The planet is warming. Keeping that warming to a manageable level and dealing with its consequences are among humanity’s greatest challenges in the years and decades ahead. The Kennedy School’s expertise in the interlinked issues of ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT is helping to meet that challenge. Here we highlight some of the people, programs, teaching, and ideas involved.
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Robert Stavins
A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development
The develops innovative answers to today’s complex environmental issues by bringing together faculty and graduate students from across Harvard University who are engaged in research, teaching, and outreach in environmental, energy, and natural resource economics and related public policy.
The identifies and communicates scientifically sound, economically sensible, and politically pragmatic public policy options for addressing global climate change.
The GOVERNANCE OF SOLAR GEOENGINEERING project advances our understanding of a key set of governance issues and aims to move the research community toward a shared set of assumptions and consensus on options for solar geoengineering governance.
ECONOMICS OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY API-135: The course provides a survey, from the perspective of economics, of public policy issues associated with environmental protection and natural resources management.
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Rema Hanna
Jeffrey Cheah Professor of South-East Asia Studies
has examined the interplay between economic development, environmental pollution, and health risks to the most vulnerable populations. A recent project helped devise the world’s first emissions trading system for particulate air pollution in Surat, India.
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Meghan O’Sullivan
Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs
The , launched in 2011, aims to improve our understanding of how demand and supply of both conventional and alternative energy shape international politics–and vice versa.
GEOPOLITICS OF ENERGY IGA-412: Examining the intersection between international security, politics, and energy, the course explores how countries shape their grand strategies to meet their energy needs, and how such actions have implications for other countries and global politics.
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Cristine Russell
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy
CONTROVERSIES IN CLIMATE, ENERGY, AND THE MEDIA IGA-451M: As dire scientific warnings about climate change increase and mainstream news outlets shrink, the internet provides a growing global megaphone for confusing and often contradictory information and misinformation. This course is designed to help students navigate the rapidly changing media landscape.
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David Keith
Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences
The Harvard-wide brings together an interdisciplinary group of faculty from across the University to accelerate understanding of the effectiveness and risks of solar geoengineering.
John Holdren
Teresa and John Heinz Professor of Environmental Policy
Nowhere is climate change more pronounced than in the Arctic, and the Belfer Center’s works to improve our understanding of changes in this region and their effects on the environment, the people, and the rest of the planet.
POLICY AND SOCIAL INNOVATIONS FOR THE CHANGING ARCTIC IGA-671M (with Halla Lógadottir): Through the lens of the rapidly changing Arctic region, this course gives students experience in developing policy and social innovations to address complex policy challenges at the intersection of the environment and human well-being.
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Edward Cunningham
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy
The ASIA ENERGY AND SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE provides scholarly analysis and independent research at the intersection of innovation, energy policy, and technology, and environmental outcomes in Asia. (Belfer/Ash/Sustainability Science Program)
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Joseph Aldy
Professor of the Practice of Public Policy
HARVARD PROJECT ON CLIMATE AGREEMENTS
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Robert Paarlberg
Adjunct Professor of Public Policy
GLOBAL FOOD POLITICS AND POLICY IGA-422: The policy landscape around food and farming in rich and poor countries is highly contested, with scientists, farmers, agribusiness, environmentalists, consumer organizations, and social justice advocates often holding sharply different views. The course includes a focus on the environmental impact of various farming and livestock systems.
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Halla Lógadottir MC/MPA 2017
Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy
The ENERGY-CLIMATE CHALLENGE IGA-411 (with Henry Lee): The greatest challenge at the intersection of science, technology, and public policy in the 21st century has arisen because society is getting 80 percent of the energy it needs using fuels and technologies that are disrupting the globe’s climate. This course examines the character and magnitude of this challenge and the policy choices germane to meeting it.
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William Clark
Harvey Brooks Professor of International Science, Public Policy and Human Development
The SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE PROGRAM, led by Bill Clark, addresses the central challenge of sustainable development: how to foster shared prosperity and reduce poverty while protecting the environment.
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William Hogan
Raymond Plank Research Professor of Global Energy
The ’s agenda includes the economics of electricity production and use, the evolution of the industry and its regulatory institutions, transition paths and strategies, and related public policy goals.
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Daniel Schrag
Sturgis Hooper Professor of Geology and Professor of Environmental Science and Engineering, FAS
For nearly 40 years, the has been bringing science and technology into the design of public policy. Its research has included energy access and security and reducing vulnerability to climate change.
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Henry Lee MC/MPA 1974
Senior Lecturer in Public Policy
Today, environmental policy is an integral part of energy policy, economic development, and security. The strives to meet a global demand for multiple needs and values across both disciplinary and geographic boundaries.
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