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

In this week’s special Earth Day episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Amer Jandali, founder and CEO of Future Meets Present and a consultant to the New York City Office of Nightlife, about climate solutions for the nightlife industry in New York City. Jandali discusses how major metropolises can promote sustainable practices in the service industry and advocate for climate policy, how the New York City Office of Nightlife is engaging nightclubs in climate efforts, and the climate solutions that the nightlife industry in New York has been pursuing to date.

References and recommendations:

“Climate Solutions at Work” from Project Drawdown; https://drawdown.org/publications/climate-solutions-at-work

“New York’s Scoping Plan for Climate Action, with Maureen Leddy” from the “Resources Radio” podcast; https://www.resources.org/resources-radio/new-yorks-scoping-plan-for-climate-action-with-maureen-leddy/

“Leave Looking Up” podcast; https://www.leavelookingup.com/

“Atomic Habits” by James Clear; https://jamesclear.com/atomic-habits

“We need the right kind of climate optimism” by Hannah Ritchie; https://www.vox.com/the-highlight/23622511/climate-doomerism-optimism-progress-environmentalism

Dancing toward Net Zero: Greening New York City’s Nightlife, with Amer Jandali

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Silvia Pianta, a junior scientist at the sister institution to Resources for the Future (RFF), the RFF-CMCC European Institute on Economics and the Environment. Pianta discusses the influence of social and political factors on climate and energy policymaking, how incorporating these factors into models can help inform the process of climate policymaking, and the efficacy of emissions-reduction strategies at the global and national scales.

References and recommendations:

“Emissions Lock-in, Capacity, and Public Opinion: How Insights from Political Science Can Inform Climate Modeling Efforts” by Silvia Pianta and Elina Brutschin; https://www.cogitatiopress.com/politicsandgovernance/article/view/5462

“On Time and Water” by Andri Snær Magnason; https://www.openletterbooks.org/products/on-time-and-water

Adding the Political Dimension to Climate Models, with Silvia Pianta

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

In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Michael Pahle, head of the Climate and Energy Policy Working Group at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, about the clean energy transition in Germany. Pahle discusses the history of Germany’s energy transition, the nation’s current decarbonization goals, the relationship between national climate policy and European climate policy, and lessons from decades of German energy policy.

References and recommendations:

“The Tragedy of Stopping Climate Change” by Jessi Jezewska Stevens; https://foreignpolicy.com/2021/11/09/climate-change-narratives-sense-of-an-ending/

The Energy Transition in Germany, with Michael Pahle

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Shuchi Talati, founder and executive director of the Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering, about the potential for solar geoengineering as a tool to combat climate change. Talati discusses the science behind solar geoengineering, democratic and inclusive processes for engaging all nations in deliberation over the use of solar geoengineering, and public perception of the technology.

References and recommendations:

The Alliance for Just Deliberation on Solar Geoengineering; https://sgdeliberation.org/

“An Inconvenient Truth” film; https://participant.com/film/inconvenient-truth

Episode 4 (“2059: Face of God”) and Episode 5 (“2059 Part II: Nightbirds”) of “Extrapolations” TV show; https://tv.apple.com/us/show/extrapolations/umc.cmc.4uoqxmxlnipm9zsc88bkjyjx4

“Climate Crisis Is on Track to Push One-Third of Humanity Out of Its Most Livable Environment” by Abrahm Lustgarten; https://www.propublica.org/article/climate-crisis-niche-migration-environment-population

Including Every Voice in Solar Geoengineering, with Shuchi Talati

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

In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Priya Donti, cofounder and executive director of Climate Change AI, a nonprofit that works at the intersection of climate change and machine learning. Donti discusses various types of artificial intelligence, the applications of artificial intelligence in the energy transition and climate policymaking, and the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration in the ethical development and implementation of artificial intelligence.

References and recommendations:

“Putting the ‘smarts’ into the smart grid: a grand challenge for artificial intelligence” by Sarvapali D. Ramchurn, Perukrishnen Vytelingum, Alex Rogers, and Nicholas R. Jennings; https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/2133806.2133825

“Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning” by David Rolnick, Priya L. Donti, Lynn H. Kaack, Kelly Kochanski, Alexandre Lacoste, Kris Sankaran, Andrew Slavin Ross, Nikola Milojevic-Dupont, Natasha Jaques, Anna Waldman-Brown, Alexandra Sasha Luccioni, Tegan Maharaj, Evan D. Sherwin, S. Karthik Mukkavilli, Konrad P. Kording, Carla P. Gomes, Andrew Y. Ng, Demis Hassabis, John C. Platt, Felix Creutzig, Jennifer Chayes, Yoshua Bengio; https://dl.acm.org/doi/full/10.1145/3485128

“Climate Change and AI: Recommendations for Government Action” by Peter Clutton-Brock, David Rolnick, Priya L. Donti, Lynn H. Kaack, Tegan Maharaj, Alexandra (Sasha) Luccioni, Hari Prasanna Das; https://www.gpai.ai/projects/climate-change-and-ai.pdf

“Environmental justice in the age of big data: challenging toxic blind spots of voice, speed, and expertise” by Alice Mah; https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/23251042.2016.1220849

Using Artificial Intelligence to Tackle Climate Change, with Priya Donti

In this week’s episode, host Kristin Hayes talks with Milan Elkerbout about how the European Union has responded to the Inflation Reduction Act. Elkerbout will join Resources for the Future as a fellow in October, transitioning from his role as head of the climate policy programme at the Centre for European Policy Studies. Elkerbout discusses the ongoing conversation about the Inflation Reduction Act among EU policymakers, climate policies that the European Union has proposed since the passage of the US law, and global trends in industrial and trade policy. This conversation with Hayes and Elkerbout comes on the heels of the one-year anniversary of the Inflation Reduction Act, which became law in August 2022.

References and recommendations:

“The New Economics of Industrial Policy” by Réka Juhász, Nathan Lane, and Dani Rodrik; https://drodrik.scholar.harvard.edu/publications/new-economics-industrial-policy

European Perspectives on the Inflation Reduction Act, with Milan Elkerbout

In this week’s episode, host Margaret Walls talks with Victoria Sanders and Molly Robertson. Sanders is a research analyst at the New York City Environmental Justice Alliance, and Robertson works at Resources for the Future as a research associate. They discuss a recent report that Sanders and Robertson have published alongside coauthors about the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, a 2019 law in New York State that aims to achieve net-zero emissions and specifies that at least 35 percent of the benefits should go toward disadvantaged communities. Sanders and Robertson describe the role of environmental justice communities and advocacy groups in the development and implementation of the Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act, options for implementing the law, and how these implementation options are projected to affect greenhouse gas emissions and air quality in specific communities.

References and recommendations:

“Prioritizing Justice in New York State Climate Policy: Cleaner Air for Disadvantaged Communities?” by Alan Krupnick, Molly Robertson, Wesley Look, Eddie Bautista, Victoria Sanders, Eunice Ko, Dan Shawhan, Joshua Linn, Miguel Jaller, Narasimha Rao, Miguel Poblete Cazenave, Yang Zhang, Kai Chen, and Pin Wang; https://www.rff.org/publications/reports/environmental-justice-communities-new-york-state-climate-policy-clcpa/

“Broken Ground” podcast; https://brokengroundpodcast.org/

“Never Out of Season: How Having the Food We Want When We Want It Threatens Our Food Supply and Our Future” by Rob Dunn; https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/rob-dunn/never-out-of-season/9780316260695

Climate Policy and Environmental Justice in New York, with Victoria Sanders and Molly Robertson

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi talks with Alexander Gazmararian, a doctoral candidate at Princeton University, and Dustin Tingley, a professor at Harvard University. They discuss how a national transition to a clean energy system may affect communities with economies that historically have depended on fossil fuel production; the moral, economic, and political reasons for the US government to oversee a energy transition in these communities; and how a bottom-up approach to policy could help facilitate the transition.

References and recommendations:

“Uncertain Futures: How to Unlock the Climate Impasse” by Alexander F. Gazmararian and Dustin Tingley; https://www.uncertainfuturesbook.com/

“Can Federal Efforts Help Build Economic Resilience in New Mexico’s Oil and Gas Communities?” by Daniel Raimi and Zachary Whitlock; https://www.rff.org/publications/reports/economic-resilience-new-mexico-oil-and-gas-communities-energy-transition/

“The Fight to Save the Town” by Michelle Wilde Anderson; https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Fight-to-Save-the-Town/Michelle-Wilde-Anderson/9781501195990

“How We Survive” podcast; https://www.marketplace.org/collection/using-tech-to-adapt-to-climate-change/

“White Gold” episode of the “How We Survive” podcast; https://www.marketplace.org/shows/how-we-survive/white-gold/

Heatmap News; https://heatmap.news/

Bottom-Up Solutions for Fossil Fuel Communities, with Alexander Gazmararian and Dustin Tingley

In this IIEA webinar, hosted live from COP28 in Dubai, Alex White, Director General of the IIEA, and a panel of experts assess the progress of COP28 towards achieving global climate change mitigation and adaptation objectives. With the Summit due to conclude on 12 December, Mr White and the panel assess the state of play of ongoing discussions and negotiations, and if the Summit is likely to be successful in keeping hopes of a 1.5 degrees Celsius limit to global warming alive.

About the Speaker:

Alex White is the Director General of the Institute of International and European Affairs (IIEA), and a Senior Counsel at the Irish Bar. He was a TD from 2011 to 2016, during which time he held the positions of Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (2014 – 2016), Minister for Primary Care (2012 – 2014) and Committee Chair of the Oireachtas (Irish Parliament) Committee on Finance, Public Expenditure & Reform (2011 – 2012). Prior to serving as a TD, Alex was a member of Seanad Eireann (2007 – 2011), a councillor with South Dublin County Council (2004 – 2007) and a radio producer with RTÉ (1984 – 1994). He is a graduate of Trinity College Dublin and of the King’s Inns.

Reflections from COP28 in the United Arab Emirates

In this week’s episode, host Daniel Raimi reviews developments in energy and environmental policy in 2023 and previews potential developments in 2024 with Karen Palmer, a senior fellow at Resources for the Future, and Joseph Majkut, director of the Energy Security and Climate Change Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. Palmer and Majkut discuss reforms that could speed up the construction of energy infrastructure, the increasing prevalence of trade policies that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the intersection of US goals for decarbonization and foreign policy, and notable developments in policy at the state and local levels.

References and recommendations:

“How to Know a Person” by David Brooks; https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/652822/how-to-know-a-person-by-david-brooks/

“The Big Dig” podcast; https://www.wgbh.org/podcasts/the-big-dig

2023 Year in Review: Energy and Environmental Policy, with Karen Palmer and Joseph Majkut

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

Introducing episode 3 of season four! Our hosts Mark and Simon continue this series with a discussion on the fallout from COP28 for the UK, and what needs to be done on a national, governmental and local level.

Joining them are our guests Ian Townsend (ONS Divisional Director of Environment), Robbie Macpherson, (APPG lead at Uplift), Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at Green Alliance) and Deputy Mayor for Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority, Shirley Rodrigues, to talk national feeling and climate policy.

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast 
Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters 

References
ONS release calendar: https://www.ons.gov.uk/releasecalendar/
Key ONS environmental releases: 
Important issues facing the UK (5.1-5.13), http://bit.ly/ONSimpactCOL
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts
Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain Statistical bulletins:
https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/wellbeing/bulletins/publicopinionsandsocialtrendsgreatbritain/previousReleases
Business insights and impact on the economy bulletins: https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/business/businessservices/bulletins/businessinsightsandimpactontheukeconomy/previousReleases

Date of episode recording: 14th and 23rd February 2024  
Duration: 27 mins, 14 secs  
Language of episode: English 
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee 
Guests: 
Ian Townsend, ONS, Divisional Director of Environment 
Annabel Rice, Political Adviser at Green Alliance and UCL alum (Environment, Politics and Society 2021)
Robbie MacPherson, Political and Climate Change APPG Lead, Uplift
Shirley Rodrigues, Deputy Mayor, Environment and Energy at Greater London Authority 
Producer: Adam Batstone

Season 4: Post COP28 - Where does national climate action go from here?

In this episode, we’re moving beyond the UK to explore global climate policy in the wake of COP28. Hosts Mark and Simon are joined by Pierre Cannet, the Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth, to discuss how the law can be used to create change.  

More about Client Earth: https://www.clientearth.org/

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters  

Date of episode recording: 16th February 2024 
Duration: 27.12 minutes  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests: Pierre Cannet, Global Head of Public Affairs and Policy at Client Earth 
Producer: Adam Batstone

Tackling climate change in the courts with Pierre Cannet of Client Earth

Season 4: Post COP28 - Global climate action

What are individuals doing to fight climate change and how important is the role of local activism? This episode will be focusing on individual climate action, with our guests chatting to our hosts about the role of activism in initiating change. Featuring Louise Harris (songwriter and Just Stop Oil activist), Versha Jones, (Climate Reality Project - Volunteer National Coordinator, UK) Annabel Rice (Political Advisor at the Green Alliance) and Kris de Meyer (Senior Research Fellow in Climate Communications University College London, Dept of Earth Sciences).  

‘We Tried’ song by Louise Harris https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o2XV20G85Tg 

The Climate Reality Project https://www.climaterealityproject.org/ 

For more information and to access the transcript: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/climate-change/podcasts-videos/generation-one-climate-podcast  

Sign up to our climate newsletter here: https://r1.dotdigital-pages.com/p/6T06-7DL/subscribe-to-ucl-climate-hubs-newsletters  

Date of episode recording: 14th February and 8th March 
Duration: 39.20 minutes  
Language of episode: English  
Presenter: Mark Maslin and Simon Chin-Yee  
Guests:  
Louise Harris, Just Stop Oil  
Versha Jones, The Climate Reality Project  
Annabel Rice, Green Alliance 
Kris de Meyer, Department of Earth Sciences, UCL 
Producer: Adam Batstone

Season 4: Post COP28 - Where does individual climate action go from here?

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

PHOTO: by Gustavo Quepón on Unsplash

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Resources Radio is a weekly podcast by Resources for the Future. Each week we talk to leading experts about climate change, electricity, ecosystems, and more, making the latest research accessible to everyone.

New tracks tagged #Climate Policy