Heinz Talks

Have Your Voice Heard with Time Magazine's "Most Influential," Amory Lovins

2009-10-16T10:38:00.001-04:00

Nuclear energy? Oil levels? Climate and energy resources? Do you have questions on these or other energy issues? Now is the time to ask! The answers will come from Amory Lovins, named in 2009 as one of Time Magazine's 100 most influential people. Founder of the prominent think tank, the Rocky Mountain Institute, Amory is widely-heralded to have had the answer to energy problem since 1976. The Heinz Journal has a unique opportunity to interview Amory Lovins, and we want you to be a part of the discussion!

A Heinz Journal representative will pose your questions to Amory in an interview before Lovins presents his talk, "Profitable Solutions to Climate, Oil, and Proliferation" in Washington, D.C. on October 27th. Lovins' talk is part of a Heinz Talks! event that will be moderated by Andre Heinz.

Send your questions to Nisha Abraham (nabraham@andrew.cmu.edu) by 6pm on Wednesday, October 21st for consideration to be included as a part of this exclusive interview.

Designing Sustainable Products

2009-09-16T11:48:00.004-04:00

From Carnegie Mellon University's Website:

Cliff Davidson is educating engineers and managers around the globe about the importance of engineering and sustainability. A professor of civil and environmental engineering and public policy at Carnegie Mellon University, Davidson most recently led a workshop in Bangalore, India.

"Animals, plants and entire habitats, as well as our current lifestyles, are at risk from continued unsustainable development," said Davidson, the winner of Carnegie Mellon's prestigious 2009 William H. and Frances S. Ryan Award for Meritorious Teaching. "It is up to us to help educate future engineers about preserving limited resources through sustainable methods."

A leader in developing sustainable engineering programs across the United States, Davidson has been spearheading workshops around the globe for professors without experience in sustainability to apply the concepts they learn to their engineering efforts and coursework.

Read more at CMU.edu >>

Citizen Scientists: Technology for Green Solutions

2009-09-11T10:27:00.005-04:00

From Carnegie Mellon University's website:

What do you see when you look at a mobile phone? A tool to call or text a friend? Get email? Surf the web? Eric Paulos, assistant professor in Carnegie Mellon's Human-Computer Interaction Institute (HCII), sees a whole new way to expand the reach of science.

Paulos, director of Carnegie Mellon's new Living Environments Lab, is working to equip everyday cell phones with sensors capable of detecting a variety of environmental measurements, like carbon monoxide, ozone, particulate matter, or pollen counts. The data would then be uploaded and aggregated for sharing. Paulos envisions a new generation of 'citizen scientists,' connected both to the environment and each other.

Read more at CMU.edu >>

Introduction

2009-09-10T10:47:00.003-04:00

Hello,

Welcome to the Heinz Talks! Blog. My name is Zhimin Mao, and I recently graduated from the Heinz College's Washington DC program. I am currently working as a policy analyst focusing on China's energy and climate policy and a lot of my work was focused on China's low carbon development pathways and related environmental assessment strategies.

The upcoming talk on October 27th would highlight an important factor that was not often discussed but critical. The current urge for action on climate change issues largely came from the scientific world yet the diffusion of new products and technologies would eventually be driven by the private sector. Such products and technologies should make business sense in order to provide the motivations needed to achieve a quick deployment. A list of “profitable solution” may also encourage countries without emission caps to voluntarily adopt low emissions products or technologies. In fact, the vast development of China's CDM market and its solar industry is resulted from potential financial incentives.

I am very excited to attend the upcoming discussion and look forward to meeting people who are also interested in this topic.

Have a nice day!

Zhimin Mao

Introduction

2009-09-09T22:54:00.003-04:00

Hello,

I would like to welcome everyone to the Heinz Talks! Blog. My name is Michael Spotts, and I am a student in the Heinz College's Washington DC program. I currently work in the affordable housing field, where I focus on sustainable, holistic development that addresses environmental, economic, and social equity considerations.

The upcoming event on October 27 is coming at a crucial time in the energy policy debate. This past year, the US House of Representatives passed HR 2454, the American Clean Energy and Security Act of 2009, which represents a major step forward in US energy and environmental policy. The Senate is likely to take up the debate in the fall. Advocates on all sides of this debate have been energized, and are looking to the Senate debate to strengthen the House version of the bill, kill it completely, and everything in between.

I think the discussion next month will focus on a key part of the energy debate that is often overlooked: "Profitable Solutions." Given the increasing national deficit and the depressed state of the economy, the costs of any climate change initiative are going to receive severe scrutiny. The more advocates can establish the financial benefits of taking action, the more receptive the American public be to drastic changes in energy policy.

This is not to say that climate change solutions should not be undertaken based on their non-financial merit. However, the simple reality is that people pay attention to the bottom line. In the affordable housing field, the strongest arguments for "greening" units often come in the form of reduced energy costs (and therefore, greater affordability) for recipient households, as well as lower utility bills for property managers.

I look forward to a spirited and informative discussion on October 27, and hope many readers who are in the DC area will be able to attend. In the meantime, please continue to check this blog for updates and postings on energy related issues.

Have a great day.

Sincerely,

Michael Spotts

Energy Efficiency is Good Business

2009-09-09T11:24:00.008-04:00

Last year, Amory Lovins was chosen as one of America's Best Leaders by U.S. News and World Report. This USNWR profile highlights Lovins' focus on energy conservation, and not simply the identification of new energy supplies. This approach has earned him some seemingly unlikely allies in the business and industrial sectors, because energy cost savings aligns with their profit motivation. This alignment with financial incentives is important for the broad adoption of new energy policies.

Read more from US News & World Report's profile ->

Geoengineering: Could it limit climate change?

2009-09-09T09:30:00.000-04:00

From Carnegie Mellon University's website:

What if it were possible to modify the climate system to offset global warming? Carnegie Mellon's David Keith is exploring the feasibility of this idea — and its unintended consequences.

"Both because we may need it in an emergency, and because geoengineering is something a nation might start doing unilaterally, the time has come to undertake a transparent and globally coordinated program of research," said M. Granger Morgan, head of Carnegie Mellon's Department of Engineering and Public Policy.

Keith is working as part of a group of researchers from the Royal Society, the United Kingdom's...

Read the full article ->

At home with Amory Lovins.

2009-09-09T09:01:00.003-04:00

In this PBS interview, Mr. Lovins offers a tour of his home to demonstrate efficient energy technologies that could change the way Americans power their lives.

Heinz Talks! 2009: Dean's Wecome

2009-09-01T13:14:00.002-04:00

Welcome to the Heinz Talks! blog. This is second annual Heinz Talks! event sponsored jointly by The Heinz Awards and the H. John Heinz III College and its School of Public Policy and Management

This year’s event will take place in Washington, DC right on Capitol Hill, steps away from the offices of Heinz College Washington, DC. If you are in the nation’s capital, we hope to see you at the main event on Tuesday, October 27th. Some of our DC program students will be participating in the presentation. In addition, we invite you to share your thoughts and participate in the blog discussion about energy policy solutions.

Regards,

Ramayya Krishnan
Dean, Carnegie Mellon University's H. John Heinz III College

Summing It All Up: The Candidates on Climate

2008-10-18T14:23:00.004-04:00

Here are excerpts from a piece just posted on the New York Times today about the candidates and climate change:

Both candidates say that human-caused climate change is real and urgent, and that they would sharply divert from President Bush’s course by proposing legislation requiring sharp cuts in greenhouse gas emissions by midcentury.

and

But quick progress could be held hostage to the financial crisis and the prospect of a worldwide recession. The economic turmoil could force the next president to delay legislation that imposes major new costs on struggling businesses or raises energy prices for consumers.

NYT also has a summary page comparing and contrasting the candidates on climate that is worth a look.

This ongoing economy-cleanup is fascinating. It certainly dominates the news cycle. I don't think anybody (including yours truly) really knows if and how it is going to divert attention next year from the issues that people were worrying about before the Dow took that big first plunge just a few weeks ago.

---
Robert J. Kaminski
M.S., Public Policy and Management - 2009
Managing Editor, Heinz School Review

Energy as 1st...2nd, and 3rd priority?

2008-10-08T18:59:00.008-04:00

Perhaps I was too hasty in sounding the death knell for all things environmental in the Presidential campaigns (painting a picture with such broad brush strokes so as to include both energy and climate change).

While climate change is certainly still alive and well in our nation's capital (Congress is full of busy bees), I do stand by my assertion that it has been superseded in the campaigns by more pressing, Joe Six-Pack issues.

Climate change certainly did not receive as much attention in the debate last night as in the Vice-Presidential debate. Per CSPAN's transcript crawler, it was mentioned only once by both Sens. McCain and Obama. You can imagine my chagrin, then, when Tom Brokaw asked the candidates to rank-order three pressing issues facing the next president (energy, healthcare and entitlement) -- see clip below.

Courtesy of CSPAN, click to play

To add credence to claims of issue prioritization (at least in the rhetorical realm), CSPAN came up with a nice graphical representation of most commonly uttered words in the debate:

Courtesy of CSPAN, click to enlarge

Sen. Obama said "energy" almost as many times as Sen. McCain said "[my] friends", told Tom Brokaw that energy was the #1 priority (Sen. McCain said all three were equally important and can be solved at the same time), so I guess this means we're back in the game --- in as much as the candidates say things to make us happy.

---
Robert J. Kaminski
M.S., Public Policy and Management - 2009
Managing Editor, Heinz School Review

In Response: Did the Economy Kill Climate Change?

2008-10-08T10:27:00.002-04:00

In response to the posting on "did the economy kill climate change," I posit that the economy has risen to an important status in the minds of many Americans but has not killed or even slowed the issue. The presidential debate last night shifted more toward economic matters with only one question asked by an audience member on the environment. Other side commentary by the candidates did focus on our "energy independence" and need for alternative fuels.

The reason that I suggest that the economy has not "trumped" climate change follows along a few lines of reasoning. As a former political scientist, public opinion polls always show the "economy" as one of the most important issues being on the minds of many Americans. At both the state and national level - unemployment, taxes, and a whole grouping of other issues that make up the "economy" usually ranks far above any other issue. I do grant the fact that is has risen in importance, but it will always be one of the most important issues.

My second line of reasoning follows along the lines that the environment in general and climate change in particular will always be very important issues that do not garner much attention in opinion polls. As an example, the 1994 congressional elections brought a sweeping change to the politics in Washington. As Republicans in Congress started pushing against and trying to undo the golden era environmental laws of the 1960s, the public cried out against them. Republicans soon learned their lesson that even though public opinion on the environment was a lower ranked issue, they could not start tearing down old protections.

Finally, and most importantly, many agencies in Washington are planning climate change strategies as we speak. Unfortunately, they are limited in their ability to act on any initiatitives because of the current administration, but they are on their seats waiting for January 20th to roll around. These agencies are well aware of the issues and will be taking the initiative when new leadership enters Washington.

Jason R. Bossie
H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management
President, Heinz Environmental Policy Group

Did the economy kill the climate issue?

2008-10-06T18:23:00.013-04:00

Specifically, did the slow-down/recession, economic crisis/collapse/crash/meltdown, and the resulting bailout/rescue/restructuring kill climate change and energy as relevant policy issues?

In terms of Presidential campaigning, I am inclined to say "yes."

Gone is the gas tax holiday pandering from the primary season. This preceded the largest run-up in oil prices in history (see charting below) and the largest run-up in energy/climate rhetoric in the Congress as well as on the campaign trail.

However, it seems that events in the finance community from the past month and impending economic doom (see charting below) have distracted Presidential voters and Congressional constituents (not mutually exclusive) from the slow burn (pun intended) of climate change. Recent polling on national problems/priorities has economic issues trumping all others by significant margins.

Nine-month NYMEX crude oil charting (from the Financial Times) overlaid with economic and political events (click to enlarge):

With the election less than a month away, the 110th Congress adjourning soon-thereafter, and equities markets in steep decline, have we heard about all we're going to hear about climate? When President McCain/Obama arrives at the White House in January and Vice President Palin/Biden swears in the 111th Congress, will climate change get a renewed chance or will they still be cleaning up the markets?

---
Robert J. Kaminski
M.S., Public Policy and Management - 2009
Managing Editor, Heinz School Review

How Clean is "Clean Coal"?

2008-10-06T13:30:00.005-04:00

I frequently hear the candidates pushing clean coal technology as part of their energy platforms.

The cynic in me has questioning:

1) How clean is this technology really?

2) What is the economic viability of large-scale adoption of this technology?

3)How long will it take before every coal-fired power plant is retro fitted with this technology?

The candidates often group clean coal in the same category as renewable energy. I would be interested in hearing the panelists flush out this idea of clean coal technology and whether or not it should be a priority for the next president.

Climate Change and Energy Policy

2008-09-29T09:58:00.006-04:00

Regardless of who becomes America's next President, it is extremely likely that the next four years will mark a dramatic change in America's federal government policies toward climate change and energy. Both Barack Obama and John McCain have signaled a clear willingness to take much more aggressive steps against global warming than have been contemplated by the Bush Administration. The decisions that are made over the next few years are likely to influence America's climate and energy policies for years to come.

Now that opportunity for change has come, what should the next presidential administration do? In the Heinz Talks! Events on October 20, the other panelists and I will discuss the range of options facing our nation's leaders. We also look forward to answering your questions, as time allows.

We invite you to submit questions that we can address during our panel discussion on October 20. Event staff will monitor this website and collect from it questions that will be presented to the panelists in advance of the October 20 event. Your comments and questions can help shape the direction of our discussion on Carnegie Mellon's campus in three weeks' time.

Lee Branstetter
Associate Professor of Economics and Public Policy
H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management

Dean's Welcome

2008-09-28T17:22:00.001-04:00

Welcome to the Heinz Talks! blog. This is the first annual Heinz Talks! event sponsored jointly by The Heinz Awards and the H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management.

We invite you to share your thoughts and participate in the discussion about energy policy solutions for the next administration. We hope to see you at the event on Monday, October 20.

Regards,
Ramayya Krishnan
Acting Dean
H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management

Heinz Talks

Have Your Voice Heard with Time Magazine's "Most Influential," Amory Lovins

Designing Sustainable Products

Citizen Scientists: Technology for Green Solutions

Introduction

Introduction

Suggested Reading: Winning the Oil Endgame

Energy Efficiency is Good Business

Geoengineering: Could it limit climate change?

At home with Amory Lovins.

Heinz Talks! 2009: Dean's Wecome

Summing It All Up: The Candidates on Climate

Energy as 1st...2nd, and 3rd priority?

In Response: Did the Economy Kill Climate Change?

Did the economy kill the climate issue?

How Clean is "Clean Coal"?

Climate Change and Energy Policy

Dean's Welcome