social & other experts in wildlife conservation and renewable energy will discuss real experiences from successful wind energy projects in South America.
abcbirds.org/wind-webinar

RSVP: Wind Energy and Birds

Join ABC and the Climate Institute's webinar on 1/29

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Bennett Institute for Innovation and Policy Acceleration @bennett-innovate.bsky.social · 13d

Climate change is a growing health threat, yet only 6 of 55 cities meaningfully include health in climate plans. Research calls for stronger, clearer and more equitable health‑adaptation strategies. tinyurl.com/2t7aw2a2
doi.org/10.1038/s44284-025-00364-1 @sovacool.bsky.social

Cities need an integrated and holistic approach to health adaptation in climate planning - Nature Cities

Most cities lack comprehensive health adaptation strategies in climate planning, with no global plans achieving fully integrated holistic approaches. City climate adaptation plans show the awareness o...

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Caroline Lucas @carolinelucas.bsky.social · 17d

Looking forward to speaking at @bennett-innovate.bsky.social 2026 symposium on economics & energy - looks like it will be a lively debate!

Register: bennettinstitutesussex.org/stories/2026...

@sovacool.bsky.social

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

bishalbharadwaj.bsky.social @bishalbharadwaj.bsky.social · 17d

Our descriptive analysis on the use of garbage and plastic as household fuel in NW Nigeria

www.sciencedirect.com/science/arti...

@sovacool.bsky.social @efdinitiative.bsky.social

#plastic #energy

From waste to fuel: Uncovering the drivers of garbage and plastic burning in Northwest Nigeria

Anecdotal evidence indicates that energy-poor households in regions lacking formal waste management systems often resort to burning garbage, including…

www.sciencedirect.com

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Dr Paul Dorfman @drpauldorfman.bsky.social · 19d

Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says
Overuse and pollution must end urgently as no one knows when whole system might collapse
www.theguardian.com/environment/...

Era of ‘global water bankruptcy’ is here, UN report says

Overuse and pollution must end urgently as no one knows when whole system might collapse, says expert

www.theguardian.com

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · 25d

Spotted in this month's "Brink Bites" research roundup: The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has selected IGS Director Benjamin Sovacool (@sovacool.bsky.social) to help lead its next report. Learn more & get involved ⬇️

Brink Bites: BU Expert to Help Lead UN Climate Report, Undergraduates Study Secrets of the Universe

Other research news, stories, and tidbits from around BU, including prestigious physics and health awards for researchers

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

University of Sussex Business School @sussexunibusiness.bsky.social · Jan 7

The 2026 Bennett Institute Annual Symposium will be held on 19 February at Bramber House.

Staff and students are welcome, and the event is free!

Learn more and Register here: https://bit.ly/4qEZrv8

#BennettSymposium #NetZero #EnergyPolicy #SussexResearch

Stories - The Bennett Institute

Announcing the Bennett Institute's 2026 Symposium, register now

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · Jan 6

Direct Air Capture (DAC) has immense potential, but it's also expensive and unproven at scale.

“If we’re able to do DAC at scale, it could be the next huge energy transition," @sovacool.bsky.social tells @technologyreview.com regarding an ambitious new #DAC project in Kenya.

Welcome to Kenya’s Great Carbon Valley: a bold new gamble to fight climate change

One project aims to harness local geothermal resources to pull CO2 from the air. Will it prove that carbon removal can really help our warming planet?

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

jodellm.bsky.social @jodellm.bsky.social · Jan 4

When women lead,
☮️Peace lasts 10-25 years longer

www.unwomen.org/en/news-stor...

4 pillars
align gender equality & peace

1 Prevent conflict

2 Protect rights/safety
of women & girls

3 Participate
All decisions re: peace & security, from local to intl,
include women

4 Relief/recovery

Benjamin Sovacool @sovacool.bsky.social · Jan 3

Too soon?

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool, Axel Bruns, Mel Bartley , and 2 more Benjamin K. Sovacool, Axel Bruns, Mel Bartley, Wolfgang Huber, Karen O’Leary

Jon Levy @jonlevybu.bsky.social · Jan 3

When people argue that renewable energy sources are too expensive, remember that we don’t invade countries to seize wind farms and there are no solar cartels. Fossil fuels have enormous geopolitical, public health, and climate externalities.

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · Jan 2

A new case study based in Sierra Leone highlights Mirrors for Earth’s Energy Rebalancing (MEER), a novel intervention to #ExtremeHeat. By IGS Director @sovacool.bsky.social:
spr.ly/63321Cui6f

A technician in a neon vest and hard hat wipes down a mirrored surface.

Two researchers converse. One holds an open notebook.

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability @bu-igs.bsky.social · Dec 30

A new comprehensive review on direct air CO2 capture and storage is the result of more than 2.5 years of work by 29 international experts, including IGS Director @sovacool.bsky.social: spr.ly/63322Cu3Du

Ecosystem of Systematic Reviews on Carbon Dioxide Removal

We are thrilled to share that the first paper in the Ecosystem of Systematic Reviews on Carbon Dioxide Removal has just been published, focusing on Direct Air CO2 Capture and Storage (DACCS).

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool

jodellm.bsky.social @jodellm.bsky.social · Dec 26

Don’t let US go to war over⛽️Oil…

Hmm, one more reason
to vote 🗳️🔵for #Climate

&
switch to #Solar

Reposted by Benjamin K. Sovacool