vlog

  • Online
    Session Date
    -
    Application Deadline
    Program Fee
    $4,900
    Faculty Chair
    Robert Stavins
    Program Director
    Ariana Diaz
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    Executive Certificate: This program is a core program in the Economic Development and Public Policy concentrations. This program can also be used as a third program for any concentration in the Executive Certificate series.
     

Program Overview

Addressing the urgent challenges of climate change requires a concerted, coordinated effort among governments at the sub-national, national, regional, and global levels. It also demands technological innovation to and understanding mitigation policies based on the latest research.

In addition, these innovations and cooperative global initiatives must be economically feasible. All of which means that today’s leaders in government, industry, and other fields must develop policies that effectively blend insights into the science, economics, and politics of climate change.

Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics is an online executive program developed by Harvard Kennedy School faculty to address these challenges. Led by Faculty Chair Robert Stavins, Director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program and the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements, this five-day interactive program is designed for managers, analysts, and leaders both inside and outside governments. Together with a global cohort, you will explore the latest research, analytical tools, and conceptual frameworks to better understand climate-related policies.

illustration of schedule

PROGRAM CURRICULUM

In Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics, you and peers from around the world will examine the basic science of climate change as well as public policy aimed at mitigation. Group interaction, individual projects, and carefully selected readings, videos, and online networking sessions complement live faculty sessions.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The curriculum for Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics explores:

  • The economics underlying effective policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., “mitigation” policies)
  • The design and implementation of mitigation policy at the sub-national, national, regional (groups of nations), and global levels
  • The goals, structure, and history of the Paris Agreement—and prospects for the agreement’s successful implementation
  • The important role of technological innovation in addressing climate change, with a focus on enhancing energy efficiency
  • Strategies to adapt to the impacts of climate change, especially in urban areas, and enhance infrastructure resilience

Application Information

Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics is designed for senior leaders with wide-ranging backgrounds and responsibilities. Those who will find value in this program include:

  • Government officials with responsibility for climate change and energy policy, including improving infrastructure resilience
  • Senior staff at intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations dealing with climate and energy
  • Executives at large corporations affected by environmental or climate regulation or that manufacture products or provide services in the energy sector
  • Professionals in financial, accounting, or legal services whose clients may be affected by environmental or climate regulation

Online sessions take place each weekday during the length of the program. Participants will be expected to spend about five hours in preparation for the program and about three hours working after each class session. View the draft program schedule. Note that module titles, speakers, and sequence may change.

Learn more about Climate Change Policy: Economics and Politics  from Faculty Chair Robert Stavins, the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development.

Faculty & Research

Robert Stavins Photo

Robert Stavins

A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development
617-495-1820

Kelsey Jack

Kelsey Jack

Associate Professor of Environmental and Development Economics, UC Santa Barbara

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