# International Relations Expert Meghan O’Sullivan Expresses Optimism for Climate Solutions in Newest Episode of “Environmental Insights” May 06, 2024 **CAMBRIDGE MA. –** International relations expert [Meghan O'Sullivan](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/meghan-osullivan), the Jeane Kirkpatrick Professor of the Practice of International Affairs at [Harvard Kennedy School](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/), expressed her hopes for achieving successful international climate policy solutions in the newest episode of “[Environmental Insights: Discussions on Policy and Practice from the Harvard Environmental Economics Program](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights/).” The podcast is produced by the [Harvard Environmental Economics Program](http://www.heep.hks.harvard.edu/). Listen to the interview [here.](https://on.soundcloud.com/9PqTD2bpeDv5UqDH6) Hosted by [Robert N. Stavins](https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/robert-stavins), A.J. Meyer Professor of Energy and Economic Development at [Harvard Kennedy School](http://www.hks.harvard.edu/) and director of the [Harvard Environmental Economics Program](http://www.heep.hks.harvard.edu/) and the [Harvard Project on Climate Agreements](https://www.belfercenter.org/project/harvard-project-climate-agreements), Environmental Insights is intended to promote public discourse on important issues at the intersection of economics and environmental policy. O’Sullivan directs the Kennedy School’s [Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs](https://www.belfercenter.org/) and served as Special Assistant to President George W. Bush and Deputy National Security Advisor for Iraq and Afghanistan from 2004-2007. The author of “[Windfall: How New Energy Abundance Upends Global Politics and Strengthens American Power](https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Windfall/Meghan-L-OSullivan/9781501107948),” O’Sullivan focuses her writing and research on the intersection of global energy strategies and international affairs, a field of study that inspired her to found the [Geopolitics of Energy Project](https://www.belfercenter.org/project/geopolitics-energy-project) at the Kennedy School in 2011. “The project is founded on the idea that… this interaction \[between energy policies and international affairs\] is really important for foreign policymakers to understand… \[because\] energy is a big explanatory variable when we think about power dynamics in the system, and for people who may be on the energy and climate side to… better understand how the global system impacts their ability to move the energy system in one way or the other,” she remarked. O’Sullivan responded to a question from Stavins by noting that two recent changes in world energy markets are having significant geopolitical consequences – technological advancements, and the global push toward clean energy. “I think it's incredibly important \[that\] the world can get to net-zero and in a time frame that's going to have a big impact on our climate, and allow us to address all of the insecurities that come about through climate change,” she stated. “The push to try to get to net-zero, the effort that countries and businesses and foundations and individuals are making in the interest of either advancing the energy transition or slowing down the energy transition, that has become a really big driver of international affairs.” O’Sullivan acknowledged that the U.S.-China relationship is also a critical component in the international effort to confront climate change. “One of the big changes in the international system that's become very apparent in the last several years has been this U.S.-China great power competition. And it's in that framework that… we have to drive towards net-zero. And it makes a big difference that we're no longer in this kind of cooperative environment that characterized a lot of the last 30 years, and we're in a global environment that is much more competitive,” she said. “What we can achieve through global mechanisms or through international bodies, we have to assess it differently because the U.S.-Chinese relationship is a big part of the environment in which our actions are unfolding.” O’Sullivan also acknowledged that while global emissions continue to rise, there are solid reasons for hope that climate solutions will emerge. “On the one hand, it's absolutely true that we've seen much progress just in terms of technological advancement and the bringing down of costs of certain renewable technologies and…the really large amounts of money that are going into clean energy investments… That is very heartening,” she said. “On the flip side, though, we can't ignore the fact that emissions continue to rise. And last year I think was the highest level of global… carbon emissions that we've ever seen.” Taking a big picture view, O’Sullivan expressed the opinion that the global community will coalesce around climate strategies that will make a positive impact. “We're going to be in a world with hopefully greater technological \[capacities\]… but also I think we're going to have more and more political pressures to address this \[issue\], and I think our political landscape will continue to evolve in a direction where greater climate action will not just be possible, but it will be necessary,” she remarked. O’Sullivan’s interview is the fourth episode of 2024 in the [Environmental Insights](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights/) series, with future episodes scheduled to drop each month. “Environmental Insights is intended to inform and educate listeners about important issues relating to an economic perspective on developments in environmental policy, including the design and implementation of market-based approaches to environmental protection,” said Stavins. “We speak with accomplished Harvard colleagues, other academics, and practitioners who are working on solving some of the most challenging public problems we face.” Environmental Insights is hosted on [SoundCloud](https://soundcloud.com/environmentalinsights) and is also available on [Amazon Music](https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/cd70f458-c1f4-4f11-bf64-c9e0dc71ee5b), [Apple Podcasts](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/environmental-insights-conversations-on-policy-practice/id1482761966), [Pocket Casts](https://pca.st/keck3o78), [Podcast Addict](https://www.podcastaddict.com/podcast/3374959), and [Spotify](https://open.spotify.com/show/6WBWmeXTH90a3DoOYpXlhX). **LINK TO PODCAST:** [**https://on.soundcloud.com/9PqTD2bpeDv5UqDH6**](https://on.soundcloud.com/9PqTD2bpeDv5UqDH6) See also:- [ 2024 ](/news-year/2024) Share on:- [ Facebook ](#) - [ Twitter ](#) - [ Linkedin ](#)