Suzi Kerr, the chief economist at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) and founder of the MOTU Economic and Public Policy Research think tank in her home country of New Zealand, shared her perspectives on international climate change policy in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read the transcript here: https://heep.hks.harvard.edu/files/heep/files/suzi-kerr-podcast-transcript.pdf.

Assessing the Economic Dimensions of Environmental Policy: A Conversation with Suzi Kerr

Sheila Olmstead, professor of public affairs at the LBJ School of Public Affairs at the University of Texas, Austin, shared her thoughts on US water policy and environmental justice in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read the interview transcript here: https://heep.hks.harvard.edu/files/heep/files/sheila_olmstead_interview_transcript_01.pdf.

Thoughts on Water Management and Environmental Justice: A Conversation with Sheila Olmstead

Robert Pindyck, the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi Professor of Economics and Finance at MIT's Sloan School of Management, presented his case for additional research on climate adaptation and the social costs of climate change in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read a transcript of the interview here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/robert-pindyck-podcast-transcript.pdf

Understanding Climate Change Adaptation: A Conversation with Robert Pindyck

Navroz Dubash, professor at the Centre for Policy Research in New Delhi, made a compelling argument on behalf of the power of international institutions and national politics to guide climate policy in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read a transcript of the interview here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/navroz-dubash-environmental-insights-podcast-transcript.pdf

The Institutional Dimensions of Climate Policy: A Conversation with Navroz Dubash

Jonathan Wiener, the William and Thomas Perkins Professor of Law at Duke Law School, shared his insights on the prospects for federal fiscal, legislative, and regulatory instruments to positively impact climate policy in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. Read a transcript of the interview here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/jonathan_wiener_environmental_insights-podcast-transcription_2.pdf

The Prospects for U.S. Environmental Policy: A Conversation with Jonathan Wiener

Harvard University Professor James Stock, who serves as Harvard's inaugural Vice Provost for Climate and Sustainability and director of the new Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, expressed his hopes for a smooth domestic energy transition during the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the interview here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/james-stock-podcast-transcription-v2.pdf

Pursuing Practical Solutions to the Climate Challenge: A Conversation with James Stock

Visionary environmental regulator Mary Nichols, whose groundbreaking work as Chair of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) helped pave the way for many of the nation’s current environmental laws and regulations, shared her perspectives on her California and Washington D.C. experience during the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/mary_nichols_podcast_transcript.pdf.

How the California Experience can Impact Global Climate Policy: A Conversation with Mary Nichols

Esteemed economist Geoffrey Heal lauded recent technological advancements while also expressing his frustration with the impact of international efforts to combat climate change policy during the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/geoffrey-heal-podcast-transcript.pdf.

Natural Resources & Environmental Economics: A Conversation with Geoffrey Heal

Resource economist UC Berkeley Professor Meredith Fowlie spoke about the complex regulatory challenges and ‘just transition’ dynamics of climate policy in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/meredith-fowlie-podcast-transcript.pdf

The Regulatory and 'Just Transition' Dynamics of Climate Policy: A Conversation with Meredith Fowlie

Energy economist Karen Palmer, renowned for her research on the nation’s electric power sector, shared her insights on electricity regulation and deregulation, carbon pricing, and climate change policy in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.”

Read a transcript of the interview: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/karen-palmer-podcast-transcript.pdf

The Electricity Sector and Climate Policy: A Discussion with Karen Palmer

Economic historian Emma Rothschild, the Jeremy and Jane Knowles Professor of History at Harvard, lauded the efforts of young scholars to discover local solutions to mitigate the impacts of global climate change in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the interview: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/emma-rothschild-podcast-transcript-v2.pdf.

Emma Rothschild on Adam Smith, Methane Emissions, and Climate Change

With the start of the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change just days away, environmental economist Nat Keohane is expressing optimism that the new global stocktake will incentivize participating nations to step up their collective efforts to slow the rise of global temperatures. Keohane is the guest in a special pre-COP episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/nat-keohane-podcast-transcript.pdf

Previewing COP 28: A Conversation with Nat Keohane

With 28th Conference of the Parties (COP 28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change well underway, Jonathan Banks, the global director of the Methane Pollution Prevention Program at the Clean Air Task Force (CATF), is the guest in a special mid-COP episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the interview: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/jonathan-banks-podcast-transcript.pdf

Analyzing COP 28: A Conversation with Jonathan Banks

Amy Harder, the founding Executive Editor of the climate policy publication Cipher News, expressed her surprise with several positive outcomes from the recent 28th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 28) in Dubai during a special episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” 

The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/amy-harder-podcast-transcript.pdf

Examining the Outcomes of COP 28: A Conversation with Amy Harder

Eminent Harvard economist Richard Zeckhauser presented arguments for additional climate adaptation measures in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/richard-zeckhauser-podcast-transcript.pdf

Making the Case for Climate Adaptation: A Conversation with Richard Zeckhauser

UCLA Law School Professor Kimberly Clausing gives the Biden Administration high praise for its climate policies in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/kim-clausing-podcast-transcript.pdf.

The Intersection of Trade and Climate Policy: A Conversation with Kim Clausing

Behavioral economist Hunt Allcott, Professor of Global Environmental Policy at the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University, questioned the impact of new and used electric vehicle (EV) subsidies in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” 

The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcription of the podcast here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/hunt-allcott-podcast-transcript.pdf.

Impacts of Electric Vehicle Subsidies: A Conversation with Hunt Allcott

International relations expert Meghan O'Sullivan, the Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at Harvard Kennedy School, expressed her hopes for achieving successful international climate policy solutions in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/osullivan-podcast-transcript-v2.pdf

Energy, Geopolitics, and Climate Change: A Conversation with Meghan O'Sullivan

The rise of political populism and economic protectionism are serious barriers impeding efforts to combat global climate change. Robert Lawrence, the Albert Williams Professor of International Trade and Investment at Harvard Kennedy School, expressed those concerns in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” 

The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/robert_lawrence_podcast_transcript.pdf

International Trade and Climate Change Policy: A Conversation with Robert Lawrence

The ways in which land use and environmental policies intersect with natural resource sustainability and climate change was the focus of discussion in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program” featuring Charles Taylor, assistant professor of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/charles-taylor-podcast-transcript.pdf

Land Use Policy and Climate Change: A Conversation with Charles Taylor

How climate change is impacting American agriculture and land use was the focus of discussion in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program” featuring  Wolfram Schlenker, the Ray Goldberg Professor of the Global Food System at the Harvard Kennedy School. The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Read a transcript of the podcast here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2024-09/wolfram-schlenker-podcast-transcript-9-9-2024.pdf.

The Impacts of Climate on Agriculture and Land Use: A Conversation with Wolfram Schlenker

The use of economy-wide and integrated assessment modeling to better understand climate change impacts and policy was the focus of discussion in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program” featuring Karen Fisher-Vanden, the Distinguished Professor of Environmental and Resource Economics and Public Policy at Pennsylvania State University. 

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2024-10/karen-fisher-vanden-podcast-transcript.pdf.

Using Modeling to Better Understand Climate Policy: A Conversation with Karen Fisher-Vanden

Max Bearak, energy policy and global climate negotiations reporter for the New York Times shared his perspectives on the recently concluded 29th Conference of the Parties (COP 29) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” 

The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program and hosted by Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development at Harvard Kennedy School and director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program and the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements.

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2024-12/max-bearak-podcast-transcript-dec-2024.pdf

Assessing the Outcome of COP29: A Conversation with New York Times Climate Reporter Max Bearak

Vijay Vaitheeswaran, the global energy and climate innovation editor at The Economist, expressed his appreciation for bottom-up climate policy solutions in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.” The podcast is produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program (HEEP) and hosted by HEEP Director Robert Stavins.

Read a transcript of the episode: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-01/vijay-vaitheeswaran-podcast-transcript.pdf

Energy Policy, Climate Change, and Global Politics: A Conversation with Vijay Vaitheeswaran

Rob speaks with Joseph Aldy, the Teresa and John Heinz Professor of the Practice of Environmental Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, about the myriad ways in which the new Trump administration could impact domestic climate, energy, and environmental policy.

Read a transcript of the podcast here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-03/joseph-aldy-podcast-transcript-march-2025.pdf

Trump 2.0 and its Impact on Climate Policy: A Conversation with Joseph Aldy

In this episode, Rob speaks with Nicholas Burns, the Roy and Barbara Goodman Family Professor of the Practice of Diplomacy and International Relations at Harvard Kennedy School about his time serving as U.S. Ambassador to China and on his perspectives about bilateral efforts to address climate change. 

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-06/nick-burns-podcast-transcript-june-2025.pdf.

Photo credit: Grace DuVal/Harvard University

Nicholas Burns on his time as U.S. Ambassador to China and on efforts to address climate change.

In this episode, Rob speaks with Elaine Buckberg, Senior Fellow at Harvard's Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability, about the future of the EV market, both domestic and international. 

Read the transcript of this episode: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-07/elaine-buckberg-podcast-transcript-july-2025.pdf

The Future of EVs: A Conversation with Elaine Buckberg

In this interview, former Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Gina McCarthy discusses her many years of experience in community health, statewide government, and at the EPA, where she focused on initiatives relating to public health and the environment, including work on domestic climate policy, and the historic 2016 Paris Climate Agreement, in which more than 150 countries committed to reducing their greenhouse gas emissions. Read a transcription of the interview here: https://tinyurl.com/4jrwjwem.

Leadership for Climate Change Policy: A Conversation with Gina McCarthy

Daniel Esty, the Hillhouse Professor of Environmental Law and Policy at Yale University and author of the new book, “Values at Work: Sustainable Investing and ESG Reporting,” expressed his optimism for the prospects of climate policy in the Biden Administration in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.

Changes for US Climate Policy: A Conversation with Daniel Esty

William Hogan, the Raymond Plank Research Professor of Global Energy Policy and director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group, outlined the causes and consequences of the recent Texas energy crisis in the latest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program,” a podcast produced by the Harvard Environmental Economics Program. See a transcription of the interview here: https://tinyurl.com/3n2adu32.

The Texas Energy Crisis of 2021: A Conversation with William Hogan

Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.  

PHOTO: by Gustavo Quepón on Unsplash

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