Climate Change and Clean Energy
Instructor Name
Tao Wang
Instructor Biography
Mr. Tao Wang is Senior Climate Change and Environmental Specialist at the Sustainable Development Practice Group of the World Bank. He also serves as Adjunct Faculty at School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS), Johns Hopkins University, and Visiting Scholar at the Institute for Global Public Policy of Fudan University (IGPP). Mr. Wang brings his extensive knowledge and experience on climate change policy and strategy, sustainable finance, and environmental sustainability. He leads the World Bank’s advisory engagements to support governments in developing the Long-term Low-emissions Development Strategy (LTS) and Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC). He is also spearheading the Southeast Asia Regional Program on Combatting Marine Plastics (SEA-MaP). In 2014-2016, Mr. Wang acted as Director of Mitigation and Adaptation at the Green Climate Fund (GCF), leading the GCF’s public sector investments and established the GCF’s investment strategy and operational policies. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wang was a consulting manager at Accenture, leading consulting engagements on business processes reengineering and integrated business solution implementation. Mr. Tao Wang holds master’s degree in financial engineering from University of California at Berkeley.
Course Description
This course provides a comprehensive overview of the climate change challenge faced by humanity and connects it to the energy sector, which is the most important source of greenhouse gases, and represents a significant opportunity for effective climate mitigation. The course covers a broad range of perspectives, including climate mitigation, climate adaptation, climate policy, and climate finance, and takes a deep dive into China’s role, responsibilities, and contribution in this global endeavor.
Course Schedule
Ten Session Topics
Overview of Climate Change
Climate Change and Energy
Climate Mitigation and Clean Energy
Climate Adaptation and Resilience
Climate Finance
Climate Policy and Carbon Pricing
Climate Change Governance and Politics
Climate Change Mainstreaming
China’s Efforts in Addressing Climate Change
Closing and Key Take-away
Learning Outcomes
By the end of this course, students will be able to:
Understand the climate change situation and the global impacts
Describe the connections between climate change and clean energy
Outline key characteristics of climate change mitigation and adaptation challenges and green growth opportunities
Grasp the role of climate finance in promoting low carbon and resilient development
Gain an overview of the international climate change governance and political landscape
Understand the mitigation and adaptation measures to address climate change challenges globally and in China
