DeepSummary
Jason Bordoff founded the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University in 2013 after serving in the Obama White House, where he recognized a need for unbiased, evidence-based research examining energy issues across multiple dimensions like economics, national security, climate, and the environment. The Center aims to help address the world's most challenging energy and climate problems through research, education, and dialogue.
Bordoff discusses how Columbia's breadth of expertise across fields like engineering, law, policy, and international affairs allows the Center to provide interdisciplinary analysis and actionable solutions for policymakers. He highlights the importance of factoring in multiple perspectives from emerging economies and balancing energy needs with climate goals.
The episode covers key topics like the Center's inception, its mission to influence policymakers through accessible research formats, Bordoff's background and motivation, engaging students on energy and climate issues, and the role of education and universities in driving change. Bordoff expresses optimism about accelerating the clean energy transition despite challenges.
Key Episodes Takeaways
- The Center on Global Energy Policy aims to provide independent, interdisciplinary research and actionable solutions on energy and climate issues tailored for policymakers.
- Leveraging Columbia's expertise across fields allows the Center to analyze energy issues through economic, security, environmental, and policy lenses.
- Engaging students and the next generation is crucial for driving progress on energy and climate challenges.
- Balancing current energy needs with accelerating the clean energy transition is an ongoing challenge the Center grapples with.
- Universities play a vital role in objective analysis, education, and impacting real-world policy through accessible research formats.
- Bordoff expresses optimism about technological advances and growing urgency catalyzing the energy transition despite difficulties.
- The Center aims to incorporate diverse global perspectives, especially from emerging economies heavily impacted by energy and climate issues.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration between academics and professionals with real-world experience enhances the quality of analysis and policy recommendations.
Top Episodes Quotes
- “The reason I was excited to come to a university after serving in government is because they play a unique role in our society, not only for their knowledge and their educational mission, but their independence, their breadth of expertise, their analytic rigor.“ by Jason Bordoff
- “But to have real impact with decision makers in the real world, outside academia, that research has to be accessible again in the formats and timeframes that decision makers need. And universities are not always great at that part.“ by Jason Bordoff
- “It's easy to look around the world and feel a little pessimistic sometimes that we're going to be able to tackle these challenges. But when you spend time with the young people that we're lucky to spend time with here at Columbia, it really is inspiring. They're passionate, they're brilliant, and they really, really are committed to tackling these huge challenges.“ by Jason Bordoff
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Episode Information
Columbia Energy Exchange
Columbia University
4/11/23
On April 12th, the Center on Global Energy Policy will celebrate its 10th anniversary.
Jason Bordoff founded the Center after serving in the Obama White House. During his time in the administration, he recognized a need for unbiased, evidence-based research that examined energy issues across multiple dimensions – economics, national security, climate, and the environment.
In 2013, with the help of a few friends and colleagues, Jason launched the Center on Global Energy Policy at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs to fill that void.
Ten years later, the institution is thriving in its mission to help address the world’s most challenging energy and climate problems through research, education, and dialogue.
This week, host Bill Loveless talks with Jason about his journey to start CGEP, and why he chose Columbia University as its home. They discuss publishing actionable research that is useful to policy makers, and the role of education in responding to climate change.
From 2009 to 2013, Jason served as special assistant to President Obama, and as senior director for energy and climate change on the staff of the National Security Council. Prior to that, he held senior policy positions on the White House’s National Economic Council and Council on Environmental Quality. He is also co-founding dean of the Columbia Climate School.