Harvard's Belfer Center

The Belfer Center is celebrating a half-century of excellence in researching the world’s toughest challenges and shaping policy responses. And we're just getting started. Our mission is as relevant today as it was at any other time in our history.

Here's a piece I wrote for Foreign Affairs on the collision between a US spy plane and a Chinese fighter jet in 2001. If you think it was tough back then, imagine what would unfold if it happened today. I've delved into the back story of 2001 and looked at the grim outlook going forward.

Congratulations to Mariana Budjeryn, awarded the 2024 William E. Colby Military Writers’ Award from Norwich University. In her book, Inheriting the Bomb: The Collapse of the USSR and the Nuclear Disarmament of Ukraine (John Hopkins Press), Budjeryn examines the aftermath of the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, the 30,000 nuclear weapons now spread over four newly sovereign states, the predicament caused by the Soviet collapse, and the subsequent nuclear disarmament of the non-Russian Soviet successor states. Budjeryn, a Senior Research Associate for the Harvard's Belfer Center's Project on Managing the Atom, is the first female author to be honored with this award in its 25-year history.

"There is no question that France is in store for tremendous political instability." One week has made all the difference in the French Elections. Karen Donfried speaks to CNN about what governance will look like in the upcoming months.

New paper alert! What is China's approach to dealing with justice-related issues in its coal transition? My coauthored paper with Joanna Lewis, "The Politics of China's Just Transition and the Shift Away from Coal," is now published in Energy Research & Social Science. China's coal sector is the world's largest source of carbon emissions. Despite its pivotal role in the global coal transition, China's just transition is not well understood. Our analysis delves into original Chinese policy documents and key stakeholder interviews, revealing crucial insights: • The Chinese government at various levels has introduced a series of policy strategies and tools to address the economic and social challenges.  • The majority of resources, however, have been distributed to coal-related businesses rather than coal workers and communities.  • This prioritization of resources toward capital over labor may constrain the ability of coal workers and communities to undertake a just transition away from coal. Download the full paper here: https://lnkd.in/ebJtYQkH #China #CoalTransition #JustTransition #EnergyResearch #SocialScience #ClimateChange #PolicyAnalysis #HarvardHarvardHarvard's Belfer Center #GeorgetownGeorgetownGeorgetown University Walsh School of Foreign Service

Jeremy M. Weinstein, a renowned scholar of political science, experienced academic leader, and dedicated public servant, started his tenure as dean of Harvard Kennedy School on July 1. Read his message to the community: https://ken.sc/4cf38B3

After eight years, Doug Elmendorf concluded his service as Harvard Kennedy School's dean at the end of June. Throughout his tenure, he defined public leadership and championed public service. Read more about his time as our dean ➡️ https://ken.sc/4bu4c2H

Our op-ed is out today in Boston Globe Media, in which we discuss the challenges and opportunities in decarbonizing heating in Massachusetts. The bottom line? Electricity rates need to come down before there is widespread uptake of heat pumps. https://lnkd.in/edf2p9fs

Our Environment and Natural Resources Program is proud to announce finalists for the 2024 Roy Award, presented every two years to an outstanding cross-sector partnership project that enhances environmental quality through novel and innovative approaches. This year’s five finalists include: 👉 Climate Adaptation Interventions Focused on Climate Resilient Agriculture and Research, led by BRAC Bank PLC 👉 Share the Sun, led by Philadelphia Green Capital Corp. 👉 ChemFORWARD’s Electronics Safer Chemistry Collaborative 👉 World Intellectual Property Organization – WIPO Green’s Climate-Smart Agriculture in Latin America initiative 👉 Clean Air Minnesota, led by Environmental Initiative https://lnkd.in/eKkkzpZg

At the World Economic Forum in Dalian, China, Graham Allison spoke to Stephen Engle on Bloomberg Markets Asia about the economic ties between the U.S. and China, and the likelihood of war between the two global powers. Watch: https://lnkd.in/enbKM22x