Former Vice President Al Gore (right) makes a point at a Belfer Center "Climate Solutions Summit" to explore solutions to energy/climate challenges. Center Director Graham Allison (left) co-hosted the October meeting with Gore.
Belfer Center
"Center Hosts Al Gore and Top Energy/Climate Experts in Climate Solutions Summit"
Newsletter Article, Belfer Center Newsletter, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, Harvard Kennedy School
Spring 2009
Author: Sharon Wilke, Associate Director of Communications
Belfer Center Programs or Projects: Energy Technology Innovation Policy; Environment and Natural Resources; Science, Technology, and Public Policy
The Belfer Center hosted former Vice President and Nobel Laureate Al Gore and 30 of the United States' top energy and climate experts in October for a "Solutions Summit" on the climate challenge. Moderated by Gore and Belfer Center Director Graham Allison, the participants brainstormed concrete solutions to producing carbon-free electricity, using as a starting point Gore’s July 2008 Generational Challenge to Repower America, which calls on the nation to produce 100 percent of America's electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within ten years.
"There are times in the history of our nation when our very way of life depends upon dispelling illusions and awakening to the challenge of a present danger...This is such a moment," Gore said on July 17, 2008 when he made his "repower America" challenge.
The Summit discussion attempted to generate practical steps toward the design and implementation of initiatives that could achieve this objective. While the “Climate Solutions Summit” was off the record, a number of participants proposed possible solutions developed in previous research and analysis.
Kelly Sims Gallagher, director of the Belfer Center's Energy Technology Innovation Policy research group – The United States and China have the unique ability to make or break the climate change threat. A price on CO2 emissions is the most important first step for the United States.
Carole Browner, now White House coordinator of energy and climate policy, at Al Gore's "Climate Solutions Summit" in October. Browner is a former administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency.
Photo: Belfer Center
William Hogan, Raymond Plank Professor of Global Energy Policy and research director of the Harvard Electricity Policy Group – A key challenge for electricity market design and regulation is to support efficient infrastructure investment.
John P. Holdren, director of the Belfer Center's Science, Technology, and Public Policy program, now science advisor to President Obama – The U.S., which has the largest economy, uses the most energy, and makes the largest cumulative contribution to CO2 in the atmosphere must lead the world in energy-technology innovation.
Henry Lee, director of the Belfer Center's Environment and Natural Resources Program – Reducing oil imports requires more efficient modes of moving goods and people, alternative fuels, and reductions in vehicle miles traveled.
Daniel P. Schrag, director of the Harvard University Center for the Environment – An essential component of any carbon reduction strategy for the U.S. and the world is the demonstration and deployment of technologies to capture carbon dioxide from large stationary sources and store the waste CO2 in geological formations.
For more information about this publication please contact the Belfer Center Communications Office at 617-495-9858.
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