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Renewable Energy and Proactive Climate Change in Benelux. Scientific evidence for warming of the climate system is unequivocal according the International Panel on Climate Change. Facing the combined issues of limited fossil fuel reserves and that ongoing CO2 emissions are contributing to global warming, the governments in Europe have decided to move towards more sustainable energy systems and to develop national projects to protect vulnerable coastal areas from expected sea level rise. European Union (EU) nations are world leaders in the development of renewable energy sources and have recently proposed a common renewable energy policy in the European Renewable Energy Directive, creating the binding obligations to all of its members with the aim of ‘reaching the EU target of consuming 20 percent of its energy in form of renewables by 2020.’ On the climate side, the 2030 framework for climate and energy policies in Europe propose a centerpiece policy of reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by at least 40%. The course will highlight current and near-future renewable energy projects in an on-ground learning experience with national stakeholders in Europe. The course will be held in the heart of Western Europe, the Benelux (Belgium-Luxembourg-Netherlands) Region. This course explores the specific examples where these nations have strong proactive polices on renewable development. We will specifically explore how the nation of Luxembourg, the immediate surrounding areas of Belgium and the Lorraine Region of France, and the city of Rotterdam, Netherlands, have solved some of the current energy issues via renewable energy solutions as well as developing very proactive climate policies. Field course in Benelux (2 weeks in DC and 1 week in Benelux). Prerequisite: Principles and Applications of Energy Technologies or permission from instructor.