Climate Thursday: Ashley Ward from Duke’s Nicholas Institute

Carrboro is suing Duke Energy over its contributions to climate change and the resulting economic pressures put onto the local government.

Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke's Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, June 20. She discussed her recent activities as heat season kicks into full gear. She outlined some recent policy conversations around heat, and also talked about North Carolina counties having access to Heat Action Plan templates, and more. She also discussed the impact last heat season had on people's perception of this year, and more.

Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub for Duke's Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, May 9. She discussed a recent program to create Heat Action Plan Templates for every county in North Carolina, with Chatham County being the first to utilize the action plan. She also discussed the next steps in that program. She also talked about what to watch for as we get into heat season in North Carolina, previewed an upcoming sustainability trip she is taking to Puerto Rico, and more.

Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke's Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, March 14. She discussed the recently concluded Aspen Ideas Climate Conference in Miami, and some of the major takeaways. Included is a conversation of a roundtable that she hosted, a presentation she saw about reducing methane emissions from cattle, and more.

Kaya Johnson and Will Nichols from the nonprofit SolarEquity spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, March 7. SolarEquity is a UNC-based nonprofit that seeks to empower North Carolina communities through the solarization of affordable housing by building valuable partnerships to drive an equitable and sustainable energy transition. They discussed many of their recent projects, including solarizing EMPOWERment, Inc.'s PEACH Apartments, and more.

Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke's Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, February 22. She discussed the recent work she has been doing, and an upcoming conference she will be presenting at. She also discussed recent changes to how corporations in the finance sector address climate challenges, and how state legislatures are getting involved as well. She also outlined a climate action passport program coming to Hillsborough in April, and more.

Chair of the Orange County Commissioners Jamezetta Bedford speaks with 97.9 The Hill's Brighton McConnell on Wednesday, August 9.

Director of the Heat Policy Innovation Hub at Duke's Nicholas Institute, Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, July 27th. She discussed how the nation is handling the currently unprecedented run of hot weather, and what some of the long and short term solutions to those challenges may be. She also talked about action that local governments can take to help educate and protect residents against heat-born illness. 

Angel Hsu is an associate professor in UNC’s environmental ecology program. She recently spoke with 97.9 The Hill about her work as the director of a data-driven envirolab and how technology can teach us more about combating climate change on a local government level. Check out highlights of the conversation below, which are lightly edited […]

Senior Policy Associate for Duke's Nicholas Institute Ashley Ward spoke with 97.9 The Hill's Andrew Stuckey on Thursday, February 9th.  She discussed a trip to Miami for a climate conference and the environmental reaction to the State of the Union address.