Environment & Climate Change

The Spring 2011 issue of the Belfer Center newsletter features recent and upcoming activities, research, and analysis by members of the Center community on critical global issues. This issue highlights the Belfer Center’s continuing efforts to build bridges between the United States and Russia to prevent nuclear catastrophe – an effort that began in the 1950s. This issue also features three new books by Center faculty that sharpen global debate on critical issues: God’s Century, by Monica Duffy Toft, The New Harvest by Calestous Juma, and The Future of Power, by Joseph S. Nye.

"Time has come for Africa to rethink its investment in multilateral diplomacy and redirect its efforts to new activities such as technology cooperation through bilateral partnerships.

Part of the resources used to maintain UN missions could be used to support new science and innovation consulates."

"In response to long periods of neglect, African countries are starting to invest in new energy production facilities...."

Testimony of Calestous Juma before the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health, Hearing on Food Security in Africa: The Impact of Agricultural Development

Climate change will have dramatic impacts on the world economy similar to those associated with great wars, according to a new report released in London.

"The development policies advocated for Africa in the past two decades have generally failed to draw from experiences elsewhere. As a result, critical lessons regarding the role of engineering in development were either ignored or their application discouraged."

"Development is crucial for human security, not only for those in poor countries but also for people throughout the world."

This collection of essays by key experts in the field of international development looks at the role of science, technology and innovation in encouraging a risk-taking, problem solving approach to development cooperation in Africa....