Rethinking Global Climate Ambitions in the Face of Arctic Emissions | Harvard Climate Action Week

Rapid warming in the Arctic - three to four times faster than the global average - is accelerating the release of Arctic greenhouse gas emissions. Total methane and carbon emissions from thawing permafrost and other sources remain uncertain and largely unaccounted for in global carbon budgets, rendering countries’ emissions targets inaccurate. Despite these uncertainties, even moderate projections for Arctic emissions could undermine the world’s ability to cap warming at 2 degrees Celsius, emphasizing the urgent need for action.

This session provides insights into the work being done by Harvard and its partners to shrink these knowledge gaps, and the policy actions that the United States and other countries could take to incorporate Arctic carbon emissions into their climate policy.

Speakers:

Henry Lee, Jassim M. Jaidah Family Director of the Environment and Natural Resources Program, Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs at the Harvard Kennedy School

Steven Hamburg
Chief Scientist
Environmental Defense Fund

John Holdren
Research Professor
Harvard Kennedy School

Sue Natali
Senior Scientist
Woodwell Climate Research Center