A discussion on energy and climate policy with John Graham, dean emeritus and still a professor at the Paul O'Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University, and former Administrator of the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs (OIRA). See a transcript of the conversation here: https://heep.hks.harvard.edu/files/heep/files/john_graham_podcast_transcript_5.7.2021.pdf .

Electric Vehicles, Energy and Climate Policy: A Conversation with John Graham

John Holdren, former director of the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, expressed his optimism in the Biden Administration’s approach to 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 the podcast transcript here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/john-holdren-environmental-insights-podcast-transcript.pdf

Assessing the Biden Administration's Climate Policy: A Conversation with John Holdren

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

Orley Ashenfelter, the Joseph Douglas Green 1895 Professor of Economics at Princeton University, outlined both the positive and negative impacts of climate change on grape growing and the wine industry in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program." Read a transcription of the interview here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/files/publication/orley-ashenfelter-podcast-transcript-4-8-2022.pdf

The Economics of Wine: A Conversation with Orley Ashenfelter

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

Having served as the Deputy Assistant Secretary for Climate & Energy Economics in the U.S. Department of the Treasury in 2021-2022, Catherine Wolfram has some particularly relevant insights to offer on the development and implementation of climate change policy.  Wolfram is the Cora Jane Flood Professor of Business Administration at the Haas School of Business at the University of California, and is currently on leave at the Harvard Kennedy School. She discussed her time in government service and her thoughts and hopes for a carbon pricing scheme during 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/catherine-wolfram-podcast-transcript.pdf

Government Service, Carbon Pricing, and Climate Policy: A Conversation with Catherine Wolfram

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

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

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

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

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

A rising star in the field of environmental economics, Anna Russo, a Junior Fellow with the Harvard Society of Fellows, shared her unique perspective on the collaborative environment at Harvard, her research methodology likened to solving puzzles, and the importance of combining diverse data sources to derive meaningful insights in the newest episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.”

Read a transcript of the podcast: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/anna-russo-podcast-transcript-september-2025.pdf

Investigating Complex Market Design Questions: A Conversation with Anna Russo

Longtime national political advisor John Podesta shared his insights on climate policy, the challenges of securing bipartisan support, and the global push toward clean energy in this episode of “Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program.”

Read the transcript of this episode: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-09/john-podesta-podcast-transcript-september-2025.pdf

Climate Policy Progress and Challenges: A Conversation with John Podesta

Esteemed energy economist Catherine Wolfram shared her thoughts on the 30th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP30) and on the prospects for climate coalitions to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions in this 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 this episode here: https://www.belfercenter.org/sites/default/files/2025-12/catherine-wolfram-podcast-transcript-december-2025.pdf

COP30 and the Prospects for Climate Coalitions: A Conversation with Cathryn Wolfram

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) decision to rescind the 2009 Greenhouse Gas Endangerment Finding is drawing sharp rebuke from scientists and environmental advocates, but the decision may not withstand challenges in the courts. That’s the assessment offered by Jody Freeman, the Archibald Cox Professor of Law at Harvard Law School, 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/2026-03/jody-freeman-podcast-transcript-march-2026.pdf

Law Professor Jody Freeman Unpacks the EPA's Decision to Rescind the Endangerment Finding

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

Hosted by Robert N. 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, Environmental Insights is intended to promote public discourse on important issues at the intersection of economics and environmental policy. 

“Environmental Insights is intended to inform and educate listeners about important issues relating to an economic perspective on developments in environmental policy, including the design and implementation of market-based approaches to environmental protection,” said Stavins. “We speak with accomplished Harvard colleagues, other academics, and practitioners who are working on solving some of the most challenging public problems we face.”

Environmental Insights is hosted on SoundCloud and is also available on Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Pocket Casts, Podcast Addict, and Spotify. 

PHOTO: by Gustavo Quepón on Unsplash

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