Join us on January 26 at 3:30 p.m. for this Sustainable Energy Seminar presentation by Cande Bergero and Mokshda Kaul, Postdoctoral Researchers in the Climate Action Lab at UW-Madison.

Abstract

The energy transition promises major climate and public health benefits, but it also raises critical questions about how costs and benefits are distributed. This talk presents findings from two complementary studies that examine equity challenges at different stages of climate mitigation.

In the first half, we will analyze social and environmental impacts within electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chains. While EVs are essential for decarbonizing transportation, the mining of critical minerals has been linked to environmental degradation and human rights concerns. We use a survey of 800 recent U.S. EV buyers and find that the majority of consumers are aware of the negative impacts of EV mining and willing to pay for sustainably manufactured EVs, but low-income consumers —although aware— have limited willingness to pay for these cost increases, threatening equitable EV adoption. In the second half, we examine how net-zero pathways affect air-quality and health outcomes across U.S. communities. Comparing scenarios with differing reliance on carbon dioxide removal, we show that lower-CDR pathways deliver larger PM2.5 health benefits that disproportionately accrue to low-income and non-white populations.

Together, these studies highlight the need for climate policies that reduce emissions while explicitly addressing equity in cost and benefit allocation.

Registration

This event is offered online only through Zoom Webinar. Registration is required through Zoom. Click here to register for this and all other webinars as part of the Sustainable Energy Seminar series in Spring 2026.