Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment and Sustainability

**Who We Are** The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions has merged with the Duke University Energy Initiative to create a new organization: the Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment Sustainability. Working closely with Duke University schools and other units, the institute advances the university’s mission to build a more sustainable world by developing transformative educational experiences; galvanizing and conducting impactful research; and engaging with key decision makers at the global, national, state, and local levels. The Nicholas Institute is part of Duke University and its wider community of world-class scholars. This unique resource allows the Nicholas Institute's team of economists, scientists, lawyers and policy experts to not only deliver timely, credible analyses to a wide variety of decision makers, but also to convene these decision makers to reach a shared understanding regarding this century's most pressing environmental problems. **Core Programs** The Nicholas Institute is comprised of four multidisciplinary programs focused on helping decision makers weigh the risks and rewards of policy choices. - [Climate and Energy Program](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/climate) - [Ecosystem Services Program](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/ecosystem) - [Ocean and Coastal Policy Program](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/ocean) - [Water Policy Program](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/water) **Other Research Efforts** Beyond our programs, the following efforts deepen our engagement with the policy world and Duke University’s commitment to “knowledge in the service of society.” ****Illuminating Hidden Harvests**** Millions of metric tons of fish from the small-scale fisheries sector are hidden (unreported). This was shown in the study [Hidden Harvest: The Global Contribution of Capture Fisheries](http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/515701468152718292/Hidden-harvest-the-global-contribution-of-capture-fisheries) synthetized in 2012 by the [FAO](http://www.fao.org/), the [World Bank](https://www.worldbank.org/) and [WorldFish](https://www.worldfishcenter.org/). Currently, the FAO and WorldFish, through the FISH research program, are again collecting unreported small-scale fisheries information and data, this time in partnership with [Duke University](https://www.duke.edu/) under a new project called [**Illuminating Hidden Harvests**](http://www.fao.org/fileadmin/user_upload/ssf/documents/ProgramBrief_2018-09_IlluminatingHiddenHarvests.pdf)**.** Data and knowledge generated by the research will contribute to effective decision-making on small-scale fisheries by policymakers and enable fishing communities and advocates to make a strong case for support in the sector. In this way, the research supports implementation of the SSF Guidelines and progress towards the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals. ****The Internet of Water Coalition**** The [Internet of Water Coalition](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/project/internet-water) (IoW) is a project currently housed at Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment Sustainability, managed by a small startup team and supported by grants from several philanthropic organizations. By 2021, the IoW project was a self-sustaining network managed by a non-profit organization, university, or public benefit corporation. The IoW envisions a world engaged in sustainable water resource management and stewardship enabled by open, shared, and integrated water data and information. The components of the IoW already exist (producers, hubs, and users), but the work of sharing and integrating data between them is not a primary mission for any of them. But the mission of the IoW is to build a dynamic and voluntary network of communities and institutions to facilitate the opening, sharing, and integration of water data and information. ****James E. Rogers Energy Access Project at Duke University**** The [James E. Rogers Energy Access Project](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/issues/energy-access) at Duke University is a research and policy effort that aims to address the challenges around increasing access to modern energy solutions to underserved populations around the world. It takes an [interdisciplinary](https://energy.duke.edu/global-energy-access) approach to developing sustainable, modern energy for all. Key Duke collaborators in this effort include the [Nicholas Institute for Energy, Environment Sustainability](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/), the [Duke University Energy Initiative](https://energy.duke.edu/), the [Sanford School of Public Policy](http://sanford.duke.edu/), [Bass Connections](https://bassconnections.duke.edu/), and the [Nicholas School of the Environment](https://nicholas.duke.edu/). ****National Ecosystem Services Partnership**** The [National Ecosystem Services Partnership](https://nicholasinstitute.duke.edu/project/national-ecosystem-services-partnership-nesp) engages both public and private individuals and organizations to enhance collaboration within the ecosystem services community and to strengthen coordination of policy and market implementation and research at the national level.