Shows
Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics ProgramEnergy Policy, Climate Change, and Global Politics: A Conversation with Vijay VaitheeswaranVijay 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.pdf2024-12-2029 min
Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics ProgramAssessing the Outcome of COP29: A Conversation with New York Times Climate Reporter Max BearakMax 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 tran...2024-12-0430 min
Harvard ThinkingClimate alignment is no easy taskThe planet is only getting hotter. Significant resources need to be devoted to both climate mitigation and adaptation efforts, requiring cooperation at all levels of governance. But what do we do when the need for long-term cooperation is overshadowed by short-term interests? Host Samantha Laine Perfas is joined by environmental economist Robert Stavins, historian Emmanuel Akyeampong, and global health expert Caroline Buckee to talk about the challenges in addressing climate change.2024-03-1323 min
The Road to COP 28 PodcastThe Road to COP 28: Cautious Optimism on Climate and COP 28On a special episode of our Road to COP 28 series, Harvard University's Dr. Robert Stavins joins host David Rothkopf to share his perspectives on the stakes and objectives for the coming global climate summit. Dr. Stavins breaks down the history of COP, what this year’s conference needs to succeed, and why he remains cautiously optimistic about the future of the fight against climate change. Don’t miss it.This material is distributed by TRG Advisory Services, LLC on behalf of the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in the U.S.. Additional information is available at the...2023-10-2338 min
ColloquyBuying Time in the Fight Against Climate ChangeAccording to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, July 2023 was actually the hottest month ever recorded on Earth. The heat wave caused hundreds of deaths, thousands of hospitalizations, and billions of dollars in damages. It also exacerbated droughts, wildfires, and power outages. The culprit behind this unprecedented heat is climate change, driven by the accumulation of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. The most well-known greenhouse gas is carbon dioxide, which comes from burning fossil fuels. Often overlooked is methane, which accounts for about 16 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and has more than doubled since pre-industrial times. ...2023-09-0125 min
ASEAN SpeaksSustainability: Carbon Removal, Sequestration May Take Centrestage At COP28As momentum builds up towards COP28 that will take place in the UAE, we discuss with Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development, at the Harvard Kennedy School, on the realities of climate talks, and what could take centrestage, and the progress of the loss and damage fund. We also discuss how ASEAN could elevate its voice in climate negotiations. Stavins was in Singapore and gave the inaugural Albert Winsemius Lecture at the Nanyang Technological University.
Presenter & Producer: Noelle Lim, Maybank IBG2023-06-0320 min
PolicyCastThere's groundbreaking new science to help cut methane emissions, but is there the political will?Harvard Kennedy School Professor Robert Stavins and Professor Daniel Jacob of Harvard’s School of Engineering and Applied Sciences are at the forefront of new efforts to monitor and control methane, a potent greenhouse gas. It used to seem like methane wasn't such a big deal. It was that other climate gas, the one that was the butt of cow flatulence jokes and that only stayed in the atmosphere for a decade or so. But since important global warming targets are now just 7 years away and science has developed a better understanding of both methane’s pervasiveness and its pote...2023-02-0840 min
Ingmar Schumacher Podcasts#MeetTopEnvEcon – Robert StavinsRobert Stavins Professor of Energy & Economic Development at John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, USA. HomepageBlog It provides me with a great pleasure to present to you Professor Robert Stavins in the Meet Top Environmental Economists interview series. Robert is a Professor of Energy & Economic Development at John F. Kennedy School […]2022-01-1107 min
Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics ProgramEnergy, Climate Policy, and Social Justice: A Conversation with Vicky BaileyRobert Stavins, the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy & Economic Development and Director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program speaks with Vicky Bailey, former commissioner of the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission, former member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and former president and CEO of PSI Energy Inc. The discussion ranges from energy and climate change policy to social and economic justice.2020-09-0433 min
Resources RadioReflecting on Solar Geoengineering, with David KeithThis week, host Daniel Raimi talks with Harvard University Professor David Keith about solar geoengineering. Keith describes the variety of ways that solar geoengineering could work; some of its risks at local, regional, and global scales; recent small-scale experiments; and what might be needed to deploy a larger-scale research program. Raimi and Keith also discuss public policies related to potential deployment technologies, including the substantial issues surrounding governance and geopolitics.
References and recommendations:
"Inner Ranges" by Geoff Powter; https://rmbooks.com/book/inner-ranges/
"Pilgrims of the Vertical" by Joseph E. Taylor III; https://www.hup.harvard.edu/catalog.php?isbn=9780674052871
"...2020-05-1231 minResources RadioLessons from 50 Years of the Clean Air Act, with Maureen CropperThis week, host Daniel Raimi talks with Maureen Cropper, an economics professor at the University of Maryland and senior fellow at Resources for the Future (RFF). Raimi asks Maureen about a paper she recently coauthored, which takes a retrospective look at the Clean Air Act, as this year we mark the 50th anniversary of its 1970 amendments. With more than 50 years of data since the original Clean Air Act came into existence in 1963, Cropper et al.'s new paper reviews how the law has been implemented, drawing out key lessons and research questions that we may be able to apply to...2020-04-1934 min
Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics ProgramThe politics of climate change: A Conversation with Joseph AldyRobert Stavins, director of the Harvard Environmental Economics Program, speaks with Joseph Aldy, professor of the practice of public policy at Harvard Kennedy School. The discussion covers Aldy's experience in government service, and the prospects for meaningful and effective climate change policy in the United States.2020-03-0930 min
Environmental Insights: Conversations on policy and practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics ProgramThe potential promises and pitfalls of solar geoengineering: A conversation with David KeithProfessor Robert Stavins interviews David Keith, Gordon McKay Professor of Applied Physics at the Harvard John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, considered one of the world's leading scholars on solar geoengineering.2020-02-0729 min
PolicyCastThe climate crisis was caused by economics, can economics be part of the solution?The New York Times called it one of the worst outcomes in a quarter-century of climate negotiations. United Nations Secretary General António Guterres said the international community "lost an important opportunity to show increased ambition on mitigation, adaptation and finance to tackle the climate crisis” at the recent UN Climate Summit in Madrid.But Harvard Kennedy School Professor Robert Stavins says global climate negotiators still accomplished something important last month at the COP25 conference—because of what they didn't do. Instead of approving lax rules full of loopholes that big polluting countries like Brazil and Australia were...2020-01-0637 min
Resources RadioWas Madrid a COP-Out? Assessing COP25, with Nathaniel KeohaneThis week, host Daniel Raimi talks with Nathaniel Keohane, senior vice president for climate at Environmental Defense Fund. In this episode, Keohane gives a readout on the outcomes of this year’s annual international climate negotiations, called COP25. He and Raimi talk about the goals of the conference; whether those goals were achieved; and several other issues, including conference protests, the role of the US delegation, and what to look forward to at next year’s COP26.
There was so much to talk about that the episode extends about ten minutes beyond the usual length of the podcast. Given the impo...2019-12-2140 min
Resources RadioEconomics in the Age of Environmental Policy, with Robert StavinsHost Daniel Raimi talks with Robert Stavins, the A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development at Harvard’s John F. Kennedy School of Government. Daniel and Rob discuss the role that economics has played in shaping environmental policy, both in the past and today. As major proposals like the Green New Deal seem to be turning away from market-based approaches, long-advocated by most economists, Rob shares how he sees the role of environmental economics in today’s environmental policy landscape.
References and recommendations:
"Harlan County USA"; http://www.cabincreekfilms.com/films_harlancounty.html
"Columbia Energy Exchange"; https://energypolicy.colu...2019-07-0832 min
After Hours2018 Awards EpisodeTaped a few days before heading off for the holidays, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their After Hours Awards for 2018, including their awards for Best/Worst Trend of the Year, Biggest Fail of the Year, Sleeper of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Work Cut Out for Them Next Year, Most Under-Reported Story of the Year, Most Over-Hyped Story of the Year, Person of the Year, and Favorite Entertainment of the Year.Some recent picks:Atavist MagazineAtlanta, Season 2 (Netflix)Bloomberg article (“Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women At All Cost“) and Response from Jeff...2018-12-2635 minAfter HoursNot Everyone Can Build a Digital Ad Business, Plus Debating Radical TransparencyYoungme, Felix, and Mihir discuss Verizon’s write-down on Oath (Yahoo, AOL) and the challenges with building a digital advertising business. They also debate the notion of Radical Transparency, before sharing their After Hours picks for the week.Some recent picks:Bloomberg article (“Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women At All Cost“) and Response from Jefferies CEO Richard Handler21c Museum HotelsThe Truth As Told By Mason Buttle (by Leslie Connor)TikTok (phone app)Robert Stavins (follow on Twitter)FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)RBG (Documentary on Amazon Video)The Man in the High C...2018-12-1931 minAfter HoursThe Student Debt Crisis, and the FIRE MovementYoungme, Felix, and Mihir discuss staggering student debt levels, the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Movement, and share their After Hours picks for the week.For interested listeners:The Basics of FIREMr. Money Moustache (FIRE blog)Some recent picks:Today, Explained Podcast, Nov. 30 Episode (Humans 2.0)Babylon Berlin (Netflix)“The Prison Inside Me” (Reuters)Robert Stavins (follow on Twitter)FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)RBG (Documentary on Amazon Video)The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Video)The Ringer websiteJanesville (Amy Goldstein)Airtable (software)Small Fry (Lisa Brennan-Jobs)You can email your comments and idea...2018-12-1228 minAfter HoursMicrosoft Trending Up, Apple Trending Down…? Plus, The Marriott Data BreachYoungme, Felix, and Mihir debate whether Microsoft is trending up while Apple is trending down, before discussing the Marriott (Starwood) data breach. They also share their After Hours picks for the week.Some recent picks:Robert Stavins (follow on Twitter)FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data)RBG (Documentary on Amazon Video)The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Video)The Ringer websiteJanesville (Amy Goldstein)Airtable (software)Small Fry (Lisa Brennan-Jobs)Educated (Tara Westover)You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at...2018-12-0531 min
Open Minds with Christopher Balkaran#002: Carbon Pricing in Canada!Send us a textThis episode will focus on the carbon pricing system being proposed in Canada.Sources used:Nicholas Rivers, “The Case for a Carbon Tax in Canada,” Canada 2020, November 2014.Justin Worland, “How the Recession Accidentally Helped the Planet,” Time, July 22, 2015: http://time.com/3966553/recession-emissions-decline/Marc Jaccard et. Al, “Is Win-Win Possible? Can Canada’s Government Achieve its Paris Commitment…and get re-elected? “ Simon Fraser University, September 2016.Government of Canada, Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, 2016. http://publications.gc.ca/collections/collection_2017/eccc/En4-294-2016-eng.pdfGovernment of Canada, “Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Economic Sector,”...2018-11-1932 min
PolicyCastFinding Agreement on Climate Policy in ParisProfessor Robert Stavins, Director of the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements out of the Kennedy School’s Belfer Center, explains why the COP21 in Paris is a critical step in addressing anthropogenic global climate change. He discusses the history of past climate summits and lays out both his markers for success and potential impediments to a deal.
More from Professor Stavins and other Kennedy School scholars can be found at http://hkscop21paris.tumblr.com.
2015-12-0221 min
PolicyCast | Harvard Kennedy SchoolFinding Agreement On Climate Policy In Paris | PolicyCastHKS Professor Robert Stavins, Director of the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements out of the Belfer Center, explains why the COP21 in Paris is a critical step in addressing anthropogenic global climate change. He discusses the history of past climate summits and lays out both his markers for success and potential impediments to a deal.
More from Professor Stavins and other Kennedy School scholars can be found at http://hkscop21paris.tumblr.com.2015-12-0121 min
Institute of PoliticsBringing the Global Community to the Table: Paris 2015 UN Climate Change ConferencePanelists Drew Faust, President of Harvard University, Daniel Bodansky, Foundation Professor of Law at ASU’s Sandra Day O’Connor College of Law, Coral Davenport, Energy and Environmental Correspondent for The New York Times, Zou Ji, Deputy Director of China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy, and Robert Stavins, Albert Pratt Professor of Business and Government at HKS, joined moderator Candy Crowley, Fall 2015 IOP Fellow and Former CNN Chief Political Correspondent for a discussion on climate change. The conversation centered around a global approach to the environmental problems we face and how countries like China and India reconcile the urgenc...2015-11-231h 12
Inside Social InnovationCarbon Pricing for Environmental SustainabilityOne controversial environmental sustainability issue has to do with using carbon pricing as a means of reducing greenhouse gases. In this university podcast, Harvard professor Robert Stavins lays out two instruments for carbon pricing: taxing CO2 emissions and issuing tradable carbon permits that major league polluters must buy for each ton of CO2 they send into the atmosphere, also known as “cap and trade.” He explains the ins and outs and pros and cons of both. Stavins was talking at the 2010 Climate Policy Instruments in the Real World conference, an event convened by the Program on Energy and Sustainable Deve...2011-04-0533 min
VoxTalk VaultsProspects for a new international agreement on climate changeRobert Stavins interviewed by Romesh Vaitilingam, 18 July 2008
Robert Stavins of Harvard University talks to Romesh Vaitilingam about what should follow the Kyoto Protocol – the potential architectures for a new international agreement on tackling global climate change; lessons from previous international agreements on a range of issues; and the main stumbling blocks to an agreement. The interview was recorded at the American Economic Association meetings in New Orleans in January 2008.
2008-07-1813 min