8:30 am - 9:30 am

Introduction and overview on climate impacts and adaptation

Marta Vicarelli, Postdoctoral Associate at the Yale University Climate and Energy Institute, Assistant Professor of Economics and Public Policy at the University of Massachusetts

Presentation Materials

Slides: Final Review: Themes and Trends


On income inequalities:

"The Self-Destruction of the 1 Percent", by Chrystia Freeland, Oct 13 2012, New York Times
This article explores several themes discussed by Dorian Warren on Monday. It also provides a fascinating comparative analysis between the decadence of the Venice Republic in the XVII century and the current socio-economic situation in the US.


On the presidential election:

On Monday Dorian Warren also discussed about the crucial role of women voters for this election. The article available here describes the current "Gender Gap" among voters: statistics show that in the US today women take more liberal stances than men on social issues ranging from same-sex marriage to gun control.


On the financial crisis:

"Inside Job" is a 2010 documentary about the late 2000s the financial crisis. The film explores how changes in the US policy environment and banking practices helped create the financial crisis.
Click here to view the trailer for the film.
This gripping documentary is well shot, very informative and won many awards, including the Oscar.


On initiatives for action against climate change:

The C40 group is a network of the world’s megacities taking action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With a unique set of assets, the C40 works with participating cities to address climate risks and impacts locally and globally.

The United States Climate Action Partnership (USCAP) is a group of businesses (including Shell, PepsiCo, Johnson and Johnson, GE, Siemens) and leading environmental organizations that have come together to call on the federal government to quickly enact strong national legislation to require significant reductions of greenhouse gas emissions.


"Seeing like a state"

Why have large-scale schemes to improve the human condition in the twentieth century so often gone awry? Political scientist James C. Scott analyzes diverse failures in high-modernist, authoritarian state planning throughout the history of the twentieth century, from Asia to Africa to Latin America, and uncovers conditions common to all such planning disasters. What these failures teach us, he argues, is that any centrally managed social plan must recognize the importance of local customs and practical knowledge if it hopes to succeed.

James C. Scott is the Eugene Meyer Professor of Political Science and Anthropology at Yale University and current president of the Association of Asian Studies.
 

9:30 am - 11:00 am

Energy Economics, empirical analysis - Voluntary participation in clean energy programs

Prof. Matthew Kotchen, Associate Professor of Environmental Economics and Policy. Yale University School of Forestry & Environmental Studies

I will begin with an overview of trends. I will then draw from several papers that seek to understand why people participate, drawing on economics and psychology as it relates to private provision of public goods. Finally, I will cover come of questions and concerns about these programs and how the can be designed more effectively.

Suggested Readings

"How Stringent is the EPA's Proposed Carbon Pollution Standard for New Power Plants?", 2012, working paper, with E. Mansur.

For more publications by Matthew Kotchen: http://environment.yale.edu/kotchen/

D. Fullerton and C. Wolfram (eds.), Climate Policy and Voluntary Initiatives: An Evaluation of the Connecticut Clean Energy Communities Program, in The Design and Implementation of U.S. Climate Policy, forthcoming, University of Chicago Press.

Offsetting Green Guilt, Stanford Social Innovation Review, Spring 2009.

Joseph E. Aldy, Matthew J. Kotchen, and Anthony A. Leiserowitz. Willingness to pay and political support for a US national clean energy standard. Nature Climate Change. 2012.

Additional Readings

With G. Jacobsen and M. Vandenbergh., The Behavioral Response to Voluntary Provision of an Environmental Public Good: Evidence from Residential Electricity Demand, NBER Working Paper 16608, 2010.

With M. R. Moore, Conservation: From Voluntary Restraint to a Voluntary Price Premium, Environmental and Resource Economics, 40, 2008.

With M. R. Moore, Private Provision of Environmental Public Goods: Household Participation in Green-Electricity Programs, Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, 53 (2007) 1-16.

There are also many listed here that would make for lots of further reading:
http://apps3.eere.energy.gov/greenpower/resources/featured.shtml

Presentation Materials

Slides: Voluntary Participation in Clean Energy Programs (and others) in the U.S.
 

11:00 am - 11:15 am

Coffee Break
 

11:15 am - 1:00 pm

Closing discussion

Dr. Stephen A. Hammer, Lecturer in Energy Planning, Department of Urban Studies and Planning, Massachusetts Institute of Technology


Factors affecting energy system transformation: history, innovation, fuels, and climate:
   - Key drivers of energy system transformation
   - How do governments and markets manage energy system transformation? Who leads? Who follows?
   - Is it possible to "future proof" against these transformations? Is it wise?
 

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm

Lunch at the Columbia University Faculty House
(1754 Boardroom – 3rd floor)
Closing remarks and evaluation