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Past Event
Seminar

Energy Policy Seminar: Solar Geoengineering and U.S. Politics

RSVP Required Open to the Public

Interest in and research on solar geoengineering has been particularly prominent in the United States compared to other countries, with the National Academies of Sciences calling in 2021 for a comprehensive, government-run national research program. Policy discussions about solar geoengineering, however, are embedded within broader climate politics, characterized by sometimes sharp disagreements among Democrats and a general failure to engage by Republicans. 

This seminar will explore how solar geoengineering figures into U.S. politics on climate and related issues like energy and foreign policy. Join HKS Professor Joe Aldy in conversation with Kelly Wanser of SilverLining and Steven Hamburg of the Environmental Defense Fund, as they examine the current landscape in Washington, D.C., and consider prospects for the future. Professor David Keith will moderate the session.

Sponsors: This week's Energy Policy Seminar is co-sponsored by Harvard's Solar Geoengineering Research Program, a joint project of the Harvard University Center for the Environment and the Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Business and Government.

Attendance: This event is open to the public and hosted on Zoom. For those who cannot attend live, the seminar will be recorded and available to watch on this page.

Accessibility: Persons with disabilities who wish to request accommodations or who have questions about access, please contact Liz Hanlon (ehanlon@hks.harvard.edu) in advance of the session.

Registration: Please RSVP at the link below. Registration will remain open until the event begins.

Date: Time: - Location: Online
Speakers Kelly Wanser and Steven Hamburg

Speakers

Speakers

Kelly Wanser is the Executive Director of SilverLining. She oversees the organization's efforts to promote scientific research, science-based policy, and effective international cooperation in rapid responses to climate change. In that capacity, she has helped develop legislation; testified before Congress; served as a reviewer for the IPCC, NSTC, and NOAA; and launched a research fund. Prior to founding SilverLining, Wanser co-founded—and currently serves as Senior Advisor to—the University of Washington Marine Cloud Brightening Project. Wanser currently sits on the Board of Directors of Dendra Systems, a company that deploys automation and artificial intelligence to restore natural ecosystems. She is also a member of the President's Circle of the National Academy of Sciences, where she works with prominent scientists and science funders to advance strategic priorities for the nation.

Steven Hamburg is Chief Scientist at the Environmental Defense Fund. He ensures the scientific integrity of EDF’s positions and programs, and facilitates collaborations with researchers from a diversity of institutions and countries. He also helps identify emerging science relevant to EDF’s mission. Hamburg plays a leading role in EDF’s research efforts, including work on quantifying methane emissions from the natural gas supply chain and the use of emerging sensor technologies in improving our understanding of air pollution and related impacts on human health. He has been actively involved in biogeochemistry, forest ecology and climate change impacts research for more than 35 years, and has published more than 100 scientific papers.

Recording