7 Events

Military vehicles carry DF-5B intercontinental ballistic missiles during a parade commemorating the 70th anniversary of Japan's surrender during World War II held in front of Tiananmen Gate in Beijing, Sept. 3, 2015.

Voice of America/Wikimedia Commons

Seminar - Open to the Public

Merits of Uncertainty: The Evolution and Future of China’s Nuclear Retaliatory Capability

Wed., Sep. 12, 2018 | 10:00am - 11:30am

Littauer Building - Fainsod Room, 324

Speaker: Wu Riqiang, Research Fellow with the International Security Program and Project on Managing the Atom
 
A simplified nuclear exchange model will be developed to evaluate China’s past and current nuclear retaliatory capability against the Soviet Union and the United States. The modeling suggests that according to Western standards, China’s nuclear retaliation has been and remains far from “assured.” This result reflects China’s special nuclear philosophy, which emphasizes the role of nuclear taboo and prioritizes political control over survivability. However, in the face of U.S. advances in the areas of counterforce and missile defense, China probably has to continue to improve its nuclear forces qualitatively and, if necessary, quantitatively, in order to maintain its deterrent level.

Signatures on the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) document.

Public Domain

Seminar - Open to the Public

Iran's Nuclear Decision-Making: Historical Trends and the Role of U.S. Policy

Thu., May 17, 2018 | 10:00am - 11:30am

Littauer Building - Fainsod Room, 324

Speaker: Sahar Nowrouzzadeh, Research Fellow with the Iran Project and Project on Managing the Atom

During this seminar, Sahar Nowrouzzadeh will examine historical trends in Iran's nuclear-decision making and discuss the role of U.S. foreign policy in shaping such decision-making.  This event comes on the heels of President Trump's May 8th decision to have the United States cease fulfilling its commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) or "Iran nuclear deal," reached between the P5+1, EU and Iran in 2015. The event will be off-the-record.
 

Analysis of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector

Seminar - Open to the Public

Analysis of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and Greenhouse Gas Emissions from the U.S. Transportation Sector

Wed., June 10, 2009 | 10:30pm - 12:00pm

Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369

U.S. transportation policy is changing rapidly, motivated by concerns over climate change and energy security. Not only are economy-wide CO2 prices expected to soon be in place, but increasingly stringent performance-based standards are being proposed. Using the National Energy Modeling System, the Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group has analyzed the impact of economy-wide CO2 prices in combination with transportation sector specific policy options including transportation (fuel) taxes, extended fuel economy standards, and performance-based tax credits. The results suggest that the policy options currently considered will fail to meet the "17% of 2005" GHG emissions reduction target in the Waxman-Markey Bill, or even the Obama administration's "14% of 2005" GHG emissions target. Economy-wide CO2 prices motivate large reductions in CO2 emissions from the electrical power sector but do not, on their own, result in significant reductions in CO2 emissions from transportation. Transportation taxes appear to be the most effective option for reducing GHG emissions, largely because they reduce vehicle use in addition to improving vehicle technology. On the other hand, tax credits for alternative-fuel vehicles appear to be an expensive and ineffective path to reducing CO2 emissions from transportation.

Beverages will be provided. Please come ready to discuss...

The Impact of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and GHG Emissions in the Transport Sector: Insights from NEMS

Seminar - Open to the Public

The Impact of Policies to Reduce Oil Consumption and GHG Emissions in the Transport Sector: Insights from NEMS

Tue., Feb. 5, 2008 | 9:30am - 11:00am

Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369

Gallagher and Collantes will present the modeling results for eight policy scenarios for reducing oil consumption and greenhouse-gas emissions in the U.S. transport sector. They will present insights gained from using NEMS (National Energy Modeling System), and how these might influence future policy directions. They will also discuss limitations to NEMS, and areas for further research.

Please join us! Coffee and tea provided. Everyone is welcome, but admittance will be on a first come-first served basis.

The Rise of Market Mechanisms in Global Climate Politics: Examining the Political Role of American and European Companies

Seminar - Open to the Public

The Rise of Market Mechanisms in Global Climate Politics: Examining the Political Role of American and European Companies

Tue., Nov. 20, 2007 | 9:30am - 11:00am

Littauer Building - Belfer Center Library, Room 369

Since the creation of the Kyoto Protocol, greenhouse gas emissions trading has found strong and vocal advocates across the globe, including in the United States. Focusing on the role of business-NGO coalitions, it will be examined why emissions trading has come to be the preferred policy choice for tackling climate change.