Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs - Environment and Climate Change

Climate Change: Now What?

Cristine Russell — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 14:56:04 -0500

July 17, 2008

Media coverage of climate change is at a crossroads, as it moves beyond the science of global warming into the broader arena of what governments, entrepreneurs, and ordinary citizens are doing about it.

Report of the Harvard University Task Force on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

William Clark and John P. Holdren — Wed, 09 Jul 2008 10:56:10 -0500

July 9, 2008

Harvard University released the report of its Greenhouse Gas Task Force. The task force, appointed by President Drew Faust in February, proposes elements of a framework for much-intensified efforts to reduce the University's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, as part of a broader effort to promote environmental sustainability.

Toward a Post-Kyoto Climate Change Architecture: A Political Analysis

Robert O. Keohane and Kal Raustiala — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 18:09:16 -0500

"Any international agreement to address climate change must rest on broad public support in developed nations for mitigation actions. We propose an international climate architecture that builds on such public support — which we hope will be forthcoming — and uses multilateral international institutions to extend its effects to countries without such "green" publics."

Future Scenarios for China's Carbon Emissions

Jim Watson — Mon, 07 Jul 2008 15:44:14 -0500

Jim Watson, Deputy Director of the Sussex Energy Group at the University of Sussex, U.K., presented work on a project funded by the U.K. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research to study "China's Energy Transition."

Biofuels and Sustainable Development

Henry Lee and William Clark — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 13:07:21 -0500

July 3, 2008

The goals and concerns surrounding the debate over government policies related to the greater use and production of biofuels were addressed in an executive session convened by the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and the Venice International University on May 19^th and 20^th, 2008.

Analysis of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and Greenhouse-Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector

Kelly Sims Gallagher and Gustavo Collantes — Fri, 06 Jun 2008 12:18:31 -0500

This study examines different policy scenarios for reducing GHG emissions and oil consumption in the U.S. transportation sector using a variant of the National Energy Modeling System (NEMS).

Post-2012 International Policy Architecture for Global Climate Change International Workshop

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:15:05 -0500

The International Workshop on "Post-2012 International Policy Architecture for Global Climate Change" was organized by the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements, the International Centre on Climate Governance (a joint initiative of the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei and the Fondazione Giorgio Cini) and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change.

The workshop was held in Venice on May 14–16, 2008, and took place in the magnificent setting of the Fondazione Giorgio Cini, a celebrated monastery located on the Island of San Giorgio Maggiore facing Saint Mark's Square. Participation in the workshop was by invitation only.

The workshop was structured as follows. On May 15th, a one-day academic workshop presented preliminary results of work in progress from the Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements. This will be useful to obtain feedback from colleagues on research-in-progress and exchange ideas about international climate change policy.

On May 16th, a stakeholders meeting provided leaders from business, environmental advocacy, and government an opportunity to engage in a discussion about international climate change policy with one another and with academic experts. The main results of the academic workshop were presented at the beginning of the stakeholder workshop on May 16th.

Summary of European Stakeholders Meeting: International Climate Policy after 2012

Tue, 03 Jun 2008 20:39:50 -0500

The Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements, together with the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei, Fondazione Giorgio Cini, and the Euro-Mediterranean Centre for Climate Change, hosted a workshop of leading thinkers on international climate policy in Venice, Italy, on May 15–16. On the second day, leaders from business, environmental advocacy, and government, along with the assembled academics, discussed key topics in international climate change policy, including ways to engage developing countries, how to maintain global competitiveness despite diverse national mitigation policies, and proposals for international agreements that could succeed the Kyoto Protocol.

DOE FY09 Budget Request for Energy Research, Development & Demonstration – Commentary

Laura Diaz Anadon, Kelly Sims Gallagher and Matthew Bunn — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 14:52:42 -0500

Anadon, Gallagher, and Bunn offer their insight and analysis on the President's FY09 budget request for U.S. Department of Energy spending for energy research, development, and demonstration.

Climate Change: Expert Opinion on the Economics of Policy Options to Address Climate Change

U.S. Government Accountability Office, Joseph Aldy and Robert N. Stavins — Sat, 31 May 2008 15:42:34 -0500

...GAO was asked to elicit the opinions of experts on (1) actions the Congress might consider to address climate change and what is known about the potential benefits, costs, and uncertainties of these actions and (2) the key strengths and limitations of policies or actions to address climate change. GAO worked with the National Academy of Sciences to identify a panel of noted economists with expertise in analyzing the economic impacts of climate change policies and gathered their opinions through iterative, Web-based questionnaires. The findings reported here represent the views of the 18 economists who responded to both questionnaires.

Two of the 18 economists who participated were Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements Co-Directors Joseph Aldy and Robert Stavins. In addition, two other participating economists, James Edmonds of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and William Pizer of Resources for the Future, are members of Harvard Project research teams.

Returns to Scale in Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure and Deployment

Jeffrey Bielicki — Wed, 28 May 2008 11:23:23 -0500

In this Belfer Center discussion paper, Bielicki describes SimCCS, a cost-minimizing geospatial deployment model used to deploy CCS for a variety of combinations of CO2 sources and injection reservoirs. The purpose of SimCCS is to determine the returns to scale for CCS deployment and to unravel the determinants thereof.

The Future of the International Whaling Commission: Strengthening Ocean Diplomacy

Calestous Juma — Fri, 16 May 2008 19:27:13 -0500

"Whales symbolize divergent issues ranging from science-based management of natural resources to moral considerations associated with our relationship with the natural world....While much work has been done on the management of terrestrial ecosystems, there is growing concern over the state of the world's oceans and the limited number of comprehensive international regimes that can address critical issues such as the resources that lie beyond national jurisdiction. This problem is compounded by scientific uncertainties associated with the current state of knowledge of marine ecosystems.

But these uncertainties also represent opportunities to position the International Whaling Commission as a flagship organization in ocean diplomacy and science-based conservation and management...."

Economic Incentives in a New Climate Agreement

Joseph Aldy and Robert N. Stavins — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:58:19 -0500

The Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements has agreed to help the Office of the Danish Prime Minister, in its role as incoming President of the 2009 Conference of the Parties, to prepare background papers and on-site briefings for a series of very high-level dialogues on climate change policy, hosted by the Prime Minister. These dialogues will each include about 25 participants, including CEOs of European and U.S. corporations, key officials from national governments and intergovernmental organizations, and leaders of major environmental NGOs. This paper on the subject of economic incentives was prepared by the Harvard Project leadership for the first dialogue.

Climate Policy Architectures for the Post-Kyoto World

Joseph Aldy and Robert N. Stavins — Thu, 01 May 2008 13:56:15 -0500

"The global climate has changed and will continue to change as a result of greenhouse gas emissions from a broad variety of human activities. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change determined that 'most of the observed increase in global average temperatures since the mid-20th century is very likely due to the observed increase in anthropogenic greenhouse gas concentrations.' If greenhouse gas emissions continue to grow unabated, the global average temperature will likely increase between 1.1°C and 6.4°C. This warming will unleash a myriad of impacts, the vast majority of which will adversely affect water availability, agricultural and forestry productivity, the spread of infectious diseases, extreme weather events, unique ecosystems and rare species, and the built environment in coastal areas. The risks of global climate change clearly necessitate an international effort."

Electrification of Energy

Juha Kiviluoma and Gustavo Collantes — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 -0500

The Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group of the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government organized a workshop on the Electrification of Energy.

Biofuel Production, Poverty Reduction and Private Sector Engagement: What Can We Learn from the Brazilian Experience?

Daniele Cesano — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 14:54:40 -0500

At the ETIP Seminar Series on April 15, 2008, Cesano presented the key factors that lead to the development of the Brazilian ethanol and biodiesel industries.

Addressing Global Climate Change with a Comprehensive U.S. Cap-and-Trade System

Robert N. Stavins — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 10:24:57 -0500

There is a growing impetus for a domestic U.S. climate policy that can provide meaningful reductions in emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. The paper describes and analyzes an up-stream, economy-wide CO2 cap-and-trade system which implements a gradual trajectory of emissions reductions (with inclusion over time of non-CO2 greenhouse gases), and includes mechanisms to reduce cost uncertainty.

India's Key Foreign Policy Issues

Xenia Dormandy — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 12:00:59 -0500

April 7, 2008

In recent years, India's military, diplomatic and economic energies have expanded far beyond Nehru's Non-Aligned position. But what does that mean for India, its region, and the United States?

Harvard Kennedy School Faculty Discuss Energy and Environment–Related Challenges for China and the World

John P. Holdren and Kelly Sims Gallagher — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:11:57 -0500

Harvard Kennedy School Dean David Ellwood and HKS faculty John P. Holdren and Kelly Gallagher participated in a panel discussion on "The Challenge of Energy and Environment in China" in Shanghai, China.

Workshop Ponders: Post-Kyoto, What Next?

Sasha Talcott — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 19:11:14 -0500

"The project is examining ideas that are similar to Kyoto’s top-down approach, though stronger, as well as approaches that are substantially different. Key ideas in play range from indexing emissions targets to economic growth, to bottom-up approaches, such as linking together the actions of a number of countries. One of the project’s key goals is to persuade the countries of the world not only to look at ideas similar to the Kyoto Protocol, but also to look at ideas that are very different in structure."

Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements Research Workshop

Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:05:09 -0500

The Harvard Project on International Climate Agreements hosted a research workshop in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on March 13–14, 2008. The workshop brought together key scholars and other thinkers working on international climate change policy from a variety of disciplines, including economics, political science, and law. Together, they addressed issues such as how to persuade developing countries — among them China and India — to sign on to an international agreement, how to link climate policy with international trade, and how to effectively address deforestation, which accounts for 20 percent of global emissions. Attendees presented their initial research findings and got feedback on their ideas. The workshop was preceded by a reception and dinner at the Harvard Faculty Club, which featured Todd Stern, a partner at the law firm WilmerHale, as a keynote speaker. The final drafts of the research will be published in early fall 2008.

State Fight Against Climate Change Benefits Everyone

Lawrence Goulder and Robert N. Stavins — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 21:08:00 -0500

"Because a cap-and-trade system would reduce California's overall greenhouse gas emissions, it would also lower the state's emissions of the co-pollutants. Still, it's possible, though unlikely, that co-pollutant emissions would increase in a particular locality. But here it's crucial to recognize that existing air pollution laws address such pollutants, and so any greenhouse gas allowance trades that would violate local air pollution limits would be prohibited."

The Rise of China: Energy and Environmental Implications

Kelly Sims Gallagher — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 16:05:03 -0500

In this presentation, Kelly Sims Gallagher discusses the environmental and energy implications of China's economic growth in the 20th and 21st centuries.

Ending the Energy Stalemate: A Bipartisan Strategy To Meet America’s Energy Challenges

John P. Holdren — Fri, 14 Mar 2008 15:18:19 -0500

John P. Holdren provides the context for and an overview of the recommendations made by the National Commission on Energy Policy its 2004 and 2007 reports to the President and Congress of the United States.

Toward a Liberal Realist Foreign Policy: A Memo for the Next President

Joseph S. Nye — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:57:15 -0600

"On January 20, you will inherit a legacy of trouble: Iraq, Iran, Pakistan, Palestine, North Korea for starters. Failure to manage any one of them could mire your presidency and sap your political support—and threaten the country’s future. At the same time, you must not let these inherited problems define your foreign policy. You need to put them in a larger context and create your own vision of how Americans should deal with the world."

Recovering American Leadership

Joseph S. Nye — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 13:06:03 -0600

"Leaders are those who help groups create and achieve shared goals. Traditionally, the leaders in international politics have been the most powerful states. However, while hard military power counts for more in the context of international politics than it does in democratic domestic politics, even in international relations conquest, or pure coercion, is not leadership, but mere dictation. Disproportionate power, sometimes called 'hegemony', has been associated with leadership, but appeals to values and ideology also matter, even for a hegemon...."

Allocation of Risk in Building Capital-Intensive Electricity Generation: What Role for Government?

Matthew Bunn — Fri, 29 Feb 2008 14:15:43 -0600

February 29, 2008

Matthew Bunn presented "Allocation of Risk in Building Capital-Intensive Electricity Generation: What Role for Government?" to the Harvard Electricity Policy Group, in Boulder, Colorado.

Iceland's Minister Cites Climate's Impact on International Security

Susan M. Lynch — Wed, 27 Feb 2008 13:43:12 -0600

"The interests of the High North, both locally and globally, are a trans-Atlantic issue that can only be dealt with as part of a strong and realistic security policy and maritime strategy on the part of NATO," concluded Icelandic Minister of Justice Bjorn Bjarnason at an International Security Program–sponsored lecture last fall. While the Cold War's end saw the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Iceland, climate change has reconfigured the security, economic, and geopolitical profile of the Arctic with Iceland retaining its geo-strategic importance.

Socio-Political Evaluation of Energy Deployment (SPEED): An Integrated Research Framework Analyzing Energy Technology Deployment

Jennie Stephens, Elizabeth J. Wilson and Tarla Rai Peterson — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 15:15:56 -0600

This paper proposes a systematic, interdisciplinary framework for the integrated analysis of regulatory, legal, political, economic, and social factors that influence energy technology deployment decisions at the state level.

The Dimensions of the Policy Debate Over Transportation Energy: The Case of Hydrogen in the United States

Gustavo Collantes — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:42:40 -0600

The broad concern of this paper is the study of the process by which environmental and politico-strategic concerns have driven the increase in policy activity related to transportation in the United States, and the identification of the main issues of this highly complex policy debate.