Short Course Description
A growing global consensus recognizes that in order to avert an acute climate disaster, the world's economy must transition to one with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, the International Energy Agency projects that half of the technologies required to reach carbon neutrality have not yet been invented or are not yet operational Climate change mitigation policies worldwide, therefore, must have two parallel, overarching objectives: accelerated emissions reduction and climate tech development. This course considers the form and content that climate policies should take as well as implementation strategies to mitigate greenhouse ga emissions and accelerate technological innovation to attain net-zero emission targets.
The course begins with an evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of different regulatory approaches to technological innovation. The course then considers the international context for conducting domestic climate policies, the evolution and expectations of the United Climate Convention. Subsequently, attention turns to a range of policy interventions that have been employed to pursue climate mitigation objectives and climate tech innovation. These include funding research, monetizing carbon through carbon taxes and emission trading systems, subsidizing climate technology deployment through feed-in tariffs and carbon contracts for differences, technology forcing standards, command and control oversight, green public procurement policies and choice architecture ?nudges?.
Specific examples of global and national regulatory dynamics that affect technology development are discussed in areas such as renewable energy, energy storage, solid waste reduction, food production, cement and steel production, hydrogen, autonomous/ electric vehicles, shipping, and the fashion industry. Relevant experiences of different countries will be presented including Danish policies to encourage a local wind-turbine industry, German programs to expand solar energy and Israeli government initiatives to foster sustainable Watech and Food tech innovation. The course considers concerns about disruption due to the dramatic shifts in the labor market due to low carbon technologies and the potential of ?just transition? policies to ameliorate the social impacts. A class will be devoted to Israeli climate policies as well as the potential outcomes of the recently enacted the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act. The significance of scaling climate tech to the Global South will be discussed along with the necessary international aid policies required to expedite electrification through renewables, especially in Africa.
Full syllabus is to be published
