Harvard Project to Conduct Panel on Methane Emissions Abatement at COP-28

Efforts around and impacts of global methane-emissions abatement will be the focus at an official side event on December 6 co-sponsored by the Harvard Project on Climate Agreements at the 28th Conference of the Parties (COP-28) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Dubai.

The panel, “Reducing Global Methane Emissions: Imperatives, Opportunities, and Challenges,” will feature several leading scholars and climate policy experts who will discuss current research and practice on technology, policy, and international cooperation, drawing in part on a major new methane initiative supported by the Salata Institute for Climate and Sustainability at Harvard University. Robert Stavins, A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development and director of the Harvard Project, will moderate the discussion.

In a blog post on the Harvard methane initiative, Stavins argued that methane emissions abatement can, “in the near term, significantly reduce the magnitude of climate change and its impacts — giving the world time to ‘bend the curve’ on CO2 emissions, conduct research on carbon removal, and, more generally, to implement longer-term strategies to mitigate and adapt to climate change.”

The side event panelists — in addition to Robert Stavins — are: 

• Stephen Hammer, Chief Executive Officer, New York Climate Exchange, and former Methane Lead, World Bank;
• Claire Henly, Senior Advisor for Non- CO2 greenhouse gases, US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate; 
• Daniel Jacob, Vasco McCoy Family Professor of Atmospheric Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Harvard University and global expert on satellite-based methane detection and attribution; 
• Helena Varkkey, Associate Professor of Environmental Politics and Governance, Universiti Malaya and Principal Investigator, UM-CERAH-EDF initiative on methane emissions in Malaysia

Time, Date, and Location:

December 6, 2023 
3:00 - 4:30 pm local time 
Side Event Room 4, COP-28, Expo City, Dubai 
Note: All official side events are within the “Blue Zone” at COP-28; registration for the COP and a badge are required to enter

For questions and further information, please contact: 

Jason Chapman  
Jason_chapman@hks.harvard.edu

Other activities Professor Stavins will participate in include:

December 5, 10:00 - 11:30 am, Robert Stavins is a panelist at IPIECA event: “Net Zero in Action: Showcasing Decarbonization Technologies,” Pavilion of the International Emissions Trading Association, Blue Zone. 

December 6, 1 – 2:30 pm, Robert Stavins is a panelist at Ninth Global Climate Change Think Tank Forum. The event is hosted by China’s National Center for Climate Change Strategy and International Cooperation. Theme: “Application of Low Emission Development Strategies and Progress of Global Energy Transition,” China Pavilion, Blue Zone.

In addition to Professors Stavins and Jacob, the Harvard delegation in Dubai will include several leading scholars from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (HSPH) and others from around Harvard.

HSPH is sponsoring two events at COP-28: 

“Linking Agendas of the UNFCCC and the World Health Assembly – Regional perspective,” 3 - 4:30 pm, December 6, Guatemala Pavilion, Blue Zone.

 “Linking Agendas of the UNFCCC and the World Health Assembly – Global perspective,” 9:30 - 10:45 am, December 12, WHO Pavilion, Blue Zone.

 For more information on the HSPH events, contact Liz Willetts at ewilletts@hsph.harvard.edu.